Let Me Take You To The Most Beautiful Victorian Home
Posted: Saturday, April 21, 2007
by Susan Thom
When my kids were small, I tried to think of a way to make some extra money. Their father was home for two weeks, and away at work for two weeks. He was a merchant seaman on an oil boat in Lewes, Delaware. A "normal" nine to five daily job for me was not feasible, besides, what did I know how to do? What would people need? Could I run errands for people who worked? Grocery shopping? Laundry? They could drop off their smelly clothes, and pick them up, clean and fresh as a summer's breeze. Would I really want to reach into a bag of dirty clothes, and pull out someone's underwear? I didn't want to take kids in, my three were quite debilitating on their own! Ironing? I hated ironing, and wasn't so good at it, but it was a thought. Of course, burning someone's favorite pants suit never entered my mind. I placed an ad in the local paper for ironing. Hey, what could it hurt? If nobody answered, I'd be no worse off. I guess I forgot about the dry cleaners in town.
As the bills piled up, I was becoming more and more frustrated. One day, I got "the" call. Only the woman wasn't looking for anyone to iron. She was interested in someone to clean her house, which was right up my alley. Everyone told me I was a clean freak, and I was good at it. Thorough, careful, not afraid to put my whole body into the job at hand. I could do that. We set up an appointment to meet at her home the next day. After we met, I had the job. She would work with my schedule. I would clean the two weeks my husband was home, and skip the other two.
Perfect.
Built in 1829, her home was a beautiful Victorian, with one hundred and fifty years of memories. And one or two hundred and fifty year old spirits floating around. She gave me the whole tour, while I looked around in wonderment. White laced curtains adorned every window. Oak pocket doors in the dining room and living room, with large beveled glass windows. A huge porch that started in the front, and wrapped around the side. Wide oak planked floors throughout, with exquisite oriental rugs in each room. All the furniture was antique, and I had never seen such intricacies and designs. Mahogany tables with claw feet, a tapestry couch, frames with ornate wood carvings. Mirrors that were so old, you couldn't see yourself in them. A huge shiny black piano filled a corner of the front living room. All walls were painted white, and the family room had built in closets with glass panes in the doors, and old fashioned locks. The small galley kitchen had a steep, and tiny set of stairs going up to this woman's bedroom and bath. The main staircase was second only to the one in Gone With The Wind. A huge, dark wood column at the bottom, with a round swirling top and spindles all the way up the banister. A plush pink rug hugged the stairs.
There were 4 bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. Her daughter's bedroom was big, with a fireplace, and an adjoining room for guests. In that room, there was a daybed and a carousel horse, with a golden pole. It was whimsical and enchanting at the same time. The next room was used as an office, with antique trinkets adorning yet another mantle and fireplace. Dolls, and clowns, and rabbits, and old pictures in old frames. A beautiful wooden desk with a piece of glass lying on top. And the woman's bed had a white puffy down comforter, and pink flowery wallpaper that looked old fashioned. There was a claw foot tub in the bathroom, and a white pedestal sink. A wooden closet with shelves was a makeshift medicine chest. We weren't finished our tour yet. There was a third floor, the attic. It was one big room, with a rocking chair that had a habit of rocking on it's own. Sometimes it was used for an art room, all the materials left for the next impulse to create. Brushes and paints of all colors, and plenty of big white paper, and an easel. Other times it was used as a workout room. A round window let the sun shine in and warmed the whole area.
I was in awe of the majesty of this home. All the windows had magnificent wood moldings. I appreciated the round swirls in the top corner squares. My home was new, and had no moldings at all. There were three massive fireplaces in all. Grand and welcoming. The original wooden Indian shutters kept the cold out of the front living room. I couldn't imagine that I would be cleaning this historical piece of art. I started the next week.
The vacuum was a long, rectangular canister. As I started in the living room, I wondered if I could ever finish! What had I gotten myself into? And was the rocking chair going to be still when I got up to the attic? I had never done anything like this before. I was very nervous. And the woman was at work, so I was alone in this beautiful beast of a home. I started to vacuum, and got to the piano, and needed to plug in to another outlet. I turned to see where one was, and I was struck with terror. There, in the planked floor, the whole path of where I had just dragged the vacuum, were deep indentations in the wood.
My heart began to pound out of my chest. I started to sweat, and panic. "What do I do? What do I do?" I couldn't think straight. All my thoughts were racing. I tried to calm myself. I eventually accepted that the next 6 months to a year, this woman would be getting her cleaning done for free. How could I have ruined her gorgeous floor? I turned the vacuum over. I could see no signs of anything that could have done such damage. The trail matched the wheels. I thought maybe a piece of steel was sticking out, something had to make those marks, but I found nothing. I decided to continue cleaning, and when Maria came home, I would have to tell her what I did. I felt like I had the flu for the rest of the time I was there. Dry sweats, cold sweats, panic, queasy stomach, calming words to myself, then panic again. I kept going back to inspect the area, hoping one of the times, those ruts would be gone. Four hours later, I was done.
Everything glistened, there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. And the rocking chair had stayed still. Had it not been for my mishap, it would have been a great first day on the job. I heard the back door open, and the panic set in with my heart waiting to jump out and run, I had to tell Maria what happened and the only way I knew was to be straight forward and honest. She called to me to let me know she was home. I told her I was in the living room. I don't remember saying that, but I must have, because all of a sudden, there she stood. "Maria, I am really sorry, but somehow, I put these ruts in your floor. I will pay to have it fixed." "What ruts?" she asked. "These, by the piano." "Oh, they did that when they brought the piano in!"
Relief is a bland word to describe how I felt. Elated, revived, exhilarated, thankful, and embarrassed. I had let my mind wander to a scary place, for no reason, but my own anxiety. I had talked myself into thinking I had done something I did not do! I cleaned that stunning Victorian for 7 or 8 more years, never having another self induced mishap! I even got to witness the rocking chair moving slowly, back and forth, all by itself. It was a little eerie, yet it didn't scare me. There was a sense of calm in this enchanting home, no hint of ill will. And I'm still friends with Maria.
However, now, I just stick to cleaning my own house!
What a great story, and so descriptive. You made me fall in love with this great home, and I could feel the sweat as you told about the ruts in the floor.My wife and I are looking at a home that was built in 1910 and is now for sale. It is not as large as the one you describe, but it seems to be everything we have wanted in a house, and our antique furniture will fit in with it just fine. I don't know yet if we will get it, but it is something we are very seriously looking at; who knows?Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david,wow, you are going way back.this victorian is enchanting.my health doesn't permit it at this time, but the woman bought it back, and wants me to clean for her again. i have to wait and see how i feel in a month or so.i love victorians. thank you for reading and commeting,and this one comes equipped with a ghost, although i haven't seen anything.my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
