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The story of Ann Stewart’s home just outside the Bolivar city limits begins with her late husband’s family about 100 years ago, and perhaps even a bit before that.
She knows that the heart of what eventually would become her home was built as a granary. It was built before 1872 — a newspaper that once served as insulation attests to that — and when she and her husband, William, began tearing out old ceilings, they were pelted with bits of wheat and other grains, indicating it had that life before his family moved there.
Despite the fact that Ann can’t quite date the house, she suspects “It’s probably one of the older still-standing homes around,” she says.
Ann and her family moved into the house on the Stewart family farm in 1978. They had lived in Kansas City, but Ann’s husband felt it was time to move home to start a law practice.
“I think sometimes people don’t realize what their hometown means to them till they’re away for a while,” she says.
As time and money allowed, they began making changes to the small house. Among the first was transforming a back porch into a kitchen, revealing oak plank walls in the oldest part of the structure and allowing the fireplace’s stonework to take center stage.
As with many remodeling projects, things didn’t always go smoothly. There was the time when their contractor disappeared after ripping off the roof, leaving the house exposed to the elements, for example. But over time, it took shape.
An area between the original house and a detached garage was enclosed and a second floor was added, giving the family much-needed living space.
The changes are unique to her tastes, Ann points out. The kitchen, for example, conveniently has two sinks, but less conveniently, no cabinets. “It doesn’t have any cupboards in it, so you have to figure out how to store things,” she says with an ever-present smile.
Rather than chaos, though, the kitchen — along with the rest of the house — is a study in decorative organization. One wall adjacent to the kitchen and hearth room is covered in cast-iron pots and pans. Bright red and white enameled bowls hang from hooks. Crocks hold the necessary utensils. The solutions are functional yet decorative.
And while this area is somewhat small, a multitude of windows — including several mounted high — allow ample light, even in winter.
The house is filled with antiques. Ann says some of them, such as her great-grandmother’s breakfast china, have been passed down through generations. Other pieces she picked up here or there along the way.
“I’ve always liked antique furniture, but not fancy. I like primitive antiques,” says the retired schoolteacher.
While many projects have been completed, Ann can quickly tick off a couple more she’d like to tackle. Up a steep flight of stairs are a bedroom, bath, playroom and loft area that most recently was used by her granddaughters as a dance studio. She’d like to redo the bathroom and add a rail to an exterior porch.
But those projects, like all of those that came before, will be completed when time and money align.
“Because it’s an old house, there’s always a lot to be done to it,” Ann says.
“I love my house. It’s just what I do now that I’m not teaching anymore.”
If a friend’s home (or yours!) is worth profiling, send names, address, phone number and brief description to shocklander@news-leader.com. Homes for sale are not eligible.
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