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SlieHome Transformed<br />

D. T. HOFFMAN, to whose New Hampshire home THE FARMER'S<br />

MRS.<br />

WIFE is a welcomed visitor, has sent us this illustrated story showing the<br />

series <strong>of</strong> transformations through which her home has come since it<br />

became the property <strong>of</strong> its present owners.<br />

Photographs 1 and 2 show the old farm house—it was built in 1840—as it was<br />

when Mrs. H<strong>of</strong>fman first saw their purchased possession. She says:<br />

"Picture No. 2, minus the piazza, was the first impression I caught <strong>of</strong> my new<br />

home. For a moment the little blue devils had possession <strong>of</strong> me. I determined<br />

to have that impression photographed so that, in the inevitable moments <strong>of</strong><br />

discouragement, we could look back and see to what extent we had succeeded.<br />

The series <strong>of</strong> photographs are a truthful record <strong>of</strong> our accomplishments."<br />

First (Picture No. 2) the piazza was added and in the blank wall facing the<br />

reader, a window cut—see Nos. 3 and 5—to let the glorious view <strong>of</strong> the setting<br />

sun into the livingroom.<br />

Picture No. 3 shows the unsightly end torn down and begun to be replaced<br />

with new aiding.<br />

No. 4t The f inished product <strong>of</strong> the f armhouse as it looks today with<br />

the addition <strong>of</strong> shrubs and Carolina poplar trees which were planted<br />

because <strong>of</strong> their rapid growth.<br />

No. 5s The bare look without trees and shrubs.<br />

No. $: The improvement <strong>of</strong> trees, shrubs, paint and well-kept lawn.<br />

No. 7: Front <strong>of</strong> house in detail. In ref erence to picture 1, note the improvement<br />

<strong>of</strong> 8 x 24-f oot piazza, and f ront door between the two<br />

f ront windows, f acing the road.<br />

No. 8: The old f ront door. According to New England custom, many <strong>of</strong><br />

these f arm houses had the gable end f acing the road and main entrance<br />

on the side <strong>of</strong> the house.<br />

No. 9: At back <strong>of</strong> house the vine covered kitchenette door with cement<br />

stone steps.<br />

No. 10: The Carolina poplars and shrubs.<br />

So much for externals.<br />

Mrs. H<strong>of</strong>fman tells us briefly <strong>of</strong> other improvements:<br />

"The first thing my husband did was to lay pipes from the spring and install<br />

a force pump. People had lived in this old house for seventy years without the<br />

initiative to get water in the kitchen sink and had carried it by pailfuls up a<br />

10-foot terrace.<br />

"The north side <strong>of</strong> the kitchen had only one window. We removed the two<br />

upper panels <strong>of</strong> the front kitchen door and inserted a glass, 25 by 31 inches.<br />

"We repaired the fallen kitchen ceiling with composite board nailed over plaster<br />

and painted white. Next we laid down a hard maple floor. The walls were<br />

scraped and an "oilcloth" paper in blue and white tile, was put on. Woodwork<br />

was painted light blue.<br />

"Two small bedrooms were converted into one large livingroom—see window<br />

in Picture No. 3.<br />

"Picture No. 1 shows no front entrance facing road. No. 7 shows the added<br />

door and piazza.<br />

"Picture No. 9 shows the former owners' front door, only used on formal<br />

occasions. A glass panel in this door transformed a queer little, dark box entrance<br />

into a sunny room which Baby had for her playroom. Now it is my ideal summer<br />

kitchenette. A cement step, 4 by 6 ft. replaces the ancient rotting log.<br />

"The pictures from No. 1 to No. 10, show part <strong>of</strong> the transformation from an<br />

ugly, rapidly-decaying place into a comfortable, convenient and much-admired<br />

farm home."<br />

Mrs. H<strong>of</strong>fman states that she was inspired to send us this interesting illustrated<br />

story <strong>of</strong> The Home Transformed by reading the series <strong>of</strong> articles from Mrs.<br />

Adeline B. Whitford, Making the Most <strong>of</strong> Our Rooms, which began in<br />

the September issue <strong>of</strong> THE FARMER'S WIFE and are still<br />

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continuing.<br />

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