Art and Small Town Charm
The challenge at Stampin’ Sisters in Christ today is to use a sentiment only. I’m excited about our sponsor today–Our Daily Bread Designs. I came to know them through their once a month challenge at OWH Stars and Stamps. Now I am in charge of that challenge post each month as part of the OWH blog team. ODBD has many fantastic high quality rubber stamps. They have lots to offer if you are looking for Scripture verse stamps. Here are two cards using ODBD stamps from my collection.
The inspiration verse for this challenge is Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
“To everything there is a season…” Fall is soon to be upon us and we must replace our wood stove. Yesterday we went to a neighboring town to shop for a replacement. There we tripped over some interesting bits of charm and history.
Hechler’s Main Street Hearth and Home has been in the Hechler family for four generations and is in a lovely old building that was formerly an opera house. It turns out that Troy, Missouri was a stop in 1910 on the famed Orphan Trains in which children in poverty and adverse situations were shipped across the country to new families in rural areas. In Troy, people would meet their new children at the Opera House. For some children the orphan trains were an improvement and for some not. It’s something I would like to read more about.
After its opera phase, the building was a car dealership. But the car showroom was on the second floor! This hardware was part of an elevator system for loading the cars from the street into the showroom.
Hechler’s also has a hardware store that occupies a half block on the other side of the street. It is the original building owned by the great-grandfather Julius Hechler. It was a pleasure dealing with such an established family business–rare in these days of big box stores. You can read more about the Hechler business and building history here. Part of the charm of a classic small town hardware store is in what is sold side by side.
A little grass seed to go with your glassware and framed art? Or maybe gift books and fan belts?
I almost get chills when walking on the old wooden floors in these places just thinking of all who have gone before and what their lives might have been like. The floors are always a bit wavy and wonderfully worn. 
What have you found when exploring your town’s history? After all, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose… under Heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).
16 Responses to “Art and Small Town Charm”
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Hi! I’m Yolanda.
Current crafting fixation: Mixed media art journaling.
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Beautiful card Yolanda, with a beautiful sentiment.
Love hearing about your explorations…and I just adore the card with Ecclesiastes 3:1. The stamp’s typography paired beautifully with your papers.
Wow Yolanda, love those pictures and your card is awesome! Your blog is such fun to visit and read. Thanks! Have a great week – happy explorations!
Orphan train rider : one boy’s true story / by Andrea Warren and Children of the orphan trains / Holly Littlefield are a couple of juvenile fiction books about the orphan trains. It is amazing that this was a solution for the kids of the cities and that it worked well some times and not other times. Thanks for the bit of history.
Your cards are wonderful.
Thanks for the book recommendations. I will look for them. I know there is also a fiction Orphan Train series that I read years ago. I will have to look for them too.
Looks like a delightful store to browse AND shop in. Treasures among the necessities.
Love your cards. The paper you used especially on the second one is so pretty. I love finding new places with history. Historical markers by the side of the road always catch my attention and so do little dirt roads leading to more history. 2 of my children were in a play about the orphan trains last year. I did a lot of reading about it then. There are some pretty amazing stories.
I love those historical markers too. I remember one near my grandparents hometown that was near a house. I was a child at the time and the house was a crooked wood frame house. There was an elderly looking couple on the porch and it looked as if they were sitting crookedly too. Now I doubt the marker was there due to that house but I was kind of amazed by them as I recall.
What a lovely day. I appreciate your photography and writing. Did you find a wood stove?
Yep. The stove is in the works. “Heating with wood” is still a viable hobby
Hi Yolanda! Lovely crads, both of them! The DP is perfect and the plain white die cuts are so elegant! Love your history discoveries too! Makes me want to read those books again.
Sandie
Yolanda – I love these cards. The DP you used is so pretty. I also loved “walking” through the wonderful buildings you showed. I too love places with history. We have an old hardware store in town with the original tin ceilings. Thanks for sharing those great pictures.
Michelle
I’ve been to Troy, Missouri, and I’ve been in that hardware store! I live near KC, but have lived in several other Missouri towns, and have gone through that one. Your cards are so pretty Yolanda. In Christ, every season of our life is a time to honor and glorify Him. Love your work and are so glad you are showcasing it on SSIC. So good to have you with us!
Wow! Love your Beautiful card Miss Yolanda! Love the sentiment and verse!
And what great pics you shared too! I love the character and charm of places with history! Just Wonderful Lady!
Hugs
Shannon
Your cards are beautiful! To learn more on the Orphan Trains, check out our website http://www.orphantraindepot.com – lots of information plus a book list!
Very pretty cards, Yolanda! I love the shapes you used to cut out your sentiments and all your lovely papers! Loved reading about the little town & orphan train in your post! History can be so intriguing and I really enjoyed it today! Have a blessed afternoon! ~H