Leaving The Lucas House In Two Weeks

I just got word from the Blackwells, the owners of the Lucas House, where I have been ensconced the last 18 months that the house has now been sold and I need to evacuate the premises in the next 2 weeks. Although it came as no surprise, the news was nevertheless shocking.

Evidently, the buyers are wanting to start some basic renovations like replacing the wiring and the plumbing. So, I have arranged a room at the Mike Horner House about 1 mile due east of where I live now.

Mike and I have been involved in a couple of Bible studies together one of which we conduct at the Frothy Cup Coffee Shop, the other at the United Church Adult Sunday School. He has been extremely helpful in my ministry and now has committed Sunday nights to my new church, Calvary Idaho Springs Campus.

Mike and his wife, June, were also instrumental in organizing the weekly spaghetti suppers at the Clear Creek Neighborhood Church on Thursday nights. Mike is a retired industrial arts teacher who taught many years in the Clear Creek School District.

They have recently become grandparents for the first time. Now, they have invited me to occupy their spare bedroom on the second floor. Their home is even more historic than the Lucas house as it once formed part of an old hotel that was originally located on Colorado Blvd next to where the Catholic Church is now located.

President US Grant visited Idaho Springs back in the mid 1880s and stayed in that hotel. Later, the building was cut into 2 halves and Mike and June own one of those halves. It was moved circa 1910 to its present location up on a bluff a few blocks north on 19th Avenue.

Although I am looking forward to starting a new chapter here in Idaho Springs, Colorado I am at the same time wistful about the prospect of leaving such a noble if somewhat shabby house that would later become my home.

My first night at the Lucas House was January 28, 2015 and it was around 25 degrees inside portending a long and unbearably uncomfortable residency. Since I had no water I was forced to run the half mile down Colorado Blvd to the 24 hr "Kum And Go" convenience store when nature called...even if it was 2am.

The furnace, manufactured sometime in the first half of the 20th century, evidently had given up the ghost, and to add insult to injury, there was no water, but, at least there was electricity... in some of the rooms.

That first night I set up my tipi tent in the side foyer facing Ninth Avenue. The door to the side foyer was the only functioning one. With my tent opening facing this door it offered me a quick escape should the old firetrap go up in flames at 3:00 am.

Along the way I have endured nights of frightful sounds such as objects falling yet not finding anything that had fallen and the sound of muffled voices echoing from downstairs during certain late nights.

Then there was Cody, my roommate last year, who saw an old man one night sitting atop the dresser in his room staring him while laying in his bed. Then, there was Tony, the homeless guy who on a visit to the house told me he too saw an old man this time dressed up in a brown suit and red tie staring out the southwest corner bedroom on the second floor, which happens to be the bedroom I now occupy.

Bonnie, who stayed in the house for a bit also experienced a couple of bizarre happenings. But, I cannot say I saw anything unusual.

Notwithstanding all this, I completely and thoroughly enjoyed my long stay in the once glorious 1872 Manse.

I will miss the privacy and the independence I enjoyed here where I wrote most of my newspaper and blog articles in the smallish sitting room situated between the southwest corner bedroom and the north bedroom all the while puffing on either my pipe or a cigar.

I cooked many a dinner here on the old stove for myself and friends.  I immensely enjoyed my afternoon teas while eagerly devouring a new book from the library. And, I will always remember the lively Friday evening group discussions right here in this sitting room where at present I am penning this article.

But, as they say, all good things must end.

I will not, however, miss the constant drudgery of shuffling the half mile to the United Church and a half mile back to get 3-6 gallons of water and cart it back to the house. The reader should be reminded that a gallon of water weighs 8 pounds.

I won't miss not having showers or baths or hot water. You see, back in early January the water meter froze and cracked so the water has been shut off ever since. And, the hot water heater has never worked.

Recently, Mike Horner has been helping me fill up 60 1 gallon jugs from his faucet and hauling them in his Ford Ranger pickup. But, that will all end in 2 weeks when I move into his home.

Mike's home is more conveniently located closer to downtown and the Safeway grocery store. So, that means less walking for me. Now, I routinely walk anywhere from 2 to 5 miles everyday just going downtown and to Safeway.

This first chapter living in Idaho Springs, Colorado has been a happy one thanks largely to Brian and Becky Blackwell for the use of their lovely house on the corner of Colorado and Ninth.

The Horner House will be much more comfortable and the company more delightful than that of the old time ghosties that dance and party away the long and lonely nights at the Lucas House. I sure hope they will accommodate the presence of the new buyers and vice versa.

You can see the green roof of the Lucas House in the first photo I took of the west side of Idaho Springs. The third pic is of the Horner House. The second pic is my favorite room in the Lucas House where I wrote most of my articles, read books, puffed on my pipe and cigars and generally just relaxed. Also held Friday discussion group here too. Will sorely miss this tiny room.

Well...until next time, grace and peace to you all. See you down on the sunnyside of the road!

BR Schoenbein
June 29, 2016- Wednesday