It is well worth taking a drive (or walk!) down West Race Street and West Center Street, just a few blocks apart, to see these two lovely homes that have been redone with paint and special attention to detail. I call the top one, located at 610 West Center, the Van Patten home. It it still in the Van Patten family with a for sale sign in the yard. A tree had fallen on part of it with some damage so it has now been repaired and has a fresh coat of paint. An artist, Bobby Van Patten, grew up there and posting this house reminded me of a blog that I did a few years ago about a special Lion that he did for a class reunion. Click here to see it.
I call the second one, located at 600 W Race, the Shoffner home because it was in the Shoffner family for so long. It has been sold to Shelton and Alicia Wagner and they have really done a magnificent job of restoring the home. The sale took place May 31, 2017 and the transformation began quickly and now seems to be finished. It is home to Wagner General Contractors now.
These homes remind us of how life was a few years ago. Sidewalks were available for walking, porches were nearly always available for sitting outside, cooling off, and visiting with friends and neighbors. We can't say that life was better then but we can say that life was not as rushed as it is now. Saving some of the beautiful homes like these two is such a good idea and all of us who love Searcy say thank you to these two families who have made these homes beautiful again.
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