The two years we lived on Hamilton were a very memorable period in mine and the kids lives. So much happened those two years that I could probably write a blog a day for a year about all the things we did and that happened.
The most important to all three of us was meeting Joe. It didn't take long for him to become an integral part of our lives...Tammy and Buddy as much as me. Actually, many times I , kiddingly, teased him about marrying me just to get my kids. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I had a part-time job managing land contracts for a few people. In 1965, I added to my little management enterprise by taking on several apartment buildings...renting them and collecting rents. My experiences with that are a whole bunch of blogs on their own, so I won't go into them here. But, the extra money made our financial situation much better. I even managed to save a few hundred dollars here and there and decided to buy the building where we lived.
After a couple months of negotiations, the owner and I decided on a price...very reasonable, too. Except, he wouldn't carry the mortgage. Being a single mother, the bank wanted a big down payment...much more than I had. If I remember correctly, I was paying $11,000 for the building; the bank wanted twenty percent down...which was about three times the amount I had saved.
At work, I attended a real estate closing in the absence of my boss who was on vacation. After the closing, the attorney...with whom I had become friends with over the years...making small talk, asked what was new in my life. I told him about the building I wanted to buy. To make a long story short..he called me a couple days later and offered to help me out with the purchase...he would put up the money and I would make payments to him. We made an appointment for me to meet with him later that week to discuss the particulars.
Joe was taking a summer course at Eastern and kept Tammy and Buddy during the day...until time for them to go to Indiana.
Well, on the day I was to meet with the attorney, I got a phone call from Buddy. He was so excited I could barely understand him. "Mom...don't sign any papers, the house is on fire.!"...and he hung up! I must have screamed because everybody in the office was soon gathered around me asking what was wrong. I was shaking all over as I repeated what Buddy had said. I said I had to leave right away and go see what was going on. My boss wouldn't let me drive...he insisted on taking me.
When I got to the house, it, indeed, was on fire...or had been. Fire trucks and firemen were all around it. My main concern was Joe and the kids..I couldn't see them anywhere. When firemen tried to block our way, my boss told them who I was and they told me my family was across the street. At the same time, I heard Tammy and Buddy screaming..."Mommy...Mommy" and I rushed over to them, hugging them tight while we all cried. Joe had his arms around all three of us while he tried to explain what had happened.
The kids downstairs...and Buddy...had decided to roast hot dogs on the cement porch. Buddy said he left and went upstairs after he ate his hot dog. Then the fire must have got out of control, because Joe said Tammy and Buddy were in their bedrooms when he smelled smoke and heard the kids downstairs yelling. He said he didn't worry at first...until smoke started filling the living room. About that time, Buddy who had gone downstairs to see what they kids there were yelling about, ran in and said the house was on fire.
After Joe got the kids out he said he hoped I had not signed any papers on the house! Then he gave Buddy a dime and told him to go to the corner store and call me. He said Buddy was supposed to tell me the house was on fire, but that they were all okay.
All the fire damage was to the downstairs living room. But there was a lot of smoke damage, as well as holes in the walls made by the firemen...even in our living room upstairs. Everything I owned was sooty and stinky.
Joe, the kids, and I went to Avanelle's. The next day, a week early, I took Tammy and Buddy to Indiana. Joe went home to Highland Park and I stayed with Avanelle while looking for another place for us to live.
As it happened, one of the buildings I managed was vacant. It was a farm house just a few miles from town, with two big bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bath and utility room...as well as a basement with an outside entrance. It was perfect...except for being out in the country!
From the apartment, I took the wood furniture...dressers, chests, tables, chairs, ...the TV...lamps....dishes...and other kitchen stuff. I tried to save our clothes and linens. But, after numerous washings, they still smelled so I ended up having to scrap nearly everything. There went my savings...what with a months rent and deposit and new clothes for all of us plus bedding, towels, etc.
Bless my family! Again they came through for me. Uncle Speed and Jim, Avanelle's husband, helped me move what I could from the apartment into the new house. Avanelle and Phyllis helped me scrub everything down to get rid of the smoke smell. Uncle Troy bought me a couch and two chairs at an auction sale. Uncle Speed gave me a double bed. I bought a set of twin beds at a used furniture store, including mattress and springs. By the time the kids came home the middle of August, everything was ready for them...they had a home again.
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