A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

One of the original light fixtures in the dining room. The globe has a patent date of Aug 6, 1907.
One of the front windows (Den)

The SE bedroom.

The built-in china cabinet in the dining room.
The beautiful, stained-glass windows from the 2nd floor hallway.
The screened-in wrap-around front porch.
The full bathroom in the basement.
The "cubby" under the formal stairway.
The original kitchen cabinets with a library ladder.
Servants stairwell from the 1st floor
Looking from hallway into 2nd floor 1/2 bath. Another door enters from the SE bedroom.
2nd floor full bath, attached to master bedroom and another door to the hallway.
Our gymnastics and gameroom
The 3rd floor ballroom vaulted ceiling

Curb Appeal

One of the very first features that people notice about this house is the curb appeal. The height of the front curb is rare anymore, as it was designed as a "carriage curb." It is the only one of its kind left in North Platte. It was made higher than normal so the occupants of the carriage could exit the "vehicle" at a normal step down, vice jumping down to the ground. The previous owner stated he could remember steel rings attached on the sides of the curb to tie the horses up.

Another unique feature that is very rare to see anymore is the actual grooved cemented driveway that led from the front of the property to the back carriage house. It is still in pretty good condition, except for some heave due to tree roots. My wife wanted to find an old carriage and park it there for aesthetic reasons.

The house has the original steps, wide with a curving wrap at the bottom. It has the original porch light fixtures and I refinished the original oak screen door (it was painted black and in a pile in the garage). All the brass hardware was in good shape and cleaned up nicely. I've seen pictures from the 30's and 40's where the house was painted white and the huge blue spruce trees were barely above the front porch gutter line. They are taller than the house now. When we first moved in I actually gave some thought to cutting these beauties down, as they appeared too close but I am so glad I didn't. They provide some privacy when relaxing on the porch reading a good novel or eating dinner in the screened-in area. We also love to watch the resident turtle doves tend to their chicks every spring. If you drive by look up to the TV antenna on the roof, you may get a glimpse of them. I like them better than those pesky pigeons, which are across the street but keep off this house for some reason.

The most striking feature I believe is the dual American flags flying freely and stoutly from the side pillars of the front porch. I am a veteran and I still get a lump in my throat each time the national anthem is played at a sporting event. When I am at a funeral and Taps is played it is even worse, especially now that I know the words that go with it.

The most rewarding thing about this house is that they do not make them like this anymore. It makes owning it more pleasurable. Anyone can get one of the mundane, track style homes being built today with its hollow walls, standard look fixtures and trim. I am not trying to put today’s version of homes down; it's just that I am so giddy about this house because of its charm, warmth and overall craftsmanship. The guys that built it were the ultimate carpenters. And to think they used hand saws........

Additional Details

This beautiful, historical home is well kept and has lots of original charm. The purchaser will be the 5th owner of this grand old house (built 1906, copies of original abstracts provided to buyer). It has 3600 + square feet of living space. It has 10ft ceilings on the main floor, 9ft ceilings on the 2nd floor. The third floor has a vaulted ceiling as high as 16 ft in the center. All floors are original oak in great condition.


Basement: A laundry room (18’ X 8’) and full bath has been added in the basement as well as a laundry chute. There is enough room in the remaining sections of the basement to add two large rooms (possibly bedrooms).


Garage/Apartment: The detached garage (22’x44’old carriage house) is big enough to fit two cars side-by-side and very deep. The hayloft above the carriage house has been turned into a 968 square foot 2-bedroom apartment and is currently being rented for $525.00/month.



Kitchen (15’x15’)
Stainless Steel appliances
Library ladder for upper cabinets
Tiled floor


Dining room (16’x18’)
Large built-in china cabinet (tiger-stripped oak)
Original 1906 light fixtures
Huge bay windows with bench
Large oak pocket doors
Large oak swinging door to butler’s pantry


Living room (14’x16’)
Huge window with beveled glass
Original 1906 light fixture
Large columned entryway


Den (16’x18’)
Fireplace
Original 1906 light fixtures
Large windows w/ beveled glass
Huge solid oak pocket door entry
Library setting w/ oak paneling/ceiling trusses


