Home Snapshots Before Hermitage ...

A look back at some of the places the Westra's called home before Hermitage & Havenmoor

Memories from Mom: This is me in front of mine and Dad's first apt. in the upstairs corner of an 8-plex. We moved to Richland one year later, so this is probably 1962 after we were married on June 29, 1962 or possibly before we moved in June 1963, when I was 3 months pregnant with Scott. On McClelland St. (about 10th East, I think and north of 21st South, in Sugarhouse, east side of the street). Warm weather.

Dad wrote up some recollections earlier, and Wendy included them in the 50th wedding anniversary book she made. Here's a peek ...

Then the move to Washington, and the addition of kids!

Rainer Street in Richland Washington

in Spring

... and in snow.

In 2018 ... Derek and Danielle went to Washington for a wedding. While there, they tracked down these two homes and took pictures. "We found some time to go as a family over to Richland to drive by the two houses that Mom and Dad and the first four kids lived in in WA. Both houses have changed a lot. The red one has a new, pitched roof, but the brick and front of the house are the same. See the photos attached. The other house has been doubled in size since you rented it. I know, because I had this idea to be "hilarious" and to recreate the photo of Chris standing in the window as a toddler (with me as a grown adult) so I knocked on the door and the owner was happy to let me stand there like a baby against the glass - but the glass was too reflective so the photo didn't turn out. :) The new owner had lived there for 50 years and was very excited that someone was taking an interest in his house. He showed me all around and wanted to tell me about all the additions and improvements he had made. :)"

Check out "Home Sweet Norman Home" for Grandma Zada and Grandpa Rex's homes (which includes Mom/Margie's childhood home). A post about the Hermitage and Havenhill homes will be coming as well.