F is For Fancy Farmhouse Architecture

We went east to visit one of our sons and his wife yesterday, J & K.  While taking a short drive to the grocery store...doesn't everyone go to the grocery store just for fun while visiting someone? It was a Mejier!  I had never been to a Mejier Grocery Store but this won't be my last time.  Soooo much nicer than the dreaded WalMart....anyhow, back to "while taking a drive"... we came across two old abandoned farmhouses.  There were "For Sale" signs out front so doesn't that mean they're free game to pull in the driveway, look in windows or what once was a window and maybe even wander through the house.  If the door is unlocked and open, wouldn't you?

The architecture of old houses just blows me away.  The builders often took extra care in little details, like the embellishment above this window and the panel that was next to the front door.

I can only imagine what these windows looked like before they were salvaged or stolen.  I don't think they were just broken out as the ones that were missing were roundtops or might have likely been leaded or stained glass.  I'm hoping someone salvaged them and didn't just throw them out.

Can't you imagine a cozy sitting area in this corner of the house?

The houses had been vandalized with graffiti and plaster pulled off the walls to get to the copper wires which people steal and sell for cash. :(  Raccoons also seem to have taken up residence as evidenced by the gifts they've left behind. :(

Both of the homes were obviously high end homes in their day.  I would guess the above home to have been built in the early 1900's and maybe the one below in the 1930's or 40's.  

I can't help but wonder what these homes and the surrounding property might have looked like back in the day.  It makes me sad to see beautiful buildings fall into such sad shape.