Everyone, House. House, Everyone.

A lot of noteworthy things happened in 1929.

Al Capone had seven rival gangsters murdered, an action that prompted the eventual repeal of Prohibition. The first Academy Awards were handed out, starting a process that ended with the recent abomination of Miss Congeniality winning one. And, of course, the Great Depression began.

Unnoticed in all that hubbub, someone built our house that year. Figured that before we start carping about everything, introductions were in order.

Using pine for wood floors, the home was likely built as a bungalow, the style of the day for what was basically a suburb. In fact, construction on the Parkway and the Turnpike wouldn’t begin for nearly 20 years. Sure, Woodbridge was already a large town (27 square miles), but it had only 25,000 residents.

Today, the houses on our street mostly retain the original style: a full first floor built over a full-sized slab basement. The laundry is down there – as will our wine collection at some point. The top floor is pair of a rooms separated by a nook that we’d eventually like to make a half-bath. The two rooms upstairs – unlike those in many Capes – do not have slanted ceilings where the eaves protrude – a highlight for me. We’ll use the front room as our master bedroom and the back room for guests (that means you).

The downstairs features the living room, a full formal dining space, a third bedroom, the home’s only bathroom and a nice-sized kitchen. We’ll use the downstairs bedroom as our sports memorabilia room/office. The first floor also has an enclosed porch that runs the entire width of the house. The porch was originally uncovered – again, think bungalow – but at some point was fully wrapped.

Last is the backyard. Not sprawling, but it already has two paved patio areas and a frame shed. The fence is in workable condition. Just have to get rid of the above-ground pool taking up the majority of the space and then the yard – like the rest of the house – will be a blank canvass for us.

If only paint didn't cost so much.