In a world where we are often seduced by the new and shiny, it is important to remember that new is not always better. Age offers a certain patina, a history, and a story worth preserving. This is true not only for ourselves and our belongings but especially for our homes. While older homes come with challenges, they also provide strong bones, unique character, and a sense of place that newer homes often lack. However, as our way of living evolves, these homes must be thoughtfully modified to accommodate modern needs.
One such home stands proudly on W. Crystal Lake Avenue, a testament to resilience and renewal. Facing the threat of demolition, this house, well over a century old according to Sanborn maps provided by the Crystal Lake Historical Society, found new life through the dedication of one family who saw potential where others saw decay.
The home’s rich history begins in 1931 when May and Melvin Ahern moved in. May’s parents lived next door in a beautiful house that no longer stands. Her father, Frank Schramm, was a well-known local flower grower, celebrated for his roses and gardenias. By 1920, Frank had six large greenhouses stretching across five acres of open field between W. Crystal Lake Avenue and Dole Avenue. Melvin Ahern, eager to learn from his father-in-law, absorbed everything he could about floriculture. After Frank’s passing, May and Melvin decided to expand their own business, purchasing an old peony farm at the corner of Routes 14 and 176. And in 1949, Flowerwood was born.
The Aherns remained in their Crystal Lake Avenue home until their retirement in 1983. What happened in the years following remains somewhat of a mystery, but by the spring of 2016, the once-lovely home sat vacant and deteriorating. Many would have seen a structure beyond saving, but one young couple just starting their family, saw a home in need of love, some creativity, and a lot of rehabilitation.
With elbow grease, vision, and the right crew, the couple transformed the old house back into a home. Much of its original character had been lost to previous renovations and the ravages of time, not to mention the raccoons who had taken up residence. But with determination, they evicted their unwelcome tenants and got to work.
While many of the home’s walls had to be rebuilt, the new owners ensured that its soul remained intact. They preserved the original floor plan as much as possible, making thoughtful modifications for modern living, such as opening the kitchen to the dining room and adding warm carpeting upstairs. The rest of the home blends old and new seamlessly. Rich textures, carefully chosen patterns, and reclaimed materials and furniture create a warm and cohesive space that pays homage to its past while embracing modern life.
Walking through the home today, one can feel its history whispering through the walls. The craftsmanship of the past meets the functionality of the present, proving that with care and vision, old homes can live on. Not just as relics, but as multidimensional spaces with stories to tell and places for new memories to unfold. The big white house on W. Crystal Lake Avenue is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the best way forward is to honor what came before.