Nana's house----thought some of our children or younger cousins might someday wonder where the Rippetoes grew up.The next time I am in Charleston I am going to drive up Washington Street, just about 2 blocks above the WV State Capitol and see if the house is still there and if so will take a photo to post.
Growing up it seemed like a large house; it was home to Ginny, Lala, Ruthie and Curtis. Two story and white with a large porch across the entire front of the house. It was set back from Washington Street and you had to go up about 4-5 steps from the sidewalk and then about so many steps onto the porch. On the right side of the porch was a porch swing and the front door was to the far left. There was also a small metal door to the left of the front door and I believe this was either for ice delivery or milk. I don't know the date that the family moved into the house but I believe they lived there during the mid 30's and Nana remained there until she moved to Lee Street sometime in the late 60's.
Nana had such a green thumb and loved flowers; she had a huge garden and beautiful roses in the backyard. I remember the huge hydrangea bushes in the summertime; they produced gigantic blue flowers. It must have been the perfect spot for them. As for the roses, I can remember collecting Japanese beetles in jars full of some liquid that would drown them, and Nana must have had dozens of rose bushes. Like hydrangeas, I have tried my gardening hand at roses and haven't had much success. I am still trying!
After dinners there, I remember sitting on the front porch swing with my cousins and John , my brother, and we would have contests counting either the makes of cars as they drove up and down Washington Street. Remember in the 50's, there were no foreign cars, so we counted mostly Fords, Chevrolets, Buicks, Cadillacs, and remember we did have some cars that are now obsolete brands like Studebaker, Rambler Nashes etc. I don't remember which cars were most popular or who ever won, just memories of sitting and swinging on the porch swing. Sometimes swinging to high and too fast. If one person was pushing harder than another the swing would get out of synch and start swaying all over the place; in all of the wrong places. In addition to the porch, there was also a nice flat yard in the front and back so perfect for catching lightning bugs during the summers and lots of games of hide and seek and tag.
Inside Nana's house, the hallway went straight to the back of the house to the kitchen. As you walked in the front door the living room was directly on the right and behind that a large dining room which I don't ever remember eating in as I think Nana kept alot of her sewing projects there. There was an open staircase upstairs and I remember spending forever sliding down the bannister, over and over again.
The kitchen was an old fashioned kitchen, fairly large as there was a table where we ate most of the time, and a pantry between the kitchen and dining room and a covered back porch for storage etc.
Upstairs, again a long hallway the length of the house at one end over the kitchen was a bathroom with a claw footed tub, I did not like that bath tub! At the other end of the house facing Washington Street was a small bedroom only large enough for a twin bed and dresser. Along the hallway between the bath and the front bedroom were three large bedrooms, Nana's being in the middle. I only remember sleeping in the front bedroom or in her room, not in the other bedrooms. Isn't that strange, I don't know why? She always read the Bible every night before going to bed.
Back in the 50's and 60's, there were such places as "rooming" houses, I think the predecessors to "Bed and Breakfasts" today. But the renters were long term, that is not over night guests. And Nana would have a group of boarders from time to time in her home. I can remember only men, and I think most were people who were working construction projects. Some came back from year to year. I am sure it was company for her and also provided supplemental income. I don't know whether she ever had any problems doing this but I don't remember hearing of any.
On one side of Nana's house were apartments that were probably built in the 50's, with no architectural integrity-rectangular boxes with casement window, and on the other side, her neighbors the Kirbys. Next to the Kirbys was a little neighborhood market that probably was no wider than the front door. I can't remember its name. They did have penny candies and how convenient for shopping. I would give anything today to have a little neighborhood market instead of Walmart. I can visualize then the fresh produce, good meats; none of which we can find at our local Walmarts, Krogers etc.
Living in South Hills (Charleston WV), we had very very few sidewalks and it is a wonder that we ever learned to ride bicycles. Even after we mastered the technique, the only place we really ever rode the bikes was over at Ruth and Bill's on Oakmont Road. Although there they had a sidewalk across the street, the streets were flat enough and not too curvy that we were able to ride our bikes in the street.... we'd ride to the Little League ballpark, the Jewish Cemetery, to friends and over to the "corner" at the top of the Hill where there were shops, our elementary school, Fernbank, Blakes etc. On a few occasions we did ride from our house on Observatory Road over to the shops at the top of the Hill, but not until we were much older and almost out of the stage of riding bikes. Anyway, I remember bringing bikes to Nana's because there were flat sidewalks and alleys perfect for riding and riding and riding.
Oh and I almost forgot the lemonade stands! As I mentioned above when living in South Hills (Charleston WV), there were no sidewalks near our house, curvy narrow roads, and no one walking anywhere. Just cars going by. 2217 East Washington Street was the perfect place, flat sidewalks and lots of people walking by....what a treat for us to earn a pocketful of change!
Lastly, I can remember Nana making the best hot rolls and me sneaking pieces of the unbaked roll dough; it was so tasty. She was an expert seamstress, no doubt self taught. She had such patience and enjoyed teaching others how to sew both by hand and by sewing machine. The style was boxed pleated skirts and she could make them without a pattern!
Nana was born March 10, 1889 and died 1972. Eighty four years... you can only imagine all that she saw and experienced during her lifetime.
If anyone else has anything to share about 2217 East Washington Street..please add a post. Maybe a photo?
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I love every single memory I have of Nana’s house! The sliding pocket doors between the dining room, the attic, I don’t believe I ever went downstairs into the cellar. I was probably afraid. She had beautiful roses in the backyard and a garage off the alley. But we all played mostly in the front and ran along the side with the sidewalk . Loved that swing!!! And her rolls- yes, absolutely the best!! I have a picture of mother and dad coming down that stairway as newlyweds going off on their honeymoon! Our family dwindles but memories are certainly something to hold onto, and Nana and everything about her are the best!!
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