Family Home Revitalized, 1957

Before: The home of the Craig Wood family of Route 1, Lincolnton. The old home place where Mr. Wood was reared stands on a 72-acre farm. An ell on the rear of the house was the only major exterior change made and it was completely removed.

After: The Wood’s home after it was brick veneered, a new roof added, and windows replaced. Their new home is an almost unbelievable improvement over the old one. Note that the windows are in the same locations, giving additional proof that this is the same home.

The Wood’s old kitchen had some of the modern conveniences, but there was much that needed to be done to make it the modern kitchen Mrs. Wood wanted and needed. The kitchen table and chairs in the picture are the ones she refinished.

Here, Mrs. Wood and her 3-year-old daughter, Betty Larue, are admiring their newly remodeled kitchen. She now has plenty of storage space that she hasn’t enjoyed before.

The living room of the Wood’s home as had many changes, like the rest of the house. An old wooden mantel was torn out and replaced by the brick one shown in this picture. Beside the mantel is the new built-in bookcase.

By Virginia M. Nance in Extension Farm-News, published by the Agricultural Extension Service, N.C. State College, March, 1957

The Craig L. Woods, Route 1, Lincolnton, did what many families in their position would have cast aside as an impossible task—but they did it and are the envy of their families and friends.

The Woods started with an old, old house, which is on the 72-acre farm where Mr. Wood was reared, and turned it into an attractive, brick-veneered home.

According to Evelyn Taylor, Lincoln County assistant home agent, the remodeling started on October 15, 1956, and was completed on December 20, 1956, at a total cost of $5,885.

Major Improvements Made

Some of the major things the Woods have done on their home include a new roof, brick veneer, new windows in the original locations, and weatherboarding on the dormer.

There are some who say that it’s hard to believe that the Woods did so much to their house for so little money. The interior was greatly improved, too, explains Mrs. Taylor.

Kitchen Redone

In the kitchen alone, six major improvements were made. Mrs. Wood says that she saves a lot of time now that her kitchen is so much more convenient. “I’m afraid I might get lazy,” she says.

Vinyl plastic tile was added t the kitchen-den and bathroom floors, while the oak living room floors were finished with a penetrating seal.

Fluorescent light fixtures have been placed in the center of the kitchen and over the sink. The Woods had the kitchen cabinets built from plywood and painted white, and the walls in the kitchen were painted grey.

Mrs. Wood decided she could do over the kitchen furniture herself, so she refinished the breakfast table and chairs in gray with pink trimming to match the pink accessories in the room.

Another added feature in the kitchen was an exhaust fan over the range, which Mrs. Wood feels is a really wonderful addition.

For convenience’s sake, they placed the hot water heater in the small room between the kitchen and bathroom along with their wringer-type washing machine. “We hope to replace it with an automatic washer sometime soon,” says Mrs. Wood.

Beef Cattle Project

Remodeling their home is not the only thing which has taken the Wood family’s time. At the present time, they raise beef cattle and have approximately 60 head.

They also have 36 sheep, and in addition to this, Mr. Wood is a milk hauler for a local dairy.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood have three children, Betty Larue, 3; J.B., 8; and Craig Jr., 12. Craig Jr. is a member of the Howards Creek 4-H Club and is taking sheep and strawberries as projects.

The Wood’s plans for the future include many more things, because, as they say, “We’re not through yet.”

Landscaping Next

One of the big things they have in mind to do next is a big job, too—landscaping. They plan to add a large enclosed back porch and would like to remodel the upstairs of the house. At present, it contains three bedrooms, and they want to add storage space and a reading room.

The Woods have received help from Mrs. Taylor, assistant home agent, Morris Yoder and John Collins, assistant county agents, in addition to help from the Farmers Home Administration.