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19 Comments

  1. DAWN LENNON on January 23, 2017 at 1:00 am

    Love what you are doing saddens me greatly when I see such artisan work being destroyed by lack of interest

  2. Lindy on August 12, 2017 at 4:13 pm

    Hope this works

  3. knothere2day on August 16, 2017 at 8:01 am

    Hey Ross I just wanted to share with you this beauty here in OKC, thought you might enjoy it and its history. Thanks for your blog it is such a bright spot in my day. I know I really don’t comment very much on your day to day stuff but i have spent a lot of time reading almost every single post and it has made this hellish year or two so much better(I’ve lost my mom to cancer and then have had some pretty rotten health myself I wanted to make it up there this summer with my daughter and boyfriend).

  4. knothere2day on August 16, 2017 at 8:01 am

    Hey Ross I just wanted to share with you this beauty here in OKC, http://www.overholsermansion.org/home.html thought you might enjoy it and its history. Thanks for your blog it is such a bright spot in my day. I know I really don’t comment very much on your day to day stuff but i have spent a lot of time reading almost every single post and it has made this hellish year or two so much better(I’ve lost my mom to cancer and then have had some pretty rotten health myself I wanted to make it up there this summer with my daughter and boyfriend).

    • Eileen Martinac on November 1, 2018 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you for this information. I live in Tulsa, Ok and this will be on my to do list next weekend!

      Sincerely,
      Eileen

  5. ILIANA on June 20, 2018 at 11:56 am

    Your approach and mindset are on point in regards to the interview on youtube of your house. The little void you felt in your life that has gone away when you took on this wonderland/peacock wallpaper is mind-blowing. Some say you make your own destiny and others say it is destiny when things occur. Given the beautiful childhood story of your memories between you and your mother at the lumber yard and the peacock wallpaper. I think it was your destiny to be the true owner of this house. I like the fact that you went into it looking at it has just a house, of cause you did love the house. Lol, All in All, what an amazing story. May you find that special person that shares the same passion for making things beautiful. Great Sory, Thank you for sharing

  6. Kipp Lamar Anderson on August 16, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    And in Emporia, Kansas, at 526 Union Street, there’s a castle. It might not be what kings and queens might have lived in but, when I was 7 years old, it was the most magnificent structure I’d ever seen in my life with it stained-glass windows and winding staircase and creepy basement.

    Mr. Toms and Mrs. Toms were the owners. I loved them kept in touch with them for years and I just loved the place.

    I hope it turns out as beautiful as it was when I lived there

    • Ross on August 16, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      It is very nice to meet you, Kipp!

      Thank you for the lovely note!

      Ross

  7. Robert Wilson on February 14, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Great site!

  8. Lorrie Huey on March 23, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    Greetings. I just found this site and have visited every page. I arrived here driven by those longings and yearnings pertaining to history, rebirth and resurrection that you describe. After reading a couple of your pages such as radiators and water table, which included some dollar figures… I wonder, have you considered sharing some more of the financial ride on which this house has taken you? Oh, and share a couple more photos of the staircase? Pretty please?

  9. Karen on September 23, 2019 at 10:54 am

    Wow, just found you from the website Farmhouse Vernacular. I am so impressed and will love following along on your adventure. I myself just love a good project and you have one big project! There is always something so exciting about bringing something back to life.

    I’m going to start with your very first post and read through, thanks so much for sharing! I so admire your spirit and energy, I’m truly envious of both!

    • Ross on September 23, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      Very nice to meet you, Karen!

  10. Anne Flint on March 24, 2020 at 11:14 am

    I’m so enjoying your blogs and I’m living my life vicariously through it.

  11. Shireen on March 26, 2020 at 11:36 am

    I used to live in Emporia and I love the Cross House. This was my dream home! I would drive by it and think, oh love this house, it’s soooo my house. I recall it went up for sale in the 90’s and it was listed at $60,000 and I almost died as I wanted it so much but knew I could not even afford that amount on a fully restored functional home let alone one that needed such repair. I wanted to win the lottery!!! just so I could have this house and restore it. I saw the newly painted side and some work being done, and simply loved the home grateful someone was fixing it.
    I live in Virginia now and have since 2001 and I often think of this home sitting off of 6th Street and hope she is well. So needless to say I was looking at Youtube and I watch a few restored homes and this home came up in my feed and I said, wow I love this home, it reminds me of the one in Emporia that I love. So I click and sit back and I never knew the name of the home and have never been inside, but when she said Emporia, Kansas. I shouted that’s my home!! I called my daughter in and we watched the video and I found your blog.
    Thank you for restoring my favorite Home and sharing this with us!! My heart is overjoyed!

