The Home Place

This week I asked my aunt Terry and my grandmother Joan for some help with information on my great grandparent's home in Smithville, Texas.  To my delight, they provided me with very detailed answers to my questions on our family and this property.  The home, which we call The Home Place, has remained vacant and largely untouched for over 26 years.  This week I entered the home for the first time in many, many years to photograph it.   The images in this post are deeply personal and full of memories of, and for, my family.   Unfortunately, the house has fallen victim to the years and nature has slowly crept in.  But even now, in the state it's in, I still find so much beauty inside.  I hope these photos will not be seen as reminders of how the home was, but instead, as it is now.  This fall, the house will be inventoried and divided up, so this may be the last time it is photographed with their belongings still inside.

The history dictated below is from my grandmother, as recorded by my aunt Terry.  *Please note that Emil (pronounced a-mull, who I was also named after) is my great grandfather, Alma is my great grandmother, Joan (pronouced Joanne) is my grandmother and Rick, her son, is my father.  Emil passed away in 1983 and Alma passed in 1987.  The following is some history on my family and the town of Smithville, Texas.  

Emil (Emil Dietrich Reimers, dob March 15, 1905) and Alma (Alma Lizzie Christine Franz, dob August 15, 1911) Reimers were married on February 10, 1929 in the Paige area.  Emil had a job at the Elgin Butler Brick Company in Butler, Texas, where they lived in a small brick home on the company's property.  This was where Joan Doris Reimers (my grandmother) was born, March 27, 1931.  

Both Emil and Alma were familiar with farming so they decided to move to the Grassyville community to farm (Hemphill place, where Joyce Evelyn Reimers was born, July 4, 1933).  Later they moved to the Bright place (where Elizabeth Mae Reimers was born, May 23, 1937).  Following that, they moved to the Peschke place.  All three places were in Grassyville.  

The Pearl Harbor attack was on December 7, 1941.  During this time, they were in the process of buying property close to Smithville, Texas, and they moved during that winter.  The reason they moved to Smithville is because Alma's sister, Florence Esther Hulda (dob January 7, 1916), and her husband, Howard Smith Burns, lived there.  Howard Burns was born and raised in the Smithville community.  There was a three-room home on the property.  They received a loan from First State Bank on a handshake.  Alma's mother, Selma (dob September 29, 1891) and husband Albert Kunkel (dob January 19, late 1800s), and great-grandmother Christine Nakunz (dob September 28, 1871) and her son, Willie, moved at the same time.  

They began farming with mules Jane and Alec, and later graduated to a one-row tractor.  They both worked extremely hard and had a successful farming and ranching operation, including cotton, corn, maize, hay, cattle, hogs, and turkeys, as well as vegetables (which were supplied to markets in Austin and Smithville).  When they originally moved to Smithville, Joan was 10, Joyce was 8, and Elizabeth was 4.  Joan and Joyce stayed with their grandparents and completed the school year in Grassyville.  Joan began Smithville schools in the 8th grade, Joyce in the 5th grade, and Elizabeth in the 1st grade.  

Joan was the valedictorian of her class at the age of 16 (She maintained the highest average for years.  Rick thinks she still does.  It was something like 98.6.  She originally wanted to go into journalism.) They all participated in various activities.  Joan and Joyce were in the drill team.  Joan played volleyball.  Joyce played volleyball, basketball, and softball.  Liz was a cheerleader.  

The house was remodeled as needed, growing from a kitchen/dining room two bedrooms, and an outhouse, to a kitchen/dining room, den, living area, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. 

The size of Smithville has remained about the same through the years.  It started as a railroad community.  When the railroad was building through the area, with a roundhouse operation and switch yard (The home place was actually near a switch called Togo.), the community reached over 4,000.  When the Taylor, Bastrop, and Houston Railroad came through in 1887, there were only two mercantile stores in town.  The Katy line completed its line to Houston in 1893 and established the terminal at Smithville.  The Smithville Times newspaper was first published in 1896. 

