Moroianu 1

Nicoleta Moroianu

Jordan Duke

ESL 109

October 26th, 2018

My Home

“In 1853 Solomon Painter bought 40 acres of land in Hickory Grove Township from the

United States Government for one dollar. President Franklin Pierce signed the deed. On this land

was a house, a store, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a bar room; there were also other

buildings, including a barn. From 1812 to 1850 this place had been used as a Military Office by a

company of the Militia” (Painter Welge,72). The place was the center of Tuque community

which developed around the Painter family. The store, postal office, voting place, and school

used to bring people together. It was the place where the news was gathered and the place from

where the news had found its way towards the entire neighborhood. I would like to take you on a

tour around this interesting place which today is my house.

Come and look at the surroundings. The residence is located about 15 miles from

Warrenton, Missouri. After you pass the curve by Link road, your head turns almost

involuntarily towards the white long fence that borders the property. Even if the road became

busier in the last few years, as soon as you get through the gates a deep serenity hugs your soul

and mind. You suddenly feel an inexplicable ease as though your essence merged smoothly with

the nature, the sky and whatever else would be further. The place is a wide structured space

where pets, garden, orchard, and bees harmonized their life and learned to enjoy each other. The

more impressive part of the yard though is the extensive vineyard with poles aligned like soldiers

who guard the vines and keep them obedient and organized. About a third of the yard was
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conserved as woodland where the wild creatures feel protected although they seem to really like

to go out of their habitat and rub shoulders with the domestic indwellers. These woods harbor a

graveyard where the family who set up this community is buried.

The main house was built in 1850’s. Some parts of the house were added during the years

to follow. The previous owner wanted to tear the house down but when my family bought it, we

decided to save it. We uncovered some of the original wood ceilings and walls. The few modern

items in the house do not alter the beauty of the old architecture. The house has two entrances

but just one is used usually. As you enter the house there is a sunroom where at least on cat will

greet you from the comfort of their fluffy beds. It follows the big dining room. The house has

high ceilings, two dining rooms, one on opposite walls of the kitchen, large bedrooms, a hallway

and two stairways which takes your imagination to the old times.

The big dining room welcomes you soon after you step inside. The room is a mix of

styles that blend amazingly and makes the guest feel cozy and distinguished at the same time.

There is a large 19th century dining table in the middle of the room and its sibling, the cupboard

in a corner assists with setting the table. One of the walls is painted a picturesque red which

gives the room life and richness. In the middle of the red wall and between the two large

windows there is a wall high mirror with precious silver frame. This unique piece makes the

room look even bigger. The opening from one of the kitchen walls allows the tasty steam to

make its way to our nostrils and almost puts to work our taste buds.

The character of the house has the capability to make you love it. At the same time, it

leaves you thinking that there is more to discover, just like a mysterious lover who doesn’t let

you understand everything from the first date.

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It is a cold autumn evening. I can hear the wind whipping the building all around. The

massive construction is determined to shelter its lodgers though and keep the warm air captive

inside. The dark red liquid in the glass gives us comfort as we look outside the window at the

aligned vines stripped of their leaves, ready to fall in a prolonged sleep after they gave their

juices away. Our house and us learned to cohabit and take care of each other. It has an interesting

story, it has been a shelter for many generations and it is now not only our house but our home.
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Work cites

Painter Welge, Florence, “Historic Sites of Warren County”, Warren County Historical Society,

Bicentennial Project, 1976