So sad! Just had to share

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've noticed you were from Lakeville which is were my best friend from college lives. I grew up in MN, still have business there etc. I've been amazed to say the least at everything going on in that area in the past 15-20 years but this is especially shocking!

 

[LisaS]

How sad! I can only imagine how it feels to see a home you built with your own hands and where you raised your children, destroyed like that. I wonder if the city had plans to use the land for something and the house had to be removed to make way for whatever they plan to do. Otherwise, why destroy something that I assume was still in great shape and that probably made the city some money as a rental?

 

[Opie100]

Hopefully the firemen learned something in practice that they can use to save someone's life one day.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm so sorry Diane. I can't even imagine how seeing your labor of love.....the home that holds so many memories....come to such a demise and how that must make you feel. Big HUGS going out to you and your dh.


Maria

 

[PamOKW]

Oh no, Diane. How kind of odd/eerie that you drove by when it was still smoldering. I'm terribly sorry that you had to see that -- but at least you were able to learn what had happened rather than just seeing an empty lot later on. Very upsetting that they chose to burn down all your hard work and memories. You'll always have the memories and you certainly have a lovely "log cabin"!

 

[Doug7856]

So sorry Diane. Thanks for sharing your story. Its shared, heartfelt experiences like this that make the disboards a community.

 

[arthur06]

Look at it this way. The fire department was training on that house! Maybe some good will come out of it! A situation or scenario arises that a firefighter encountered at your old home, saves another life. Be thankful that you had many great years/memories there!

Its kind of like losing a loved one who was an organ donor. Its hard, but good does come out of it for someone else!

 

[ToddyLu]

DH is a firefighter on the Gulf Coast. I appreciate the sacrifice of your former home for the training offered the local firefighters. We lost our home contents in Katrina and MIL lost her's as well down the street. THen five weeks later FIL passed away from Cancer...he didn't get to pass away in his own bed like he wanted...but he was surrounded by family.

When I spoke to DH the morning of Katrina...he sounded weird (I was with family in Montgomery). He had stayed with MIl and FIL becasue FIL was sick and couldn't be evacuated. So he called me that morning and sounded odd. He only wanted to know "how long is the storm going to last, what is CNN saying??" and "How far away is it??". No power at that point and we are 110 miles from New Orleans. THen it struck me....he was standing in water. I asked him " are you standing in water?", DH "yes", Me "is it up to your ankles?", DH "yes", Me "Todd is up to you your knees?? (now my voice is beginning to crack on the phone), DH "yes", Me "Todd, how high is the water??", DH "my hips". I apologized for not having the info he wanted and not being there to help. THen we lost the connection. He doesn't like to talk about the hurricane...the pets and people that we lost, the property, the exposure to horrible conditions... but he was there working.

He had to move FIL outside under the eaves of the house sitting on his seated walker until the water came down. DH was afraid the house would collapse. No one should ever have to think about this.....how was he going to save both his Mom and Dad if it came to that?? He only had to think about that very briefly, because the water started coming down....but it was still there...along with the other stressors.

I have told this story not to gain sympathy....but to let you know how important that training is. He was trained to help his Mom and Dad and his community. He built my house back and their house back with the firmen's help. When our guys needed a break...Fire Departments came to help from all over the country. 4 great guys from the Louiseville, KY department helped us gut our house. DH would not have had the help otherwise...

While our homes are places of refuge...mine being extra special because DH did everything in it on his days off....It is only that....and I would trade it at any time to know that he was safe.

The firemen do appreciate the property they protect and I know that even though it didn't feel like that at the time...they do....they really do.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How sad! I can only imagine how it feels to see a home you built with your own hands and where you raised your children, destroyed like that. I wonder if the city had plans to use the land for something and the house had to be removed to make way for whatever they plan to do. Otherwise, why destroy something that I assume was still in great shape and that probably made the city some money as a rental?