The Reimers family (Emil's dad came over with his sweetheart's family) came over from Germany in the late 1800s and settled in the Paige community. The Reimers had a large family, with two daughters and nine sons. The Reimers were very musically inclined and loved to jam when they got together.  Each could play a variety of instruments, including the fiddle, guitar, banjo, accordion, and the harmonica.  Emil took confirmation lessons in German around the age of twelve.  He was also learning English during this time.

Alma's great grandfather, Peter Fritsche, a Wend, came over with his first wife on the Ben Nevis and also settled in the Serbin area.  Her paternal ancestors, Franz, settled in the Paige area.  Alma had one sister, Florence, and one half brother, Clifford.  

The home place continues as a cattle ranch, with the house still standing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional family photos of Emil, Alma and the girls:

xo, emily

Comments

[Debi]

I follow you on Tumblr and linked through to read your post. I found it strangely familiar... from many of the names-Dietrich, Kunkel, Hulda, Emil, Smithville, Franz.... (probably because I live in a rural German-settled farming community) to the abandoned homestead part. I bought and moved into my family member's home after it had been abandoned for a year. The elements hadn't dominated it yet but there was this bizarre notion that the owners had just vanished... dirty dishes in the sink, dead plants, clothes just left laying around. It was an unique feeling and I thought your photographs captured it very well. Excellent work.

Debi (aka ctymouse)

[F. Samuel Marchbanks]

Random details that caught my eye:

Ford pickup from about 1966 (the "Twin I-beam" logo says '65 or '66). The wheel covers are off a '72 LTD.

That's a CB radio mike hanging on the dash. Those things were *everywhere* in the early '70s. I had one or two myself.

It's really unusual to see an over-and-under fridge with an ice/water dispenser. Those most often came in side-by-sides.

The kitchen clock above the thermostat is a Timex from about 1970.

The Sunbeam Mixmaster on the left is a classic--I'd guess a Model 7, about 1949 or 1950, maybe a Model 9. I bet it'd still run if you plugged it in. The other Mixmaster is an '80s piece-o-crap model, after they'd quit making mixers that would last half your life.

That's sure a mess of Depression glass hanging around.

Somebody used to go out target shooting and dove hunting. I'm guessing Emil?

It looks like a Wurlitzer organ under the brown quilt.

Durham's Business College used to be down on West 6th in the forties and fifties. Later on (the 80s) it was at the corner of 8th and Colorado, across from City Hall.

Boy, the rats have sure had their way with the place.

[emily]

hi debi! thank you very much. my family is so german. so so german. my cousin on my mom's side is named dietrich. i feel really drawn to this place for personal reasons but i probably would be without my own ties as well. it's interesting to take over after someone has gone. there are always going to be pieces of us left behind. think of it as a good thing. :)

[emily]

wow! you have a great eye. i really appreciate this! after they passed (him in 83 and her in 87..i was 7 in 1987) family passing through would stay at the house. i remember once staying out there for a week with my dad in the summer when i was probably around 14. so people would come through and things certainly got moved a bit or lived in a bit, but nothing longer than probably a week or so at a time. so some things have changed and i even noticed a lipton tea in the cabinet that said 1995.
and yes, the rats had done a surprising amount of damage, but i was thinking i am surprised it's not worse. there is a property in manor near my mother's place that is abandoned and it has been completely busted out and spray painted and taken over by LARGE rodents and a huge pair of barn owls built a nest in the rafters. so, i figure at least it's not to that extreme. i am thankful for that after so many years.
thank you so much for your wonderful comment.

[Kelsey]

Such a moving post! It is incredible how frozen in time everything feels. The photos make me want to hold on to quirky heirlooms and vintage finds as much as possible, so much more character than new and store bought!

applewood road

[Jenny]

Hey! I just found this through tumblr links. Just wanted to say that these photographs are absolutely beautiful. I was wondering if I could ask what type of camera and film you use?

