Ken and I have been living out the dream of a lifetime these past two weeks—our first time to travel overseas! We spent three glorious days in Paris, then traveled through the United Kingdom—England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. It has been everything I could have ever hoped for—made all the more fun because we are traveling with Ken’s brothers and sister and their spouses. (I’ll share more about our trip next time.)
But yesterday, back in England, was the absolute highlight of the trip for me, the thing I’ve most looked forward to among a whole bunch of dreams fulfilled. These gorgeous ivy covered walls were the passageway to the neighborhood where my great-great grandparents lived when my great-grandfather was a baby.
I’m still pinching myself that I got to stand in front of the house on Dove Street in York, England that my great-grandfather lived in at the time his family emigrated to the United States. John Reed was just an infant at the time, as was the English woman he would later marry, my great-grandmother Elizabeth Small Reed. They both crossed the ocean with their families, and thus, I am an American. Amazing how choices like my great-great grandparents made change the course of history!
My ancestors carried their history with them, and it was passed down through future generations. It first became my dream to stand in this spot when my Granddaddy Reed, my mother’s dad, along with Grandmother and my Uncle Norman and Aunt Sherry traveled to York and took photos in front of the house. Granddaddy was probably about the age I am now when this photo was taken. I can still hear his voice, especially the grace he said before every meal. Bless us, O Lord, for these Thy gifts…
This photo was taken in the 1970s when I was just a young woman, but I’ve held this dream in my heart ever since and felt twinges of longing when I’ve seen pictures of my mom standing here with my sister, Vicky, and her daughter, Samantha.
A few years later, Vicky went back with my brother, Brad, and they stood here too. I kept dreaming of the day my turn would come…
And finally, yesterday it did!
When Vicky and Brad went, the owner was outside working on his car, and when they told him why they were there, he gave them a little tour! Brad got this shot of the entryway with the original stone and wood floor!
And Vicky got this one of the back porch. A watercolor version hangs in my office:
I knew if no one was outside that I would not knock. I’m not that brave, and too, what if the house was in a state of disrepair? What if the current owners asked me to get off their property? (I wouldn’t blame them! I’d probably do the same if a bunch of strangers were hanging around my house uninvited!) I just didn’t want to create any opportunity for this moment to be tainted. And I’d rather remember that back porch with the aqua paint and the pink bicycle parked there.
Sometimes dreams disappoint—or worse. Not this one. Everything has been an absolute blessing beyond anything I dreamed! The house looks charming. The ivy was turning autumn colors, and the palm tree that was there at least eleven years ago is taller than the house now! The door has been painted a beautiful soft green and the trim is now white.
We walked the seventeen minutes to the house from beautiful York Minster in York’s inner medieval city and it was so special to walk through the neighborhood my ancestors would have walked so long ago. I love that Ken’s family was there to share in that moment and that they were all so excited for me.
The York house is on the corner of Dove and Cygnet, both short streets, so it was very easy to find. Here’s a view of the side street and part of the back porch.
Walking back to our hotel, I told Ken, “I can die now.” Of course, I don’t really mean that. There are many other dreams I’d love to realize before my life on this earth comes to an end, but honestly, this was one of the biggies. Thank you, Lord! I’m so happy and content right now I’m not sure my heart can contain it all!
How did you feel when you fulfilled a lifelong dream. I’d love to hear your story!
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So wonderful! Thank you for sharing the gift of seeing your great grandfather’s home and having your dream realized. I, too, am a 4th generation American. It was my Great Grandpa O’Shea with my German Great grandmother and their family that first came from Ireland. My grandpa was born here in Minnesota. My dad’s mom was born in Wisconsin of French-Canadian decent. My mom’s family (both her dad’s and mom’s families, my great grandparents) near the same time migrated to Minnesota from Bohemia. I guess that explains the white, white skin and red hair. 😳
I have really enjoyed your pictures and stories of your travels. Thank you again for letting your readers be armchair travelers with you. (It was my 4th grade teacher teaching geography that introduced that term to me. See, Mrs. Z, I was listening.)
What an amazing trip! And so special that you got to see where your ancestors lived. Thanks for sharing with us.
What a beautiful story. I, too, became an American because my Mother immigrated to America with her parents in the 1950’s on the Queen Mary. She met my Father who came from Canada. And here I am.
A few years back I was in California. I had the opportunity to visit The Queen Mary. The very ship Mom immigrated on. It was very emotional to have that experience. I asked my Mom where her room was located. My Mom told me that if it was the Titanic she would have gone down with the ship.
Enjoy your trip of a lifetime!!
I am so happy for you! What a wonderful dream fulfilled. Thanks for sharing your story and all the lovely photos.
I admit I’m a little jelly of how that house has been intregal in your family history for decades. My parents were both raised in Springfield,Ohio, where I was born. We moved to WI when I was 2 but traveled often to OH to visit family. I did find the duplex house where my dad’s mom lived with her family before she married my grandfather and that was fun. Not near as old as you house though. One of my ancestors on my dad’s side fought in the Revolutionary war and he is buried in a designated area of an old cemetery along with a couple other Rev. War vets. So there is that. I’m loving following your trip through the pics you are posting.
