Lorraine Fussell shared this history of this classic American Foursquare house: This is my mother’s childhood home (Martha Harper). It fell into disrepair before I was able (or wanted) to restore it. My grandmother, Bessie Johnson Harper, had this home built around 1916 and used savings from her teaching in Wray and elsewhere to afford it. She died in 1926, leaving her husband, Henry Brooks Harper, and eight children behind. My grandfather lived here till his death in 1952, and his daughter, Eleanor Harper, lived here until 2006.
Update: As of late 2016, this house has been razed.
My Greatgrandmother was from jessup georgia. Her name was Bessie Harper, Widow of Walter Harper. He died in november 1917 From the flu that was to become the flu of 1918. Bessie Harper is buried in winston salem north carolina.
Obviously it’s 2 separate ladies. But there must be a connection somewhere. The similarities cannot be ignored,…..might be cousins.
There’s likely a connection. My Harper grandmother was from Kentucky, though. However, my grandfather, HB Harper, had a brother named Walter.
I remember visiting this home quite a few times when I was a lot younger….I wish we had some good pictures of my Granddaddy Alonzo Harper’s old place….it was on the other side of the railroad tracks….
The property the house was on was sold recently and the old house tore down and and new house now sits on the spot of the old.
My parents, Clyde & Mary Paul, were married on the front porch by Mr. Harper during a rain storm. Their marriage lasted over 56 years until separated by death.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mrs. Wright. I spent my first ten years in this house. My papa, Henry Brooks Harper, died before I was born. I knew that he wore many hats–farmer, barber, justice of the peace, custodian, school board member, as well as single father to six daughters and a son (youngest son died in infancy). There are very few people around these days who knew Papa.
This is my mother’s childhood home (Martha Harper). It fell into disrepair before I was able (or wanted) to restore it. My grandmother, Bessie Johnson Harper, had this home built around 1912 and used savings from her teaching in Wray and elsewhere to afford it. She died in 1926, leaving her husband, Henry Brooks Harper, and eight children behind. My grandfather lived here till his death in 1952, and his daughter, Eleanor Harper, lived here until 2006. Bud Mitchell, a grandson, owns the property now.
–great job documenting a faded beauty–I enjoy driving from Osierfield to Ambrose–I take photographs of trains out that way–along the Jacksonville to Chicago high-speed route.
The post office at Wray is a great place to mail a package or buy stamps–no crowds–trains often rumble by while I’m inside.