[Claire]

This is completely amazing, in fact stunningly awesome. I can feel like I'm there, looking feeling. So good.

[Amy]

I just spent the last year of my life helping my husband's family clear out a house and an apartment that belonged to his grandparents. We worked our butts off taking care of their belongings, making sure they went to other family members as keepsakes, or donated to people that needed them. I don't get why the belongings of this family were left to decay. I'm sure they worked their entire life for those things. This makes me sad . . like no one cares.

[Robbin]

Hello Emily, I know this is going to sound weird but as I was reading your story and looking at all your wonderful pictures, I noticed that one picture of the kitchen has a foggish image of mans face. The kitchen picture that has the tile, he is on the right side. I thought I was crazy but take a picture with your eye phone and you will see what I am saying.

[Judi]

There is a man's face, and he appears to be smoking. Love the pictures...

[Camela]

Enjoyed looking at the photos. The house is in remarkably good condition for the amount of time it's been empty. I also noticed the image of the man's face in the one kitchen photo ( the shot of the kitchen with the telescope on the table), and like Judi says, he appears to be smoking!

[Alexandra]

Such a poignant, moving series. Amazing to me that the house and its contents have been safe all these years. I discovered your work on my browsers homepage.

[caroline]

Loved pictures. Home, contents family photos could have been mine growing up in PA. including same tractor. May I suggest that someone rescue the quilt in the bedroom, if it is homemade. Also the sewing machine. If the quilt is handmade as it appears to be, I'm sure countless hours of love and hard work went into it.

[sandwhich]

lol i have that white heart pillow!!

[Silona]

Thank you for making me miss my great, great grandparents so completely... tis a treasure.

[Brenda]

I can really see this was a home not a house. Hard working people. Loved the pictures. Cant seem to find the right words to express my thoughts.
There are memories on the walls that need to be preserved if possible. They were once loved by someone who loved their family. I talk as a beginner
genelogist. To me sad but beautifully done pictures.

[99]

I often wonder what would become of me and my belongings should something happen to me. Viewing these photos is not only frightening but a blatant example of the disrespect and disregard that future generations have towards the hard work of those who came before them. After their passing it appears they were "good" enough to have their house "used" but not good enough to have their personal belongings and things that they found valuable enough to keep taken care of in a proper manner. I shudder to think what these people would think if they only knew that their precious belongings would be abandoned in such a way and then portrayed here by their great grandaughter. Anyone who finds these photos beautiful is missing an integral part of the true meaning of love and respect. And for them to be taken and shared by a releative who gives no thought to how horrible this situation is or what it says about the kind of person they are is just sinful. The shallowness of this photographer and her family just astounds me. "The images in this post are deeply personal and full of memories of, and for, my family.".....nice words, unfortunately your actions or lack of clearly demonstrate otherwise.

[jan]

Thanks for sharing the pictures they are beautiful old things have storys to tell.

[Mary-Lou]

I would agree with 99's comments. It would seem that someone would have cared enough in 26 years to have looked in on this 'home' and cleaned
it and saved it from such disrepair. If future generations are so very thoughtless that all they care about is taking photos of this house, I
pray that the Lord will enter their hearts and allow them to be more caring about their past generations.

[Beth]

It saddens me that the family let the house go like that. Where is the pride? I'm sure the photographer's great grandparents would be disappointed and embarrassed.
The beautiful pictures sure tell a pretty story....

[Robbin]

also next to the man where I thought he was smoking it is actually a image of a dog. It is the picture of the man who lived there and the pet dog, so cool!!!