Entryway (26’x8’)
Original 1906 light fixture
Arched (telephone room) under oak stairway
Mosaic tiled entry, double door to outside
Beautiful stairway / large stained glass windows


Front porch (10ft deep)
Wraps the east side of house
Partially screened in


Back porch
½ bath on enclosed back porch
Old ice box (now storage)


3rd floor
Huge open recreation room w/vaulted ceiling
Lots of hidden storage closets


Bedrooms
NE Master bedroom (15’x16’)w/ door to full bath
Walk-in closet, large bay window w/ bench seat
SE bedroom (12’x15’) with attached ½ bath
NW bedroom (12’x16’)
SW bedroom (11’x14’)
Full bath and ½ bath on 2nd floor


Basement
New huge laundry room w/deep sink
Clothes chute
Countertop/cabinets for folding
Sewing area
Full bath

Garage Sale Weekend

I think we have had a garage sale every year that we have been here. I actually despise putting on a garage sale because it is a lot of work. Also people want to give you nearly nothing for some valuable things, or so I think they are valuable.

Each time we have had a garage sale here we learn something new about our house. So many people have a story to tell about an experience relating to our house. Last year a gentleman told us he helped carry a baby-grand piano out of the third floor ballroom. We've also had folks tell us stories of Sam Dietrich, the famous judge that lived here for so long. I guess he was quite the character. He is credited with cleaning up the gambling and prostitution in North Platte, back in the day when it was known as "Little Chicago" due to the mafia like atmosphere. If you read the book "Evil Obsession" you can get a glimpse of life here back then.

A pleasant gentleman from California also visited us a while back. I came home from work and noticed a bunch of people on the corner, admiring the house, which happens often. One spoke up and said his grandfather had resided here during the depression (as a boarder). His grandfather was with them so I invited them in for a peek. He was so excited walking through the door he was shaking, poor little guy. He said it was just as he remembered it, with some minor decorating changes. He told stories of living here and depressed us when he mentioned the claw-foot bathtub (now gone). I guess it was very large and filled up from the bottom so as not to make so much noise. He was very sweet and kind and wrote us a thank you letter later when he returned to his home.

I have thought of creating a journal with letters and stories of folks that have some type of information about it. I have also thought it would make somebody a great Bed and Breakfast. There are none currently in North Platte. The right person could make it a wonderful business venture. It's a great place to entertain, with the large rooms, huge front porch and wide-open third floor.

The Carriage House Garage/Apartment

The old-style carriage house is very unique. I get so many people that say "Oh, the big yellow house with the neat carriage house out back."
It still has the original large sliding doors that open into the area where the old, beautiful carriages parked for the evening. The ceiling in this part is still an ornate painted tin with crown tin molding.
There is evidence that a chimney once went through the ceiling for wood, or coal fired heat. There is a well with a metal covering over it. I found a book in this well when I first moved into the house. It is a poem book by Alford Lord Tennyson. It was copyrighted in 1895. Inside the front cover there is an inscription in pencil "To Edward, from Lulu, Christmas 1896." I thought this find was pretty cool, that it was still around after all these years. I have also found old coins, hidden whiskey bottles and other older treasures.
The carriage house also has three "barn-style" doors where the horse could stick his head out for a peek. Reminds me of Mr. Ed, for those of us that old to remember that TV show. The inside area is trimmed in bead board and stained a dark finish.
The hayloft was turned into an apartment years ago and I have completely remodeled it into a great rental income. The monthly income pays all of my utility bills for my house. It is nicely fixed up with a very large living room, a dining room area and two bedrooms. The kitchen is very cute and functional. I even added a stacked laundry area as an added benefit for the tenant. It has 968 square feet of living space.

The Den

The Den is my favorite room of this house. It has a library type look and feel to it. It has tiger-stripped oak raised panel up the walls and beams on the ceiling. It has a fireplace and the most unique original (circa 1906) light fixtures that I've ever seen. On both sides of the fireplace a small bench covers the radiators. The north-facing window is 52 inches wide and still opens fairly easily. It has beveled glass at the top to trim out the front window. The west windows open up into the wall above them and are also beveled glass. The entry into this room has a very wide solid oak pocket door that still functions like new.