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Only a Building Can Give True Feeling of Past

� �����������Photographs from the past give the eyes a two-dimensional glance at what previous times were like.� And from memories, one may obtain colorful accounts of personalities and events that taken together spell history.

� But only a building - an existing remnant of yesteryear - allows people today to observe, an even feel, what times now past were really like.

� Fortunately for Farmington, the city has been blessed with many structures that date back well into the 1800s.� These are primarily private residences, the stately two-story, white-frame homes that sheltered the early generations of the town�s current citizenry.

Above is the former home of Jacob Helber which sits on the corner of Ste. Genevieve Avenue & Fleming Street.� The above photo was taken in the early 1900's.� The home appears much the same in 2003.�

� Ann Caroline Tetley, a member of the family that shares a rich page in the city�s history, has made it somewhat of a duty to take account of the old homes that dot the community.� She displays a historian�s knack for adding colorful asides upon the mention of the various clans that populated Farmington in its early days.� Each old home has a unique story to tell, Miss Tetley relates.�

����������� On a recent winter day, the former schoolteacher rummaged through an assortment of information detailing the city�s history and pulled out a copy of the original plat for Farmington.

� On a map of the original 52 acres that David Murphy deeded over for the establishment of a county seat, there are penciled-in areas that denote early homes and businesses.� The woman could, with little hesitation, tell her guest who lived where or what type of business was conducted at various locations.

� Of most interest on the map is the fact that many of the homes listed are still standing today.� Many are the venerable white frame variety that line Columbia and Liberty streets.� And Miss Tetley would still label each residence with the family name of long ago, even though several are now occupied by families with no traceable link to the founding families.�

Some of the hallmarks of contemporary life - aluminum siding, a back-yard swimming pool, chain-link fences - mask the old homes, giving somewhat a false sense of modernity.� But it is because of the efforts of the current homeowners that many of these century-old landmarks survive in such good shape today.�

There were instances, however, which prompted Miss Tetley to remark that the historical value of some have been lost amid renovation that stripped away the age. � The strokes that some residents used to smarten the looks of their homes actually dampened the exteriors, historically speaking, the woman remarked.�

����������� But there are few century-old homes that have actually been left to whither with time.� Miss Tetley, an active woman who doesn�t let age interfere with her travels, commented that it�s a credit to the city that so many of the time-worn homes have been rejuvenated by new owners.�

����������� Ann Caroline Tetley and her sister own one of Farmington�s oldest structures.� It�s the two-story frame apartment building that rises on the southeast corner of the intersection of Jefferson and Harrison streets.�

Standing Proud -- Farmington's Ann Caroline Tetley claims the apartment building on Jefferson Street she owns with her sister dates back well over 100 years.� Her interest in preserving the structure is shared by a number of residents who've helped keep Farmington's heritage a big part of the contemporary scene in the City of Tradition and Progress.� Daily Journal Staff� Photo by J. T. Murphy. ��

����������� A casual glance from the street wouldn�t really be enough to detect the building�s age.� It�s in excellent condition, thanks greatly to aluminum siding added about 10 years ago.� �

����������� She isn�t sure who purchased the site for the building in 1837. � But by 1842, the original log structure was in place, functioning as a private residence, the woman said.�

������������ It stood adjacent to a Methodist church on the corner until 1880 when a wind storm blew down the church.� In short time, an addition to the home was erected where the church had stood.� And it�s been pretty much that way for the past 99 years.�

����������� During the latter portion of the 1800s and early this century, the owners operated an ice house in the rear of the present lot.� There was also a winery in the sub-quarters, Ann Caroline remembered.� The owner back then (a man she recalled only as Lloyd) operated a hack delivery service, transporting traveling salesmen between Farmington and the railroad depot west of town at Delassus.�

������������ Gradually, change overtook the building.� A variety store was operated out of the front portion around 1900.� A few years later, the owners converted the structure into a rooming house.

������������ The Tetley�s mother Betty and daughters Roberta H. and Ann Caroline � purchased the building around 1920 and kept it open as an apartment building.

������������ �Dad had died and she thought it would make a good income,� Ann Caroline said of her mother�s reason for entering the building ownership business.

������������ Over the years, the Tetley sisters made efforts to preserve the vintage looks of the building.� Its appearance today reflects their work well.

����������� The units there are rarely vacant.� During a recent visit with Miss Tetley, a phone call came in inquiring about one of the unrented apartments. It was the fifth such call that day, Ann Caroline said.

������������ It seems only appropriate that Ann Caroline Tetley � a woman who inventories history in much the same fashion as a hobbyist enjoys a craft � should be the proprietor of a city landmark.

������������ She takes an active interest in the apartment building, but seemingly more so because of its historical value than for monetary reasons.

������������ Despite the buildings long standing, the future doesn�t look too promising.� Ann Caroline said that the city has eye on the property for a parking lot.� The site would be a logical one to serve downtown businesses and the city library that will soon be erected a few doors west.

����������� For today, Ann Caroline Tetley and her apartment building occupy a well-deserved place in the annals of Farmington history.� The future would appear to be only an insignificant detail in light of all that has come before.�

������������ The building owned by the woman is very much like all the others that have been on the city scene for over a century.� It tells a story � as much as it did yesterday.

������������ The structure might just be saying, �Let tomorrow come.������������

Thanks goes out to Jeanne "Hunt" Nassaney for typing above article for us.

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