[Bryan]

I must agree with the thought's that Is sad this Home was so unloved from your parents and the generation before as Your Great Grandparents pride of ownership truly shines through in these photo's. I noticed how clean those blue bathroom tiles quarter rounds still look after so many year, truly amazing to me:)! I must Tank you for taking theses photos and presenting them with a note of pride which you surely should and are entitled to I mean after all your Great grand parents were very detail orientated and it seems you are to Dear, so I can only say thanks for taking these pictures and I feel your Great grand parents are / would be very proud of you for your efforts. I must agree with other's on the sadness as to their OWN kids and wonder why this place was ignored for so long, but that has nothing to do with you Dear whatever the circumstances were you are you and again I'm sure your folks are very Pleased to see at least you are feeling them and asking all of into a very personal part of your life, Thank you I don't think I've ever had this sort of opportunity for a total stranger to share this sort of a collection but I Fully understand and respect your Loving feelings you seem to have toward your Elder's these day's you know that is all but gone. May God Bless You and your Family.
Sincerely & Thanks For Sharing as Many people Have Enjoyed Just Seeing these Pic's,

Bryan

[Lindy Malotke]

Reading through your description and then looking over the photographs, I realized how much I miss my grandmother's house. She and my grandfather had a three bedroom home in Dothan, Alabama, that they bought for $2000 right after they married in 1935. My grandfather died in 2000, when I was 18, and a few years later, my grandmother had to be moved to a nursing home to accomadate her age. She would have been 100 years old only ten days ago, but she died in January of 2008. When she moved to the nursing home, we went back to Grandmommys (it's what everyone called the house), and we packed things up we wanted. I never thought to take pictures of what that place was. Now when I see pictures from before my grandmother's move or my grandfather's death I can remember sitting on the couch or taking a book from that shelf. I remember the smell of her floor furnace kicking on and the smell of perfume and gum that came out of her vanity drawers because she kept gum for my sister, brother and me. There is so much I miss about that house and the yard around it. My childhood is wrapped up in it, and I wish I had had the opportunity or the forethought to do what you did with The Home Place.

[emily]

as stated above, my aunt has been given permission to go in and begin inventorying the items this fall, i will do it along with her. i would love and treasure any number of items from this home. everything.

[emily]

you are a real asshole, huh? first of all, you have zero idea of what you are talking about and i found your comments to be highly offensive. it's actually the opposite of disrespect and disregard. my grandmother and her sisters held their mother up to the highest standard of any person, and none of them ever really got over her death. so instead of packing up the home, they kept it just as it was. so it's the opposite of disregard, it's so much love that they couldn't let it go. not to mention the land was not legally allowed to be divided and my grandmother, to this day still visits the property daily to tend to the cattle they keep on it. she is 86 years old and has no business at this point going inside this house and trying to keep it clean anymore. but it's also not my decision or your decision what they do with the stuff, it's her and her sisters. so you can fuck right off with your assumptions. please remember that grief is a difficult thing. if my mother passed, and i was given the opportunity to hold onto her things just as she left them for as long as i could, i probably would too. i do not value you or your opinions and assumptions of strangers. you are a very rude person.

[emily]

mary-lou, please read my response to 99's insanely cruel and disrepectful comments. you don't know what you are talking about and you are judging my family from behind your computer and you don't have all the facts. that is so very typical of a christian. this is my personal blog and i don't have to go on about why they left it the way it is. but it's not left the way it is because of not caring. in fact, it's the opposite. you are an ugly person and you need kindness and understanding in your heart and you should try to be less judgmental. it's pretty gross.

[emily]

there was so much pride in this home that no one could bear to move a thing. not to mention the land was not legally allowed to be divided. my grandmother is 86 and still visits the land daily to tend to the cattle they run on it. grief is a difficult thing and i do not judge. i only try to understand. it's not up to me or you or anyone else. we just try to understand what is in people's hearts.

[emily]

thank you bryan. thank you for trying to understand and for not judging. my grandmother and her sisters loved their mother more than anything. she was the matriarch of the family and none of them ever really got over that. i did not feel it appropriate to discuss the "why" the home was left. grief is a difficult thing and it's not for me to judge. i just want to find the beauty, not search for the negative.

