I remember a lot about moving day as we re-located our family from our home at 3574 Echo Hill Lane to our new digs at 3195 Winterset Drive about five minutes drive to an nice area also located in Beavercreek. I recall giving the Echo Hill house a hug goodbye (literally). I remember that it took place on Denise’s second birthday on April 8, 1978 – because I joked that the house was her birthday present, and was none too pleased that she was also receiving additional gifts. And I remember a certain black gentleman named Kenny Bailey who assisted with the moving who introduced me to the concept of putting sugar in my chili – which is what we served to all who helped with the moving. Kenny was an employee of Central Printing, Dad’s company who offered a free moving truck and driver to their employees when they moved.
I remember being scared to death by the neighbor up the road, the mentally challenged Mark Trainer, who was lingering around on his bike in front of the house, watching us move. I remember meeting Kenny Carroll, who would take me back in the woods and introduce me to the trees…by name. Gosh, I would grow to love those woods.
It was in this house where I would spend my formative years, from this date in 1978 (at which time I was 6 years old) until the Spring of 1994 (at which time I was 22 years old). So for all intents and purposes, this house was where my life was rooted.
The previous owners of this house, which was built circa 1963, were the Caskeys and they had made one huge change to it when they turned the garage into what we would know as the family room – then added an exterior two-car garage. We would later add yet another two-car garage in 1979 where Dad could do restoration work on his cars.
Yes, over the years, the house underwent many changes while we were living here. As you peruse the photos below, you will note that it has a distinctively 70’s feel to it. My parents did a good job of updating it with the times during the 16-and-a-half years that it was in our possession.
The house before the additional garage. I used to love to balance my bike and ride along that driveway curb all the way up to the tree.
The expansive backyard. The fence and gate by the driveway would eventually be removed.
In my new backyard with my cat Charcoal
The living room. This room changed the least over the years.
The living room from the other angle. Most of this furniture ended up in my first apartment.
The entry way and front door, taken from the dining room
We quickly abandoned this carpet in the dining room and went with brown
View of the dining room and living room, taken from the kitchen
These window trellises would last much longer than they should have. But this furniture which was brought over from Echo Hill would soon be replaced.
The most dynamic feature of the house, the stone fireplace
Mom and Dad’s room. Don’t be alarmed by the guns.
Denise’s room. Obviously this would look much different in later years.
Although Denise’s room was larger, I chose this room because I adored the multi-colored swatch carpeting. This never changed.
I adored this house, this neighborhood, the woods behind our house, the neighbor kids, my paper route, and just about everything else associated with this house. I was quite sad when I went back to have a look at the insides when it was up for sale in the early 2000’s and virtually every room inside had been dramatically changed. Since my friend Heidi lives two doors down from this house, I still the exterior often, but she has advised me that the current residents probably wouldn’t be too keen on letting me back inside.
3195 Winterset Drive, February 2008
Looking like a totally different house
Yes, this is where it all happened. This is where the F*rrell family grew up. It could have even been where Ashleigh was conceived. (Lord knows, we were like rabbits). I was here when I joined the Sons of the Desert. I was here when I went from K-12, then some of college. It was here that I was stalked by a madman. It was here that we made Shrinky-Dink Christmas ornaments. It was here where Denise’s boyfriend threatened – and then later tried – to kill himself. It was here that I first fell in love. It was here that my parents were divorced. It was here where Charcoal, Jet, Ollie, Nikki, and Laurel lived. It was here that I first came home drunk.
Everything – everything – happened here.
And as it happened, it happened here in this house…
1978 will continue…
Hi Brad,
Thank you for creating your blog about the house on Winterset! Yes, my Dad (and Grandpa) built the house. My Dad made your noted changes throughout the years. I am the middle of the three daughters who lived there. Fairbrook Elementary and Ankeney Junior High bring back memories, too.
I’m so glad to hear you have such fond memories of the house and the neighborhood. My family is thrilled to read your blog and view the photos you have posted.
My best friend, Larry Claude, and I built forts in the woods. Larry and his family lived in the house next to the Trainers. They moved to Florida in 1973.
There were no houses between our house and the Trainers house until a year before we moved out.
I vividly remember the big oak tree in the front yard next to the driveway and the two maples in the front yard, smaller when I was young. We played board games under the two maples in the summer shade.
We used to sled ride down Harbert’s hill, on Seacor Ct. (sp?), sort of behind the Hastell’s, on Birchall Dr.
I grew up with Mark Trainer in the neighborhood, too. We were always nice to Mark. He had a brother Phillip who was a little older than my older sister Stephanie.
We were close with most of the neighbors, the Isens, Mulherns, Hastells, and Hines.
The room with the multi-colored carpet was my older sister Stephanie’s room. She requested the different carpet squares.
My Mom wanted the arches around the windows in the family room, so my Dad made them. She even wanted the sand in the red paint for texture.
BTW, I remember the address as 6566 Winterset Dr. Was it changed?
Natalie (Caskey) Haas
July 17th, 2015