Some Architectural Beauties in Marshall, Michigan

In 1965 my father, Joseph Pedersen, was transferred to Michigan. He worked for Kellogg's of Battle Creek. I was 17 and the third born of 8 children. What an adventure! Mother found a beautiful house in gorgeous, historic, Marshall, Michigan. My dear husband, Gregory LeFever, was raised in Marshall. We were back there recently and I got a few pictures of some of my favorite houses.

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The fountain at the beginning of town. Our house was kitty corner to it.

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A lovely Italianate style of house.

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A gorgeous Italianate house next door to the previous one. I hope to have our Italianate house, here in Oregon, to be painted in this lovely color combination.

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The National House Inn. It was built in the 1830's and it is where we stay when we visit Greg's family. I apologize for such a tiny picture. Here is a website for you to see it better: National House Inn.

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The back garden at National House Inn.

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This was once a lovely home on the main street in town. Now it is a business. I cannot tell you how much I adore the Italianate style of houses.

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The Honolulu House. This is now a museum that was built in 1860. It was across the street from my parents' lovely home. Here is some HISTORY on it.

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Our house! My bedroom was the one upstairs on the left. The house has three floors in that what would seem like an attic was actually a servants' quarter. The house is a Gothic style built in 1861. Beautiful entry hall and upstairs hallway. Formal parlor and dining room with marble fireplaces. A courtyard in the back with a carriage house behind it. 

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The Brooks House which is so gorgeous and finally, someone had the forever yellow paint sandblasted off of it and restored it to its original beauty. This house is a block behind ours.

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A lovely fieldstone, early mansion. Sorry about the lousy picture. This house was across the street from the Brook house, but to the west.

Mind you, there are hundreds of gorgeous old homes throughout all of Marshall, and of course, many of them are early, which means pre-1850. My heart belongs to the Victorian era. I love manly aspects of early, but I belong in a Victorian. This is why it is easy for me to remain out West where we have many lovely Victorians.

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My favorite house in Marshall is this Italianate home, The Cronin Home. Oh how sad that it is falling into disrepair. Please someone buy it and restore it. It's not too far gone either.

My Treasures from the Days of the Pioneer Antiques Show

You can imagine how thrilled I was Saturday morning when my package from Clinton, Tennessee arrived! Here are the 19 items that I found at the show to come and live at my house.

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The two dolls are wonderful. The one on the left is by Betty Zahn of Tennessee. She does a remarkable job creating dolls to look old. She did use old fabric for the sweet dress. 

The dolly in black is old and came from dealers from Rocheport, Missouri. Friends Together Antiques, Amanda Canter and Carolyn Green. I found the three wee, antique bonnets there too.

The cutting board that is arched came from Jack and Betty Rhodus of Plain and Simple Antiques between Waynesville and  Lebanon, Ohio. 

That precious water color painting is one done by Janice Shepherd of Tennessee, and so is the book-safe right next to it. Yes that is an old book that I show opened to the cut out area that is the safe for hiding treasures. It is old entirely as is too. I love the pale robin's egg blue interior paper. Sorry I did not photograph the exterior, for it also is gorgeous, but I will show that at another time. The little needle case was made by Betty Zahn and she used very old fabric and ribbon for it. The two hooked pads are also made by Betty.

That wonderful tiny desk was made by John Child, and the sweet painting on it was made by his lovely wife, Anne Child. I love that the painting is done right onto a broken book cover's inside page, so that the other side still shows the old book cover.

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 This piece of crewel yardage is gorgeous and I found it at Walker Homestead. It is perfect for my 1888,Victorian boudoir, since the original, old wall color remains a soft rose.

Also from Walker Homestead is this perfect antique hooked chair pad. Again, it has the rose in it, and rose is an excellent Victorian color.

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Just a closeup of some of my treasures.

43 Shots of Antique Show, Days of the Pioneer

Gregory and I flew to Tennessee for our 44th. anniversary in order to attend the incredible antiques show, Days of the Pioneer. It was held at the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, TN. The sponsor of the show is Jill Peterson, publisher and owner of A Simple Life Magazine. Gregory writes for her. 

It was wonderful to finally meet Jill in person, as well as to meet so many people we've known online. And, we saw old friends from when we lived in southern, Ohio from 2003-05. 

I was absolutely delighted to meet some women from Oregon! And, they're not at all far from where we live. Pumpkin Hollow is in Albany, Oregon, and it is a primitive shop that offers this look to Oregonians. 

Please enjoy my pictures of that fun weekend.  

Below is the A Simple Life Magazine headquarters at the show.

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One of many picturesque re-enactors.

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Anne Child, a fabulous artist, visiting with an old friend.

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John Child, husband to Anne. He too is quite creative with wood.

Their beautiful home in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one featured in Jill Peterson's coffee table book The Settlement.

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Lovely, Kris Casucci of Walker Homestead renown. Kris is a tremendous person and she lives in a house that was built in the late 1600's near Sturbridge, MA. Kris is a supreme antiques dealer! I enjoyed buying some of her treasures.

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Peacocks roam the grounds.

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Tall haystack!

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A wonderful early, cloth doll sitting in her adorable, early dolly chair. This doll is owned by antiques dealer, Faye Klemen of Early Country Antiques.

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I am charmed by these simple, rustic fences.

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My dear husband, Gregory LeFever, chatting with Jill Peterson, owner and publisher of A Simple Life Magazine.

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My husband posing at a cauldron.

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This is an antique haystack form!

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An interesting way to create a tent.

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Tennessee artist, Janice Shepherd, a wonderful artist who sold nearly everything by the end of the show. I bought some lovely things from her, including one of her fabulous early styled water color portraits. Also, partnering in her booth was another incredible Tennessee artist, Betty Zahn. I bought an early styled, cloth doll from her and some hooked chair pads. I cannot share pictures yet, because they were shipped from there and aren't here in Oregon yet. Can't wait!

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Jim Clayburne, if I remember his name correctly. He is a re-enactor who has also written some as well as performed for A&E in film about the Last of the Mohicans.

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Jim again, and this time chatting with Todd Antonuk, husband to Jill Peterson. Todd is an amazing man who built their home in Texas. In a very hot July, Todd, by hand with an ax made the rough hewn boards for their log cabin. Their  home can also be seen in Jill's book, The Settlement.

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One fabulous couple, Kris and Paul Casucci of Walker Homestead renown. It was like meeting movie stars for me!

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A charming, tidy, log cabin.

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Make-do sofa!

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Sitting there is Roger Peterson, Jill's father. She is in the background chatting with a Civil War re-enactor.

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Tobacco leaves drying on a darling, twig stand.

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From Walker Homestead you can see on the top pile, a lovely, antique piece of crewel embroidery yardage. It's on its way to me!

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The next two pictures show more of Kris and Paul Casucci's wonderful booth. I bought the antique, hooked chair pad there under that neat wooden jug.

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I spotted this little bevy of wee gourds and was amused by the single, tiny tomato.

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A fabulous hornbeam with a lidded box attached.

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A wonderful, antique Santa in yellow, for a tidy sum of only $895.00!

Baa baa

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These cement skeps are a great idea for the garden!

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A gentleman clogging.

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I do love clotheslines, and this one is dear.