[emily]

thank you for sharing, lindy. i did not plan on entering the house, but i am glad i did. so many memories inside. it's like a little time capsule. we have been given permission to start inventorying the items this fall. we are hoping to salvage as much as possible. there are so many things inside that would be treasured.

[Katie]

I found your photos moving and looking through them conjured up memories about my grandparent's house. I was surprised at how attached we become to a 'space' and belongings. My Mum did the opposite of your family, she systematically packed everything up and threw lots in the garbage. I was upset to learn about this and the thought of their treasured belongings are now sitting on a rubbish dump somewhere is too painful. I see a faded beauty in your images and I'm sure they will resonate with most people who have lost dear elder family members. Thank you for sharing and good luck in your new ventures.

[Grainne Foster, Ireland]

Great pictures such a unique view of a home. I happened upon a house like this years ago in Ireland with a group of friends. All the curtains frayed bottom up and the calendar was still on the wall from the 1970's it was fascinating.
I love in this home all the homely touchs. The signs to turn off the water heater, to close the fridge firmly etc...
Thanks for sharing.

[Mary McClain]

Wow...the comments from a few of you are incredibly disrespectful and callous. This young person took a chance and bared their heart and soul in this project and you have the audacity to call it 'uncaring'??? This photo essay is the HEIGHT of RESPECT in my opinion. The photographer pays HOMAGE to the Great Grandparents with this pictorial. I see nothing but love, tenderness, respect and reflection in these pictures. BRAVO to you Emily for capturing something very few of us aren't lucky enough to do. Ignore the Haters(or blast them, like you did, good job, by the way)and may you and your family continue to honor your Great Grandparents with the memories you all have. These pics are priceless......

[Amber]

I so agree with your response to that person. Your pictures make me think of all the old farm houses I see.

[Susan Johnson]

How about people on here stop arguing and bickering like a bunch of school children...and the author can stop
with using vulgar language to tell people off...Time to grow up!...

[Cheryl]

Very touching pictures. I believe you have paid the highest respect to your great-grandparents by sharing their lives with us and future generations! How many of us have ever been able to see exactly how our ancestors lived? It's worth more than gold! Thank you so much!!

[Debbie Q]

How wonderful that you could document the contents of the house and that your grandmother could "flesh out" for you the story of your great-grandparents. Fabulous pictures. And ignore the haters, they will always be there, spewing their venom.

[annie]

I came via Daily Mail which has you headlined today. You are a very talented photographer. Period. These pictures are beautiful and haunting. No need to comment on all the other junk people are talking about. Just great pics plain and simple.

[amy]

You and your fam did a great job preserving the memory of their home. It's touching that it was kept like a museum. Haters should go find an estate sale of someone sent to a nursing home to buy a soapbox.

[Susan]

I am so glad other people noticed the face of the man in the kitchen!! I am absolutely intrigued by abandoned houses. This one is the most amazing one I have ever seen because it is just as it was left 26 years ago. That is amazing! It's like walking back in time, right down to the groceries left behind. Hauntingly beautiful!

[Nina K]

Hi Emily, Great photos...beautiful memories, disrepair, and all. Your grandmother's family was very attractive - The three sisters are adorable with their cute dresses and stylish hairbows. I'm glad for you that you honored your family in this way. BTW...my family is German too.

Speaking of that, I can see the German blood coming out in you...I wonder if there's a way you could edit your responses to the haters...You can tell that you're defening your family's integretity, but the foul language and irrate comments take away from the overall message that you're trying to portray. And for us who are enjoying the moment...it comes as a shock that the artist (you) would give them any ounce of energy. If it were me...(I'd just replace the curse words with a more sophisticated tirade in response.) Forget about them. People will comment about anything when given the chance. And you know the old saying about opinions...we all have them.

Great job and good luck!

[Beth]

Thank you for sharing the memories that are all over this house and the yard. Amazing! It looks like you picked up a smoking ghost in the green kitchen tile!

