I grew up in the house at the end of Cliff Street in Norwich. It wasn’t meant to be a house when it was first built – that is, in 1931, my parents and a carpenter built a garage that my folks planned to “camp out” in for a few years.
Then, they thought, they would build their house up on the knoll to the right of where the house is now.
(Click images to enlarge)
One thing led to another. In 1936 or 37, they added an ell onto the back of the house — to make room for my brother, Peter’s arrival in 1937, I always thought.
This ell-adding established the garage as their house – later they built a garage to the left of where the house is today. All my growing up years, this ell was called “the den.”
Soon, they dug a basement under the house and built a foundation. Mother added flower gardens, and Dad dug stones to build a terrace and stone walls.
Together they made several vegetable gardens. They raised and preserved most of the food we ate including raising and canning chickens as well as fruits and vegetables.
After my brother Peter was born and I was contemplated, they wanted more living space. In 1940, the front of our house was added. This gave my family a proper living room and large side porch, new stairs to the second floor and two more bedrooms upstairs.
Originally there was a stairway up to the second floor from the den. When the front of our house was added, the upper floor made a perfect ceiling for the old stairwell. Then as the Second World War began to force shortages of foods and rationing began, this staircase became a great storage and locked hiding closet – with steps for each kind of thing that needed to be hidden – sugar, I remember was rationed. My strong memory is of seeing three or four bags of sugar on those stairs, safely away from prying eyes and little fingers. It would have been perfectly normal for Peter and me to have gotten into it, although I have no memory of us actually doing that – the penalty would have been quite severe, I’m sure.
This house, the one with the front added on, is the house I remember. It had been built almost right up against the cliffs, which are looming over the house in this picture. Here Peter is skiing across the turn-around lawn right in front of the house.
More about living on Cliff Street later.
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14 responses to “The House at the End of Cliff Street”
This is such a heart-warming story! Can’t wait to hear the next installment. It gives me such a sense of place. And I almost bought the house next door when I was down-sizing the first time 10 years ago.
Thanks, Lizann, for your comment. I will be writing about a lot of things in Norwich — but not in any order. Just whatever comes to my attention — these photos came to me as I was sorting through some of my parents’ photos. Paul and I are sorting and downsizing this year — hoping to move into a condo in Norwich in the summer of 2018!
Your house history explains to me the delights of it changing design.
Thanks, Judy. It is fun to look at the old photos and remember the stories I was told or just remember the events.
Loved the
house on Cliff Street! Many memories there. I remember well, climbing the cliff behind the house with you and Kit. Such a great adventure that was!! So wonderful to hear how the house came to be what it is today. Can’t wait to hear more.
We did have fun on those cliffs! That’s another story for another day — but probably not with photos. I haven’t come across any pictures of the many things we did up behind the house: the climbing, the forts, the pixie towns, the fallen tree horses.
I copied and sent Kit a copy of your article “The House at the End of Cliff Street.” I thought she’d enjoy it and would take her mind off her troubles, I told her I was sending it and she was delighted. I plan to send her “My first First Best Friend” Too. Really love doing this Peggy. All the great memories make me a very happy camper. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Ann. I know she’ll be pleased to see the articles. You have been a good friend to Kit over many, many years!
To the left of the house
In the picture adding the ell what is that machine. Maybe something to get the dirt out of the cellar?
Hi Pete, Thanks for the question. That machine wouldn’t have had anything to do with the house cellar because there wasn’t one at that point. I don’t know if they built the den over a cellar. I suspect that it was a screening machine to get the stones out of the gravel to make cement.
Fun post! Was Peter doing a slalom on the driveway? It looks like poles set in place. I can’t imagine digging out that foundation by hand, and it’s very interesting seeing how the house progressed.
Thanks Paul for your comment. The driveway was circular and the lawn in the middle was a slight slope. I suspect that Daddy put up a pole for Peter to turn around. Maybe as a place for Peter to stop since there was a stone wall at the end of the lawn next to Cliff Street.
I am so glad you are doing this blog! It’s so interesting, and what wonderful history! Thank you!