In June of 2003, we bought a house in the town of Black Earth, Wisconsin, a lovely little town nestled in one of the richest farming valleys in the country, about 20 miles west of the state capital, Madison. The first time we saw it, I think we both knew it was meant for us. Our house began its life as a Lutheran church, built in 1904. By the late 1960s, the congregation had outgrown the building and decided to build a new and decidedly more modern church down the street a few blocks. They didn't quite know what to do with the old building, so for a few years, it stood empty . . . and unfortunately, left to the mercy of vandals who couldn't resist throwing stones. In about 1972, a local high school shop teacher found out that there were plans in the works to tear the building down. He was able to see a potential that others couldn't . . . and so he put in an offer and bought the old church for $5,000. Not a bad bargain!
The next twenty-odd years were invested in completely remodeling the interior of the church. He put in a second floor for the bedrooms, but left the front part of the church open to the original ceiling. A huge ceiling fan, circa 1930 (and still functional), still hangs from the ceiling in the great room. Transforming the old church into a home was a labor of love, but circumstances change and around 2000/2001, he moved back to his native Nebraska. The house went on the market, occupied by renters. We like to think that it was just waiting for the right time, when we would be in the market for a house and happen upon it.
When we first moved in, we were full of wonder and awe at such a beautiful home. It's been a full year, and we still aren't over that . . . I'd try to describe it, but since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll let them do the talking.
