This post must be started with a special thank you to Randy and Donna Sterner of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, who now own the farm on Messersmith Road where John and Jennie Forbes Penley once lived. My niece Sarah and I stopped at the farm in June when we were both visiting Jennie and her family. The folks who were renting the house very graciously allowed us to take a peek inside and told us that owners Randy and Donna had done extensive renovations to the old place. It was certainly nothing like I remembered, but it was incredibly beautiful. I called Randy this past weekend to ask about pictures, and tonight Donna sent some via email. I am so grateful to them, and I'm sure my Penley and Forbes cousins will be too, not only for sharing these photos, but for the loving restoration of the place which to me will always be Grandma's house.
John and Jennie followed several of her Forbes brothers to York County, PA, in the 1940's and bought this farm, located in between Glen Rock and Seven Valleys. Eventually all of their married children followed them to settle nearby. Pictured at the farm are John and Jennie with all their living children: Marge, foster child Ginny Sweitzer, Edna, Fred, Bonnie, Roy, Jennie, John, Jimmy, Cotton and Lovely.
In this photo you can see some of the old brickwork of the farmhouse. Pictured above are Jimmie, Lovely, Marge, Jennie and John, in the back; Delores, Cotton, Gary, Mike Templeton, and Larry and Steve Edwards are in front.
You can just see the roofline of the old house through the trees in this photo of Grandma and Grandpa Penley, my family, and me: John, Roy, Zella, Jennie, and in front, Connie is on the right, and I'm on the left. Look how big Poppy's hands are!
This photo must have been taken shortly after I was born, possibly at Christmas 1954. Grandma is holding me, Connie is in the middle, and Grandpa is holding Richard and an unhappy Mike. My memories of inside the house are pretty vague, but maybe a cousin can tell me where this photo was likely taken. Was this the room with the fireplace?
Here is a picture of Uncle Jimmy in the house. Take a good look at the baby in the photo in the window... who is it? And remember this wallpaper and floor covering....
Here are Uncle Fred and Aunt Betty with Richard, I think. Randy gave me this photo and I'm pretty sure that he said it was Rich. He looks pretty tiny, so I'm guessing that the baby in the window would have to be one of our older cousins. Possibly Edwina?
This is the best picture I have of the exterior of the farmhouse as it was when our family lived there. I'm hoping someone has some better photos. Please check everybody - Mike, Vikki, Donna, Jane, Randy, Cathy, Brenda - do any of you have photos of the old place?
And would you recognize it now? I took this photo the day Sarah and I visited. Doesn't it look little without the kitchen? Randy said that the kitchen extension had deteriorated so much that it couldn't be saved. The summer house and all the outbuildings except for the barn also had to be taken down. I can't remember the summer house. Does anyone have a picture of it?
The barn and the house both needed major renovations and I'm so glad that Randy chose to restore them rather than tear them down.
This picture, and all the ones that follow, were sent to me by Donna Sterner. We're so grateful, Donna!
Would you have believed that these beautiful hardwood floors were under that floor covering? Of course, they weren't this beautiful till Randy had them re-done.
I love the blue and white color scheme. It really fits the age and the simplicity of the house. In this picture you can just see the edge of the brick fireplace on the right hand side...it is so beautiful.
I really don't remember the upstairs at all, and I'm hoping that some of my cousins will. You can post your memories if you want, or send them to me via email, and I'll post them for you.
The renovations extend even to the attic.
Look at the pretty stencilling over the tiny windows! Children would love this space.
What a beautiful place it was - and is! To all my cousins - please check your photos and share any you might have of the Penley farm. If you have them on your computer, just attach to an email. Or if you need my address to send copies, send a message. I would love to see your pictures and I'm sure all our cousins would, too. And thanks again, Randy and Donna.
John and Jennie followed several of her Forbes brothers to York County, PA, in the 1940's and bought this farm, located in between Glen Rock and Seven Valleys. Eventually all of their married children followed them to settle nearby. Pictured at the farm are John and Jennie with all their living children: Marge, foster child Ginny Sweitzer, Edna, Fred, Bonnie, Roy, Jennie, John, Jimmy, Cotton and Lovely.
In this photo you can see some of the old brickwork of the farmhouse. Pictured above are Jimmie, Lovely, Marge, Jennie and John, in the back; Delores, Cotton, Gary, Mike Templeton, and Larry and Steve Edwards are in front.
You can just see the roofline of the old house through the trees in this photo of Grandma and Grandpa Penley, my family, and me: John, Roy, Zella, Jennie, and in front, Connie is on the right, and I'm on the left. Look how big Poppy's hands are!
This photo must have been taken shortly after I was born, possibly at Christmas 1954. Grandma is holding me, Connie is in the middle, and Grandpa is holding Richard and an unhappy Mike. My memories of inside the house are pretty vague, but maybe a cousin can tell me where this photo was likely taken. Was this the room with the fireplace?
Here is a picture of Uncle Jimmy in the house. Take a good look at the baby in the photo in the window... who is it? And remember this wallpaper and floor covering....
Here are Uncle Fred and Aunt Betty with Richard, I think. Randy gave me this photo and I'm pretty sure that he said it was Rich. He looks pretty tiny, so I'm guessing that the baby in the window would have to be one of our older cousins. Possibly Edwina?
This is the best picture I have of the exterior of the farmhouse as it was when our family lived there. I'm hoping someone has some better photos. Please check everybody - Mike, Vikki, Donna, Jane, Randy, Cathy, Brenda - do any of you have photos of the old place?
And would you recognize it now? I took this photo the day Sarah and I visited. Doesn't it look little without the kitchen? Randy said that the kitchen extension had deteriorated so much that it couldn't be saved. The summer house and all the outbuildings except for the barn also had to be taken down. I can't remember the summer house. Does anyone have a picture of it?
The barn and the house both needed major renovations and I'm so glad that Randy chose to restore them rather than tear them down.
This picture, and all the ones that follow, were sent to me by Donna Sterner. We're so grateful, Donna!
Would you have believed that these beautiful hardwood floors were under that floor covering? Of course, they weren't this beautiful till Randy had them re-done.
I love the blue and white color scheme. It really fits the age and the simplicity of the house. In this picture you can just see the edge of the brick fireplace on the right hand side...it is so beautiful.
I really don't remember the upstairs at all, and I'm hoping that some of my cousins will. You can post your memories if you want, or send them to me via email, and I'll post them for you.
The renovations extend even to the attic.
Look at the pretty stencilling over the tiny windows! Children would love this space.
What a beautiful place it was - and is! To all my cousins - please check your photos and share any you might have of the Penley farm. If you have them on your computer, just attach to an email. Or if you need my address to send copies, send a message. I would love to see your pictures and I'm sure all our cousins would, too. And thanks again, Randy and Donna.
No comments:
Post a Comment