Living in history a rare treat

Sitting on the front porch at 1121 9th St. I’ve often wondered what Mr. W.H. Streeter saw and thought when he looked out from a majestic home that would bear his name still 120 years later.
The streets were dirt at that time of course, at the turn of the 20th century, and in fact the view he had of Aurora was mostly in his mind. He was a visionary, a Civil War veteran and savvy businessman who worked hard to make much of that vision for his newly adopted hometown come to life.
Part of that vision was to build what was called “the finest and best appointed residence in the county … an abode fit for a king,” according to a front page article in the Aurora Sun, dated June 1, 1901. He spared no expense, installing the finest woodwork, marbled lavatories, as well as stained glass windows and chandeliers that featured ribbons and bows. All were a symbol of his love, reflecting that the home was a gift to his wife Julia.
It was a gift to Aurora as well, and for the past 18 years Paula and I have been lucky enough to call it our home. We knew all along that it belonged to the community in a sense, that we were caretakers of a piece of local history, and we enjoyed that honor immensely.
My dream was to own a newspaper and one of Paula’s was to live in a Victorian-style home, so in a very real sense our dreams have come true here in A-Town. She’s the history buff in our house, so it’s been fun to watch and help her with projects designed to accentuate the structure’s original look. We didn’t make major changes, so as not to threaten the structure’s status on the National Register of Historic Places, but Paula had an eye for restoring natural wood floors, painting and decorating walls and finding the right furniture to make it look and feel like a 21st Century abode.
This house will always hold a special place in our hearts, not just for its structural beauty, but because our daughters Robyn and Blayke grew into young women there, moving in when they were 13 and 10 years old. We’ve shared countless memories, laughs and tears over 18 years, watching movies by the fire, hosting their parade of friends, celebrating family gatherings, and so much more, all in such a unique setting.
The third story, with an open air feel and extremely high ceilings, is “an immense room that would make a great place for dancing,” according to the Sun article. My sister Brenda taught here in the late 1970s and recalls festive parties hosted by Rollie and Sandee Carter, who owned the house for 18 years as well. In fact, you can still see remnants of crape paper on the third-floor rafters, perhaps from an even earlier era. Oh, the tales those walls could tell from a century plus 21 years of life.
That space has been my man cave for the past several years, set up with a golf net that let me swing away no matter the weather or time of year. I’m guessing Mr. Streeter didn’t hit golf balls indoors back in his day, but I loved it, and will miss that private golf venue, as well as the lofty view.
But, 10 years after becoming empty nesters and a winter filled with physical challenges, we’ve decided it’s time to pass the key to someone else. We’re looking forward to downsizing into a more traditional, ranch-style home, with less yard to mow and much less space to clean and maintain. We’re excited for that adventure, knowing that our sixth home purchase will likely be our last.
I should probably have written this column a week ago as I’ve been asked by many why and where we’re moving. This community will always be our home, but one day soon our address will be a few blocks away. 
Hopefully, new owners of the historic yellow house on the corner of 9th and M will cherish their time and memories there as much as we have.

KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net