Stella Grable's boarding house

Notice the unique bow and arrow decorations on the gables. I have never seen anything like them and I think they're charming. I happened to meet Stella's great-nephew, who was driving by. He told me that his aunt always had 3-4 long-term residents (all men). She also found extra room for the occasional drunk from the nearby bar who knocked on her door in the middle of the night asking for lodging. I neglected to ask the nephew what decades this was a boarding house, but he did say it was in operation for "a long time."

The house has served other purposes since then and he believes it is now owned by the city of Merrill and will be restored. I hope so. There is a sign on the property that says, "Volunteers Wanted" and I assume they want donated construction services.

Previous uploads of the house:
www.ipernity.com/doc/1227338/36680234/in/album/744494
www.ipernity.com/doc/1227338/36680242/in/album/744494

Nouchetdu38, , , Don Barrett (aka DBs travels) and 18 other people have particularly liked this photo

29 comments - The latest ones

Stormlizard ^club

Certainly an interesting building.

That has often happened when there are no Public funding for historically interesting items.
I know that in Japan some diving photographers are requested to assisit in capturing photos ofwhat seems to be and ancient city deep below the waves in the Okinawa region.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Stormlizard ^club

Thank you! Yes, it seems there's always lack of funding for these things.

8 years ago.

Gudrun ^club

Oh, I certainly hope it will be restored- it's a gem of a building!

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Gudrun ^club

I checked on it again this summer (photo taken 2015) and it's still there in the same condition. Thanks, Gudrun!

8 years ago. Edited 8 years ago.

Edward Bowthorpe

Looks really nice Diane,eddie,

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Edward Bowthorpe

Thank you!

8 years ago.

Peggy C ^club

Yes - re-store / re-purpose ----- you know how I feel about this ....

Why put another footprint on the Earth if it isn't needed ?

Hope you will be able to document the progress as well as dig into the history [ with Oneida Mills re-purpose Project .. have found lots of info .. doesn't mean I understand it all, but did find it ] ...
Good luck with this house ... going for Historic ?

And look who I found in NatGeo !!!

8 years ago. Edited 8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Peggy C ^club

I feel the same, Peggy. I don't know what the town is going for, it's in a different town (Merrill). Something that really bugged me about the town, though: a chain "dollar store" kind of this opened and they built a NEW store slightly out of the main business area. Well, there are many stores for lease, boarded up, on the main street, so why not adapt several of them for that purpose? Like this, for instance: www.ipernity.com/doc/1227338/40074590

Well, that wouldn't be "corporate" (i.e. uniform) enough, that's why. I imagine the city administration was just thrilled to have anything new opening, so let them do whatever they wanted. That's business.

(Yep, I'm on NatGeo but don't use it anymore...)

8 years ago.

Pam J ^club has replied to Diane Putnam ^club

Peggy and I will come and help !!!!!!!

8 years ago.

Pam J ^club has replied to Peggy C ^club

Just told Diane that you and I will come and help with that house !

8 years ago.

Peggy C ^club has replied to Pam J ^club

Are you sure Diane could put up with us?

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Peggy C ^club

Hey, it's not my house, so be my guest! Lol!

8 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club

That is one pretty building. And an elegant one.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to John FitzGerald ^club

Thanks, John, I'd gladly live in a house like that!

8 years ago.

Pam J ^club

Oh GEEZZZZZZZZ ... what a STORY !!!!!

Meryl Streep need to play "Aunt" in older years.

I wanna make this place right again... WANNA WANNA WANNA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Pam J ^club

OH! That would be perfect, and lots of crazy, drunk men to play against. Of course, a love interest. Sam Elliot, the perfect cowboy. www.pinterest.com/pin/429812358158634300

8 years ago.

Pam J ^club has replied to Diane Putnam ^club

OMgggggggggggggggggggggggg !!!!!

And Jack Nicholson... and and...,and .... sighhhhhh

Dammit are we showing our lust or our age or both... What the Hell... I am loving growing old disgracefully !!!!

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Pam J ^club

Haha! I'll take either one.

8 years ago.

Keith Burton ^club

What a beautiful old house..............it has such character and I imagine that Stella was quite a formidable character herself..!! I hope it gets properly restored and taken back into use again.

