My Old Kentucky Home

After making do in a crowded apartment for nine months, I am pleased to report the return to home ownership of a place remarkably like the house I had in Tucson's West University Neighborhood (SE corner of 4th St/2nd Ave) during "the math days" of 1988–1992.

Built in 1930, the KY place is also close to the university and downtown in a similar neighborhood. It features hardwood floors throughout except for tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. Hardwood stairs go to a bedroom with a full rebuilt bathroom, and a cellar/basement provides easy access to all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.

Different from AZ, at this closing after the buyer has handed over the check and signed everything, the seller enters the room. In walked this petite lady in her eighties. She told me how the home was first occupied by a shoemaker from Scotland who had his own shop nearby on the main street. He raised four children, two girls in a room downstairs and two boys upstairs. Having only one bathroom then, the mother timed the children and rang a bell when time was up. The children lived in the house until they married. When all were gone, the shoemaker sold the house to the lady in front of me. When she had signed everything, she gave me a baggie holding the original skeleton keys for the original 1930 locks in the doors. The keys are 80 years old.

The 2004-2009 Tucson x4mr pad (loved this house) on Second Street near Craycroft that I sold upon leaving town. The large living room had a killer home theater system and a cinema buff's movie collection (over 500 titles). The daughter and a fair number of UHS graduates have some pretty incredible memories and stories about what happened in the pad while dad was conveniently somewhere else. I remember coming home one night...well, you get the idea.