Fear of Old Houses
My father was not only unafraid of old homes, he embraced them.
By Scott Warner
Admit it: all of us who own old houses are afraid of them. We are afraid of water damage around the chimney, ancient wiring in the attic, and leaks in the cellar. We are afraid of crumbling plaster, rolling floors, and doors that refuse to click softly shut. No matter how hard we labor to make over our beautiful homes, they remain like old boxers, battered and scarred by previous owners, stubbornly upright despite thousands of blows and knockdowns. Yet they are mysterious and fragile, ready to crumble or swallow money without warning.