A superb image Diane with a really interesting narrative. Thanks for sharing.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

I had the impression she held her own against all the characters she dealt with in her house! Thank you, Keith, for the compliment!

8 years ago.

Steve Bucknell ^club

I wonder what the bow and arrow might represent. It seems very specific as a decoration.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Steve Bucknell ^club

It represents a bow and arrow.

A-hem, anyway...probably just a simple western motif. There was a "Modoc War" in eastern Oregon and California, which, of course, ended badly for the Modoc. Maybe it has something to do with that, although it wasn't near this town. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modoc_War

8 years ago.

Steve Bucknell ^club has replied to Diane Putnam ^club

Fascinating.

8 years ago.

Léopold ^club

A future haunted house with countless charms.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Léopold ^club

It looked especially haunted with the dark sky. Thanks, Leo.

8 years ago.

Phill G

I love these old American timber clad houses. Upstate NY is full of them. So stylish and of fine design, though fairly simple in construction. Constructional carpentry was a more honest trade in those days. The aesthetics are spot on. A great reno I would love to get my hands on.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to Phill G

It is a charming old house. I'd love for you to get your hands on it, too! Thank you so much for your interesting comment, Phill.

8 years ago.

%name%

great old house.

8 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to %name%

Yes, it is! Thanks for the star, forever.

8 years ago.

Sign-in to write a comment.

		Page color
		Comments Panel
		Screen Margins
▼▲
		Widescreen

← Among Diane Putnam's photos

Location

See also...

Architecture Vol. 2 Architecture Vol. 2

Decadenza - Dekadenz - abandoned thinks - decadencia Decadenza - Dekadenz - abandoned thinks - decadencia

" Bilder aus der Region wo ich wohne... Photos de la région où je vis ...Pictures from the region where I live ..." " Bilder aus der Region wo ich wohne... Photos de la région où je vis ...Pictures from the region where I live ..."

"a mixed pixels presentation...." "a mixed pixels presentation...."

Buildings, Architecture, and Bridges Buildings, Architecture, and Bridges

Rettet die Dinge Rettet die Dinge

Wooden Architecture Wooden Architecture

50 plus photographers 50 plus photographers

Total Topography Total Topography

Oregon Oregon

Clouds and Nebulosity of the atmosphere. Clouds and Nebulosity of the atmosphere.

Roads to follow Roads to follow

La Maison du Bonheur !.. La Maison du Bonheur !..

Damned cable! Damned cable!

Des fils partout ......./ Plenty of wires ...../ Hilos en todas partes..... Des fils partout ......./ Plenty of wires ...../ Hilos en todas partes.....

Fenêtres, portes et façades / Windows, doors and façades. Fenêtres, portes et façades / Windows, doors and façades.

Bad Weather… Schlechtes Wetter …Mauvais temps ... mal tiempo Bad Weather… Schlechtes Wetter …Mauvais temps ... mal tiempo

Abandoned Places Abandoned Places

Ombres & reflets / Shades & reflections Ombres & reflets / Shades & reflections

PLAYING WITH BRUSHES, TEXTURES, FILTERS, SPECIAL EFFECTS, etc PLAYING WITH BRUSHES, TEXTURES, FILTERS, SPECIAL EFFECTS, etc

La photo électrique / The electric photography / La fotografía eléctrica. La photo électrique / The electric photography / La fotografía eléctrica.

Folk architecture, arquitectura popular, Volksarchitektur Folk architecture, arquitectura popular, Volksarchitektur

Rusty & Ruins Rusty & Ruins

Blanc Blanc

Façades du Monde Façades du Monde

houses houses

Photo Potpourri Photo Potpourri

I LOVE IT ! ★ J'AIME CELA ! ★ DAS LIEBE ICH ! ★ MI PIACE MOLTO ! I LOVE IT ! ★ J'AIME CELA ! ★ DAS LIEBE ICH ! ★ MI PIACE MOLTO !

Doors and Windows Doors and Windows

Abandoned Abandoned

Authorizations, license

Stella Grable's boarding house

Ξ	Frame Options
3 - +