We just call it 600.
It was 1959 when Interstate Life transferred Leonard from Cookeville to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. After staying at the Old James K. Polk Hotel for a week while looking for a house, we saw a sign board, right across the front door of 600 that said, “For Rent”. We looked at it and visited with the owners, Baxter and Frances Hobgood, that night. The Hobgoods fell in love with our precious children, and rented the house to us for $75.00 a month.
The house was near a good grammar school, the square where we both worked and was only five blocks from church. During the years we were living there, we offered, from time to time, to buy the house; but Mrs. Hobgood would not sell, even when she went into a nursing home. We lived here 40 years before she agreed to sell us her childhood home.
We had lots and lots of our children's friends here and many slumber parties. One slumber party found 100 boys and girls here until midnight and 65 girls spending the night, bedded down in sleeping bags all over the house.
There were chandeliers in every room and we lost several globes during yo-yo season when the children were in there early teens.
Our family has increased from 6 to 57 in the past 53 years since we came to 600. Family gathering have filled the house with joy and love each holiday during all of those years.
The painters have just given 600 a new facelift. They did a marvelous job, it looks ready for another half century of fellowship. Our home will always be remembered as the childhood home to my children rather than the quaint little five room house where we lived when they were all born, or in Cookeville where we spent two fun years.
This is a rather big house for one little old lady, but I have a good alarm system, and feel very safe here with my memories. I am pictured above waving to Merry as she heads home after a few days visit. I feel so lucky to be able to stay here for this long and I am indeed fortunate to have three awesome children who love me and make sure I have everything I need.
Yes, again I say, thank God for the wonderful gift.
