This was my childhood home from 1971 - Aug. 1975 - My parents sold the home and land when my Mother was transferred with John Deere from Ottumwa to Moline IL. My parents then built a home in Coal Valley, IL and that was my childhood home until I left after high school. On a cold (and VERY windy!) day in early winter of 1974, there was a HUGE brush fire behind the house and garage that nearly destroyed it all. My little cousin and I were playing on the porch by the garage and saw the fire start and within two minutes it was completely out of control. We were having a family gathering and there were several people at the house and somehow were able to keep it at bay until the rural fire dept. came and put it out. The road in front of the house was paved and that is where I learned to ride a bike the first time. If you continued down the road to the South, it turns into gravel and at the end of that road is where my Grandparents lived (see pic 5.)

Hi Cheri,
Thank you for sharing your story with us! What was your favorite part of the property while you were living there?