Photos From Connie Nompelis
Facebook Page, With Permission
Realtor and historical preservationist Connie Nompelis (No-bell-iss) bought a house in the Hawthorne Neighborhood for a song, a "song" defined as anything under 10 grand. Connie recognized the house was done in a "Queen Anne" style, but it was smaller than most Queen Annes, so therefore Connie dubbed it a "princess."
Since it's in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, she calls it the Princess of Hawthorne or the Hawthorne Princess.
Connie emphasized the name "Hawthorne Princess" is temporary. She intends to find out who was the first owner of the house, or at least who built it. Once she finds that information, she will name the house after the owner, rather like she dubbed another one of her projects "The Healy House."
In the photos above...
...you can see some of the details of the house.
The photo of Connie is, I think, amazing. She looks as youthful as a teenager, probably because she is doing what she loves the most. In the moment captured by the camera she doesn't see any of the flaws of the house, like the dislodged bathroom fixture apparent in the image. You can look at her face and realize Connie sees a vision of the house TRANSFORMED, where all the wood is polished, the wallpaper is new but historic at the same time, and the house is filled with stories lived by living people, existing side-by-side with the many now-historical stories that have already existed in the same rooms.
Connie told me once that when she enters a vacant house, goes to the upstairs bedroom, sees its current condition (peeling wall paper, water damage, graffiti on the walls from crackheads) she thinks, "Who held a baby in this room? Who was that baby? What did that baby grow up to become?"
There are many historical houses for sale in North Minneapolis to people who have Connie's spirit. It is like diamonds are scattered all around, and you just need to put the jewels in your pockets.
Since it's in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, she calls it the Princess of Hawthorne or the Hawthorne Princess.
Connie emphasized the name "Hawthorne Princess" is temporary. She intends to find out who was the first owner of the house, or at least who built it. Once she finds that information, she will name the house after the owner, rather like she dubbed another one of her projects "The Healy House."
In the photos above...
...you can see some of the details of the house.
The photo of Connie is, I think, amazing. She looks as youthful as a teenager, probably because she is doing what she loves the most. In the moment captured by the camera she doesn't see any of the flaws of the house, like the dislodged bathroom fixture apparent in the image. You can look at her face and realize Connie sees a vision of the house TRANSFORMED, where all the wood is polished, the wallpaper is new but historic at the same time, and the house is filled with stories lived by living people, existing side-by-side with the many now-historical stories that have already existed in the same rooms.
Connie told me once that when she enters a vacant house, goes to the upstairs bedroom, sees its current condition (peeling wall paper, water damage, graffiti on the walls from crackheads) she thinks, "Who held a baby in this room? Who was that baby? What did that baby grow up to become?"
There are many historical houses for sale in North Minneapolis to people who have Connie's spirit. It is like diamonds are scattered all around, and you just need to put the jewels in your pockets.
3 comments:
Aw John... you're so sweet.
But as I recall, what I said (while in 1406 Fremont, which may yet fall to the bulldozer) was:
"What children removed their snowboots on this [foyer] bench, while their mother or nanny prepared cocoa in some long-past January?"
And
"Who rocked a baby in front of this [parlour] fireplace?"
And I suppose it's likely that I also asked who/where those children were today... IF they are still living.
So many frozen memories in these old homes - that is for sure.
And indeed, that is a large part of what makes me love them...
Thanks for the challenge and another inspiring tale.
Connie a.k.a. Ranty: I would like to think I captured the gist and the spirit of what you said. But you can always say more, and hope like-minded people keep making their way to North Minneapolis to buy and restore these houses.
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