I shared a picture of this home a couple of weeks ago and I told you if I found any information on it that I would report back. Well, I didn’t find any anything on it, but it found ME! It thrills my soul that that picture found its way to the family that owns it. And it has got a story to tell, y’all!
The original home on this site was built in 1854 by Thomas J. Wakefield. He was a supporter of the Union during the Civil War and had four sons that fought for the Union. There were attempts on his life and his home was burned in 1866 as a result. He rebuilt soon after and his new house was completed between 1868 and 1869.
Union soldiers camped in a church during the war and the nearby road is now called Union Camp Road.
The house eventually found its way into the hands of a doctor named A. Y. Kirby. He operated his practice out of a building located on his property that still stands today. His name is on a water tower closeby and he is buried in a small cemetery located near the house.
What I find to be the coolest part of this home’s story is the connection between the owners.
The year was 1988 and E.C. and Edna Meadows purchased this gorgeous old farmhouse for their own. They set out to restore it and did so with help from family and friends. Among several projects, they added running water and even moved a staircase from outside to the interior.
The home suffered a fire yet again in 2007, but she once again was restored and brought back to life! This house is like a cat, right?
One connection between the Meadows and former resident, Dr. Kirby, is that he delivered both E.C. and Edna! He often travelled to deliver children and little did he know that he would be delivering two people that would not only marry each other, but that would share a common home with him!
What the Meadows would discover years after living here is perhaps my favorite part. Edna was a Wakefield and Thomas J. Wakefield (who originally built the home in 1854) was an ancestor of hers!
So many stories crossed paths within this home. Stories of loss, resilience, caring, love, and restoration. E. C. was a minister for many years until he retired and he and Edna loved to restore antique furniture here together. I am sad to say that Edna of this beautiful story passed not too long ago, but her husband E.C. still holds this home dear along with all of his family! I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about it and share it with you.
The grandson of these sweet people, David, shared this history with me and I’ll leave you with his words – “There is just so much history around all of us if we just stop and look.”
