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Cloverdale Farmhouse

Pre-fire images of the farmhouse in Cloverdale, taken between 1980 and 1999, prior to my owning a digital camera. I was an exclusive digital shooter starting in 2000. My last pre-fire visit was Christmas, 2008.
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  • The summer of 1980, before I owned my first camera. These first 4 shots were likely taken with Mom's Kodak Instamatic. In this image I can see a couple of rods sticking out of the back of the house beneath the hallway window. Maybe these held a flower box? As kids we'd bang on the wall below that window (we were inside), and watch a lot of hornets angrily buzz around outside. There was a little hole in the siding which gave them access to a poorly insulated space between the studs; they built a nest there. One night, Dad sprayed the hole to kill the guards, then sealed it with silicone. A year later a stack of paper nests and dead hornets were extracted from the wall.

    The summer of 1980, before I owned my first camera. These first 4 shots were likely taken with Mom's Kodak Instamatic. In this image I can see a couple of rods sticking out of the back of the house beneath the hallway window. Maybe these held a flower box? As kids we'd bang on the wall below that window (we were inside), and watch a lot of hornets angrily buzz around outside. There was a little hole in the siding which gave them access to a poorly insulated space between the studs; they built a nest there. One night, Dad sprayed the hole to kill the guards, then sealed it with silicone. A year later a stack of paper nests and dead hornets were extracted from the wall.

  • Classic saltbox home. Vertical siding was used to mask the seams between the original siding and the slightly different siding on each addition. The front of the house, as well as the garage, was entirely vertical siding.

    Classic saltbox home. Vertical siding was used to mask the seams between the original siding and the slightly different siding on each addition. The front of the house, as well as the garage, was entirely vertical siding.

  • You can just make out the deck in the front of the house. It must have been in rough shape, it didn't last long. There's also a chicken on the picnic table.

    You can just make out the deck in the front of the house. It must have been in rough shape, it didn't last long. There's also a chicken on the picnic table.

  • Tiny kitchen, electric range, and ubiquitous compost buckets.

    Tiny kitchen, electric range, and ubiquitous compost buckets.

  • Our first winter. I remember that chair.

    Our first winter. I remember that chair.

  • I had a big tear in my coat.

    I had a big tear in my coat.

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  • The cycle of life. A farm bears witness to many births and deaths...ours was no exception. You'd think that would require a thick skin, yet we still named our animals. Sadly, I don't remember what we called this little guy.

    The cycle of life. A farm bears witness to many births and deaths...ours was no exception. You'd think that would require a thick skin, yet we still named our animals. Sadly, I don't remember what we called this little guy.

  • After a harvest of field corn, I think.

    After a harvest of field corn, I think.

  • That's Opa in the background.

    That's Opa in the background.

  • Hand-tossed pizza night!

    Hand-tossed pizza night!

  • We were often visited by cousins. Today it's Heather and Sara.

    We were often visited by cousins. Today it's Heather and Sara.

  • Rebeccah's 8th birthday, August 11, 1981.

    Rebeccah's 8th birthday, August 11, 1981.

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  • A great many meals ahead.

    A great many meals ahead.

  • Christmas, 1981. I think that's my tape recorder Germaine is playing with. Pity it's not recording.

    Christmas, 1981. I think that's my tape recorder Germaine is playing with. Pity it's not recording.

  • Tuning up beneath the new stairway.

    Tuning up beneath the new stairway.

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  • Untitled photo
  • Beccah's peek-a-boo. I don't think I ever photographed the girl's room upstairs. I remember those beds and 4H ribbons. Only one person fell down these stairs before we had it walled off--poor cousin Heather!

    Beccah's peek-a-boo. I don't think I ever photographed the girl's room upstairs. I remember those beds and 4H ribbons. Only one person fell down these stairs before we had it walled off--poor cousin Heather!

  • Mom's first ascent on the new staircase.

    Mom's first ascent on the new staircase.

  • Germaine's 10th birthday, April 1, 1982.

    Germaine's 10th birthday, April 1, 1982.

  • Summer, 1982. A major renovation begins under the direction of Uncle Hank. We'll be adding a master bedroom, two baths, and another bedroom with dormer upstairs.

    Summer, 1982. A major renovation begins under the direction of Uncle Hank. We'll be adding a master bedroom, two baths, and another bedroom with dormer upstairs.

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Pouring the foundation for the black-and-white bathroom.

    Pouring the foundation for the black-and-white bathroom.

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  • Today it's Christopher and Erin Clem visiting. At some point, video games replace mounds of dirt for recreation.

    Today it's Christopher and Erin Clem visiting. At some point, video games replace mounds of dirt for recreation.

  • Black and white bathroom subfloor.

    Black and white bathroom subfloor.

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