[Dawn]

It's rather obvious that some photos have been staged. Consider it a form of poetic license for a photojournalist. This person is sharing a very personal story with deep meaning.

To those who are bold enough to insinuate that the surviving relatives should have done something 'more respectful' with the house and belongings - I feel sorry for your kids and their offspring if you think they have an obligation to be the 'keepers of the past.'

George Carlin, a popular comedian, performed an entire routine about this subject. It was all about 'stuff' being the only reason why people need houses (a place to put all of their stuff!). Every person spends a lifetime accumulating what reflects their interests, likes and memories. It's all very personal. Do you really have room for every ancestors' stuff, as well as your own? Should we be required to make room for it? And keep it? And, for how long?

Please don't expect your relatives to clean up after you when you're gone. Make arrangements while you're still here. Have a nice yard sale or auction and convert your unwanted stuff into money that can be used for stuff that you do want or need. Select specific stuff to pass along to specific people as momentos. Leave clear instructions on what's to be done with the house and property after you're gone.

Don't expect your loving survivors to make practical decisions that might lead to undeserved pangs of doubt or guilt. Nobody wants to do the wrong thing and everyone treads very lightly while doing nothing. If you don't leave detailed instructions to go along with your lifetime of stuff, the best you can hope for is that a loving great grand daughter will come along and take steps to preserve everything in a more practical way (photos).

Thank you for giving us a glimpse into their lives. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done! (from one photographer to another)

[KTirado]

Her blog, her choice of language.

As for all the 'arguing and bickering', seems the anonymity of being hidden by a computer really brings out the worst in some people. No matter their 'age'.

[KTirado]

Good advice.
Two and a half years since my mothers death and I am still dealing with 'estate' issues.
Having rented a 10 x 10 storage unit to pay 'homage' to what I was able to remove from the home before the bank foreclosed, I would have rather left the house/home as it was.
All we have are the family photos.

[Tera]

This home represents to me every grandparents or great-grandparents home. So many familiar little details. Lovely set of photos that so many can relate too.

[Karen Brookman]

This is why I love photography so much, it captures a moment in time never to be repeated. It is rather poignant as my Dad isn't well at the moment and although still very much here, I am grieving already for the inevitable.
These pictures are a treasure, you can see from the home and the feel of these pictures there is so much love. Wonderful.

[suzanne]

Fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing with us, and for offering us an insight into a place filled with nostalgia. Really enjoyed looking through them.x

[Tera]

While some of these comments seem so judgmental and downright insulting and shitty, don't let it bug you too much, it's a testament to how powerful these images are and how they resonate with different people.

Also, it speaks volumes that there is so much left behind and left as it was. So many families tear apart a place, and each other, the day after original owners pass, sometimes, being all to greedy and anxious to get belongings into their hands then on to Ebay or estate sales. This home, because it has remained a home, not just a house, is an altar, that honors your family completely, past and present. To me it is like a great, big nicho, the highest form of respect.

I don't get the feeling that anything has been "staged" either. Not obvious to me.

[Andy]

I am very surprised that all this time has gone by; and it just had sat like this with no one braking in to steal the copper or to just be destructive by causing vandalism.

This is extremely awesome that is sat like this and has such good history. I wonder on that TV if it still works, what was the last program to air, who was on the TV, what where they talking about, and what channel it is on?

I hope that you can restore the house to it’s gorily and either to live in it or rent it out so it can continue to stand for many more years.

Cheers.

[Mouyed]

Wohh , the more i scroll down the more my heart beats go fast , Amazing Emily ! the feeling i had is just different , i felt like i was there .
It's something more than pictures , i would say the place with soul , it's like the clock is waiting for someone to change battery , dishes to be washed and a TV to be turned on .
I don't know how i got here to your page specially i'm in Saudi Arabia , but couldn't leave the page without comment .
Thank you so much for sharing this Xx
Mouyed .