This old house - Knierim Homestead

This Old House was written by My Aunt Iva Knierim and sent to me by Cindy McDaniels

I am an old house. I was built in the year 1873. I am located upon a high hill, but now so much brush and trees have grown around me I can scarcely be seen from the country road that leads my way. I am back a ways from this road and very few people ever come near me as a locked gate keeps the ones that would like to so they cannot get in to see me. As many other houses, I am deserted. The people that built me have been laid to rest in a cemetery that was once a part of the farm where I stand. My walls stand firm and strong and I am very lonely. Many years ago children played up and down this hill, also ran around in the yard. Little boys and girls chased up and down my stair steps. I have a parlor where children were only allowed to enter with adults and that was usually on Sunday. Six children were raised in me and a few grandchildren are yet living and many great-grands, also great-great-grands. I cannot complain as old people sometimes do about aches and pains, but I am sad. As you travel along highways and country roads you will see I have many sisters. Not far from me is one where some 80 years ago a very melancholy young man took his life. This old house could also tell you many happy stories, like me, as well as sad ones.

I stand here with calatope and age-old cedar trees as if to comfort me. A short distance on another hill stands a beautiful country church which has replaced the original one that was blown away many years ago by a cyclone. But in the belfry the sweet ring of the same bell that rang in the first church every Sunday.

I could yet, after these many years, be re-constructed as many souls are saved in declining years. I am a part of God’s work as my from was cut from trees that were his gift. Even down to the rocks on this hill, everything was given to all by him.

Once in a while some great-grandchildren creep under the locked gate and come up to see me. One even ventured into the wine cellar under me, which was dangerous.

This old house was torn down in 1985. How sad we fall.

Written by Iva Knierim of Appleton City, MO. Iva was 96 years old when she wrote this and was born in 1901. She was the Granddaughter of John Knierim, the first Minister of the German Hebron Church, now known as the Valley Center United Church of Christ, Deepwater, MO.