Atually, it seems the city just didn't want the responsibility of maintaining it. They rented it out for 4 years, and then decided they would try to put it together with the residual of the land they took and sell it for commercial development instead of as a homestead. The sad thing about that is the beautiful mesianic oak forrest that will likely be cut down to make way for that commercial development. Our whole family is devastated. It's like we can't "go home" anymore. We lived there the best 25 years of our lives.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh no, Diane. How kind of odd/eerie that you drove by when it was still smoldering. I'm terribly sorry that you had to see that -- but at least you were able to learn what had happened rather than just seeing an empty lot later on. Very upsetting that they chose to burn down all your hard work and memories. You'll always have the memories and you certainly have a lovely "log cabin"!

Yes, that has given us an eerie feeling too. It's like we went out of our way to see it, and then learned it was gone. It's like something beyond us told us to go past there yesterday and at that very time. The firefighters were still there, as was the man who had rented it from the city for the past 4 years. He said his family was sad too, because it was a great house. Just seems like such a waste.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

practice burn?????!! What an utter slap in the face.

I am so sorry

 

[Deb & Bill]

practice burn?????!! What an utter slap in the face.

I am so sorry

Just read your ticker. Where did you go in Montana? I used to live there and loved it.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

Just read your ticker. Where did you go in Montana? I used to live there and loved it.

Still Here! (there?) I am staying in Billings and Bozeman

 

[loribell]

Diane that is just terrible. I am so sorry.

 

[Chuck S]

Diane, I'm going to go ahead and move this thread to the Community Board.

I certainly understad the feeling of loss when your former homes change. The house I grew up in is nothing like it was when we lived there, but the whole neighborhood has changed. Most of the houses around it are gone, the local shopping center was destroyed and burned. It really is heartbreaking.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hey Diane, I have not read all the posts and I am sure everyone is sympathetic, but I built the house we live in now about 23 years ago. I have a love hate relationship with my house. So many things needing maintenance or renewing, but I can't imagine the feelings you have of seeing one of your precious works being used as practice for the fire department.

That said... all I can think to make this easier is to think of it as donating your organs after death. Tragic time, many memories, but someone learned a lesson or gained experience in doing this. And likely, someone will benefit from a more experienced firefighter.... one that has fought a real fire in a real house and learned something. So sorry for you experience.

As always... life does go on. You have Bill and he has you. I am constantly reminded that Mary Beth and I are the most important things in life for each other. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Smile... you have Bill and you have the future.

 

[Buckalew11]

Diane. I am very, very sorry. You will most likely grieve this as you would grieve anything lost in life. We are building right now and it is like a baby to us. We aren't doing all the work though so I can only imagine how that part makes you feel.

My parents helped their builder build theirs on LBI, NJ and once we drove by after my folks had sold and the renter's had beer can stacked up in the picture window--a window my mom loved. She was heartbroken with just that---but hers is still standing.

I am sorry. Hugs to you both.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

To Chuck and all the great moderators, and to Alex...

The DVC boards are a bit unique and have real family ties and friendships. I wish you could allow us a little bit more flexibility to have this type of interaction without having to make it just about DVC... We are DVC, and we are just sharing our love and experiences as DVC family.

Just my thoughts and wishes.

 

[twinklebug]

I agree with DisDayDreamer, the DVC boards, like the camping boards have developed very unique & real communities. The community board has nice visitors too, but is far more controversial. I think the thread would do better back on DVC & locked if need be.

Diane, to you & your DH. I totally understand. Your house was in essence another child to you and your husband. As with children, there comes a point you need to let them go to go on with their own lives as you need to with yours. You always hope their lives will continue on a good path. To see such a beautiful home with great memories burnt to the ground is heartbreaking (btw - those are some amazing fireplaces!). I teared up at the shot you took of your dh walking the driveway up to see the old house.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

I'm so sorry that you had to experience this.

My parents finally decided a few years ago to sell our childhood home. My father had lived there for 45 years. We were all sad but knew it was for the best for them. However, the people who bought it, rented it out and over the last few years it is unrecognizable. Today my husband and I drove past it and it just breaks my heart to see all the trees they cut down. (It was 9 acres and many were planted by my siblings and grandparents.) It is junked up, uncared for, and unloved. My mother and father had landscaped and put in brick sidewalks and such and it is all gone now. Totally unrecognizable. So I understand your loss--I hate to even tell my children that that's where I grew up because it's just plain ugly and scary looking.
So sorry for you too!