What a beautiful story illustrates with lovely photos! I have a similar dream. My grandfather immigrated from a little village in Italy in the early 1900s as a teenager. I would love to visit the village and see the home his family left. In the 1980s, two of this brothers returned and the current owner invited them inside! I’m not sure if the home is still there, but I would love to find out. I’m so happy you were able to fulfill your dream of visiting your great-great grandfather’s home!
So happy for you, Deb! Loved seeing the pictures of that house from over the years. I think that’s what the U.S. is missing–our country just isn’t old enough! It’s rare to find a house that old, at least in my neck of the wood. (That’s why I love old houses–they have history!) Enjoy the rest of your trip and keep making those memories!
So glad for you!
Wow! I love that you got to see that house! What an amazing circle of family history to top off such a great trip!
This post just made me so happy. While I can trace my ancestors back to England and Sweden in the 1800s, the Scotch-Irish side of the family came before the Revolutionary War, so I know less about them. I wouldn’t be able to go and find any of their former homes. How exciting for you.
Dreams-come-true (and they live up to, or exceed, your expectations) are a little bit magical, and a lot-bit a big blessing. Loving yours!
Thank you so much for being excited with and for me, everyone. You all make it such fun to share these things! I won’t respond to each comment individually as we are limited somewhat with wifi, but know that I’m reading each one, smiling big, and feeling blessed!
I am SO HAPPY for you, Deb!!!! Yay, praise God! But stick around for awhile, okay? Love you!
I love this post and the wonderful pictures that tell about your heritage. Feeling blessed for you that you were able to fulfill this dream! It makes me think of a dream my daughter has to travel to the place of her birth, the island of Cyprus. We left when she was two. There is so much history there. I will have to encourage her to do that soon. Thanks for sharing your adventure. I look forward to hearing more of your trip.
What a great trip you’ve had and ending it by going back to the beginning ( sort of!). So good to keep history alive in our hearts! Wonder if your kids will one day visit their ancestors home?!?! I had similar feelings when I got to see where my Nana grew up and was able to visit cemetery where great grandparents are buried. Very emotional!!
Can’t wait to have a long chat one day!!!!
Have safe trip home… love you guys💕💕💕💕
Oh Deborah happy tears for you! I have an English friend who moved to the states after WW2 with her husband. I’ll share this. Doreen may friend you to see your pics. She still has a sister in England and misses being there. Love the history. They built things to last!
Have enjoyed all the photos you and Ken have shared.
I love that you were able to walk the streets of your ancestors, Deb! That is such a rare and wonderful thing to have the opportunity to do. Imagine them knowing that their great granddaughter would return to that home one day from America!
Wow! What an incredible blessing!! I’m so happy you were able to see this!
Your posts have been so inspiring and uplifting, Deb! This one today has made my eyes leak. Going back “home”…how amazing is that?? Well, not to your own home, but to the beginning. So happy that your bucket is filling UP and not leaking! What a marvelous trip this is for you nine. There’s a bunch of us following along that are quite wishing we were very much closer to you! Thanks for sharing your incredible experience(s)!
I’m happy for you, Deb. It’s such an amazing experience to return to one’s roots in another country. Such a blessing that your family kept records. York is such a lovely city steeped in historical significance. I’ve enjoyed following you and your family on your long awaited journey to the Isles.
Don’t you love all of the chimneypots? When I went to Scotland, I left my tour one afternoon and went with a private guide to Dunbar, Scotland to the little that is left of the Dunbar Castle ruins. We are supposedly descended from them but many generations back. It gave me a sense of awe to walk there where my family may have walked hundreds of years ago.
I’d always dreamed of visiting Scotland – ever since I was a young girl. I’m not really sure why, but in 2017, my dream came true. We visited Ireland, Scotland and London before traveling to Ukraine to see my daughter who was in the Peace Corps at the time. It was almost surreal when we stepped out of the Glasgow airport and I soaked in every moment. So glad you were able to see this part of your past, Deb. By the way, my name is Reed. Perhaps my husband and your family are related somewhere down the line… Looking forward to seeing more of your journey.
Isn’t there something special about family history and feeling that connection with a loved one we haven’t met? I love this! What a treasure that you are able to have this history in your family and that you are continuing it for your progeny!!
Oh, Deborah – I said the same thing when I came home from England years ago – I’m just a die-hard Anglophile. Isn’t it a beautiful country? And how wonderful that you got to see the family home in York! Did you get to see any of the great cathedrals? I hope so…please share more in your next post! (And I love your sunglasses.)
Thanks again, each one who read and responded to my post. I wish I had the time and bandwidth to answer each one! You’ve made the experience all the more special by sharing my happiness! Today we hop on a plane and head home, but oh, what a wonderful time we’ve had. I’ll share about the rest of the trip next time. Love to all!
Oh friend. This is so lovely. I love your words…”Amazing how choices like my great-great grandparents made change the course of history…” So very true. Good and bad choices affect the next generations. It has been so fun to follow along on your holiday. I’m so very thrilled for you. It all is so lovely. And I remember going to my childhood home. My bedroom was so small compared to how I remembered in my mind! It was so life giving to have been able to go. I knocked on the door not knowing how it all would go. I’m grateful it all worked out and the new owners were so gracious and let me in to their home…my home…sort-of!! And they let me walk around the whole house. What a gift that was for me. Thank you for reminding me of that precious time. I wish you protection traveling home and also joy in the weeks and months to come as you process this dream come true. May God’s favor continue to be upon you and your family.