1012 Wells Street… Be a Part of Its History

What truly gives an older home its character are the stories and the photos from the families who have lived there in the past. When the Markham family heard that the present owners of 1012 Wells St were putting their charming 1950s Forest Hills Cape Cod on the market, the Markhams wanted to share their memories of what it was like living in on Wells Street in the 1950s and 60s. So now we can pass along a part of its history to the future homeowners of 1012 Wells Street.

But before I take you back in time, first take a quick look at the web site we have set up to sell the house and see what the house looks like now:

http://www.postlets.com/repb/5337596

Now let’s listen to what Sam Markham remembers about the house: “We moved in Oct. of 1954, (after) my parents had the house built; (and) we moved away in 1968. My parents would both have been 34-years-old when we moved into the house and almost 48 when we left in July 1968.” (The current lady of the house was 34 when she moved in!)

Sam Markham lived at 1012 Wells Street until 1968  

The Markham grandparents lived next door at 1010 Wells St and Sam’s parents wanted to live nearby so the three generations could enjoy each other.


“We had a fun life in that little house,” Markham said. “People today wouldn't get that a family of five could live in such small quarters (which has 1,535 sq.ft. of space, three bedrooms and two bathrooms). We wouldn't have had it any other way. Even though Jack is nine years older than me, we shared that little bunk room. Our initials were carved into the built-in desk (Those bunk beds and the desk have been removed and the current owners are now using this bedroom as their office).

Broock Markham and her Mama "Dolly."

“Broocks's room had wallpaper and with little pink flowers, curtains and dust ruffle to match,” Markham said. “She had a pink telephone (with) a party line that we loved to play pranks on.” (That bedroom is still pink! Take a look at the photos of the bedroom belonging to the daughter living in the house now).


The room at the back of the house that the current owners are using as their dining room (the red room on the web site) served as the Markhams’ den. It was a popular hangout back in the early days since it had the only air conditioner in the house (a window unit, of course) and a black-and-white TV where the Markham kids and their friends watched their favorite television programs such as: “Howdy Doody, Roy Rogers, Sky King and Captain Kangaroo.” (The house now has a brand-new gas pack and central air conditioning system; and the TV is no longer in a very conspicuous place).


When there was private adult talk going on, it usually took place behind closed doors in the den downstairs, Markham explained. But he and his siblings could hear every word that was being said by lying flat on the upstairs hall floor and listening through the heat return in the hall closet.


The large walk-in closets upstairs proved to be the perfect place for the boys to play "fort" in their room and Broocks to play “house” in hers. On summer nights, the Markham children and their friends from the neighborhood would play cops and robbers on their bicycles and "Mother may I" on the stepping stones of the front-walk. One time, Sam and his cousin, Charles, even set the woods behind their house on fire while they were playing with matches.


During the winters on Saturdays, their mother would fix a big pancake breakfast. But that they weren’t allowed to eat a bite until around 10:30, when their grandparents would come from next door. Sam said the family would sit around the table for hours and have a grand time. They used the area in the living room next to the kitchen as their dining area.

At left, is Jack Markham with mother and brother at Wells St.

In the early 1960s, Sam remembers his mother and his brother making a brick patio outside the kitchen door (there’s still a private brick patio located there now). It had a privacy fence surrounding it and the family enjoyed cooking out and drinking gallons of their mother’s “famous tea-lemonade.”


There was a Victrola record player that sat on a table behind the front door and everyone in the family loved playing their favorite music. The parents were classical music buffs and loved the Big Band souns of their younger days.


But the Markham kids were into Motown and they kicked the entry-way rug back and danced the finish off of the hardwood floors,” Markham reminisced. (Those beautiful floors have been completely refinished now).


“I know we infected the walls of that house with lots of love that I hope has transcended the years,” Sam said.