    • Ross on March 26, 2020 at 8:04 pm

      Nice to meet you, Shireen!

  12. Shireen on March 27, 2020 at 10:42 am

    Your blog is fantastic! Your passion, humor and lack of self preservation truly shows through. 🙂
    Thank you for all your blood, sweat and tears in this restoration.
    If I ever get back to Kansas I‘ll hit you up for a tour. Looking forward to more.

  13. Lucy on May 26, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    Hi Ross Mactaggart,

    I found your story by watching Circa houses on YouTube. I love old houses too and one of my dreams is to own a Queen Ann Victorian house(a small one, cottage like).

    Anyhow, I appreciate your words and sentiments on your love for historical houses.

    It would be nice to know if you got all settled in and are enjoying your beautiful home.

    Kindly,

    Lucy

  14. Brendon Hansen on October 14, 2020 at 6:35 pm

    OK.
    Here goes Ross.
    The Newspapers!!!!

    I don’t have a subscription so all I see is little sections of the articles. What will be typed below is
    going to be tantalizing. As you say, Poo!

    The Democrat Record, April 6, 1899
    Item about his estate

    Emporia Daily Republic, March 14, 1893 – 4
    Col. H C Cross – a fine residence – corner of Union – Union street and Sixth Avenue-
    Col. HC Cross – some time past, planning – and Mrs. Cross a fine = be built on the corner

    Same paper – March 20, 1893 – 4
    We have taken a look at the plans of the residence for Col. HC Cross ??? an elegant and elaborate

    Ditto May 20, 18993 – 4
    Residence of Col HC Cross ???ssuming proportions.

    Ditto June 12, 1893 – 4
    Col HC Cross has returned from their extended visit at the World’s fair…

    (He traveled a lot. And you now know he visited the fair – I just read your posts about the book-
    funny that, I just read the book two weeks ago! Just fyi – check time line, but house was under construction when he visited fair.? Certainly Squires did too. I did see an ad in these papers for railroad that was offering discounted tickets to fair.)

    Same paper January 6, 1894 -1
    ( News item all about the house, architect, mason…
    This one had me wanting to sign up for the free 7 days total access)

    Same paper March 5, 1894 – 1
    Colonel surprised by the ???
    Engaged of his new residence ???
    To-day he was surprised
    His parlor a fine leather chair and a handsome
    Card upon the big chair
    Col H C Cross
    Rocker was inscribed
    (Looks like the name of craftsman of these chairs was given)

    Same paper May 9, 1894 – 4
    Nice piece of furniture
    Roberts, the cabinet maker
    Completing a magnificent
    for Col. Cross
    Umbrella rack and two
    the back is oval shaped

    Same paper – May 17, 1894 – 1
    (More about furniture & where in house it was placed.)

    Same paper June 2, 1894 – 1
    Col. Cross has erected
    One of the finest
    Corner of Union st
    Avenue elegantly for_

    Mayor requesting all businesses to close when train brings body of Cross home.
    Services for him held at house.
    The Normal flag at half mast.

    Sept. 24
    Supreme Architect of
    been pleased to remove
    to celestial lodge
    (I’m really not sure what this one is saying – did something get removed from house to an honorary location?)

    These are all sections of sentences from the articles but very tantalizing, no?

    There is soo much information in the old papers waiting for you. Just think, those partial articles above
    are from only searching Col. H C Cross. Can you imagine what’s there if you search other words, names,
    addresses, lot #’s, “the east or north corner of Union ( I don’t know what the house is N, E, S or W.)

  15. MaryEllen Rella on August 3, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    Just saw your interview on Circa. You are completely right about the old radiators. They give the best heat. You do beautiful work and you can see the love that goes into it.

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