Zimmerman Update as of July 28

LShortt · August 11, 2007, 10:56:18 PM

Isn't it strange, but without the building there...that corner looks small.

Diane Amberg · August 12, 2007, 10:46:54 AM

The pictures were very nice, but the subject is sad. Did Zimmerman's indeed have a basement? It doesn't look like it in the photos. I know they are planning to rebuild, perhaps without a basement?

Janet Harrington · August 12, 2007, 12:47:52 PM

I think Sunflower can talk about this better, but I'll do my best. Yes, there was a basement. Most of the living was done down there. Bedrooms were upstairs. According to son, Charlie, Lloyd is going to build a one-story funeral home. I don't know just how much living space he will have. Not much would be my guess. The garage that you can still see in the background has an apartment upstairs where a Mrs. Garrison (?) lived for a long time. I'm thinking that Lloyd won't want to sleep anywhere that isn't close to the ground. LOL

Diane Amberg · August 12, 2007, 01:19:59 PM

Thanks, I wondered if they just pushed all the debris into the old basement. I can certainly understand why he would want to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground floor from now on.

frawin · August 12, 2007, 02:27:29 PM

Ruth Flory Sexton, the County Superintendent and a long time teacher and really neat person lived in the garage apartment in the 40s and early 50s. I remember delivering groceries to her upstairs in the late 40s and 50s. Lee Gill had his watch repair business in the downstairs office area and Dr. Moon ran his vet business out of the garage as well. That was a busy place in the 40s and 50s.
Frank

Janet Harrington · August 12, 2007, 04:34:31 PM

The debris was all taken out to the C & D Landfill that is owned by the City of Howard. The basement was scooped out and then fill dirt was brought in to fill up the hole.

Mom70x7 · August 12, 2007, 08:08:01 PM

QuoteIsn't it strange, but without the building there...that corner looks small.

I agree. Small is a good word.

I will be very glad when they start building.

emptynest · August 13, 2007, 06:34:30 AM

When I was a young girl in the late 60's, I took piano lessons in the downstairs area of that brick building (garage) from Mary Caroline Miller. Every Saturday morning for years, I went there and if I had practiced and performed well, I got to go upstairs and visit a little old lady who lived in the apartment and collected dolls. I can't remember her name, but somehow the name Maude comes to mind.

And years ago, when Charlie was very small, my sister, Laurie, babysat for him and they always were in the basement in the living quarters. When I called her last month to tell her about the fire, she seemed surprised about there being bedrooms upstairs. She could not remember that.

patyrn · August 13, 2007, 06:43:14 AM

I also took piano lessons from Mary Caroline Miller in her studio in the garage at the funeral home. The lady who lived upstairs at that time was Maude McBride. I think Velette (Robin) Smith lived there and helped at the funeral home in later years, also.

emptynest · August 13, 2007, 07:21:19 AM

Patryn, thank you so much for remembering. I always thought maybe I hallucinated that cause no one else remembered that little old lady upstairs. Sometimes, Mary Caroline Miller would knit me barbie doll clothes while I played the piano, because she knew she could get to do more practicing when it came to bribery with dolls. And then came the recitals. I remember them being at the Baptist Church, I believe, or at least somewhere that had 2 pianos.

When did you take lessons? Did you ever get to see the doll collection upstairs?