Midwest Manor

When you have a vision, you can always see the beauty in the chaos.

When I first saw my farmhouse, to be honest, I wasn't sure I could salvage it. But there was something that kept pulling me back to Weston and to this particular home. I knew it was special and there was a history and a story hiding in those walls. 

I've been through many demos with my restaurant projects and they always begin in chaos. So, I knew what I was up against. You have to hold tight to your vision and slowly watch it come together (I’m still watching, but we’re getting there). 

The farmhouse I found in Weston is between 75 and 100 years old. With a house this age, you find so many surprises around every corner (good and bad). The contractors saved anything they could from the original home because they knew I was into vintage pieces. So far, here’s a running list of their finds: A 1940s wine glass, the original mailbox affixed to the house, original wallpaper, an old bank envelope with $100 inside, and the owner’s social security card from the 1930s.

All these artifacts got me thinking about the history of Midwest Manor. Who lived here and what was their life like?

A quick trip to the county records office unearthed some fast facts. Midwest Manor was owned by John Henry and Minnie Besinger. Minnie loved nice things and styling the home with interesting touches such as the wallpaper we found. She also enjoyed music and the opera. The house may have been on a working farm for a period of time in the 1900s. 

That’s as far as my digging has taken me—but this is an on-going investigation. I will keep you posted on the story of Minnie and John Henry as well as my renovation project as it unfolds. Stay tuned...