It has been awhile since I have written and I miss it. Sometimes it is writer’s block, other times living life takes priority. Now, I would like to delve back into writing. It is a busy time of the year, but when the mood strikes, writing must happen. I’ve kept my thoughts on my subject for weeks now. If I don’t put pen to paper, it might slip away.
I intended to write a story of an old house in my life that I dearly miss, along with the memories held within its walls. When I write, I Google subjects I plan to mention in my story, to get my facts straight. Correct information is important to me and for my readers. The first thought that came to mind on this subject was the old song, This Ole House. That song must have been important in my life as I could remember the lyrics before my search brought them up. I don’t believe there are many out there my age who do not remember that song.
This Ole House was written and published in 1954 by Stuart Hamblen and brought to the top of the music charts that same year by Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of another popular Clooney who became a famous actor. I can remember her appearing on the musical shows that were popular at the time and watched by most parents. The same year we purchased a television and my father returned from Korea.
Investigating this song and the writer has introduced me to a wonderful story I never knew. I’m not certain many out there know the story behind the song. Although it is a sad one, I must share it with you. If you go online and research Stuart Hamblen, you will hear the story in his voice and words. It is a very powerful listen. I did find it in more than one place and the story was a little different without changing the circumstances. In one, Stuart was alone and in another he was hunting with his good friend, John Wayne.
Stuart was out riding the High Sierra Mountain ranges when he came upon a desolate log cabin some distance down in the valley. He was drawn toward the cabin and thought he wouldn’t mind bumming a good cup of coffee. When he was close enough, he discovered the cabin must be abandoned as the front door was caved in and windows broken. As he started to turn around and leave, an old hound dog came ambling out onto the porch and lay down. Stuart knew enough about animals to know that this dog would be gone if his owner was not still around. Dogs are loyal to their owners and will stay around until they starve, if necessary.
Once dismounted and on the porch, the dog led the way into the house toward a shut door. Stuart opened the door and discovered an old man sitting on a couch with snow piled upon his chest and head, looking as though he were asleep. This was the sad part in his description of the dog looking at him, pleadingly, to do something for his master.
Stuart looked around, noticing there were worn curtains on the broken window, meaning there had once been a wife, knowing a man living 20 miles out in nowhere would not hang curtains.He searched the house and discovered an old toy tractor under the house, one wheel missing, adding to the story; the house once held a family with children.
Possibly, my hearing that song at such a young age promoted my love and curiosity of abandoned buildings and why I always ask myself who once lived there and what was their story. Try to hear the song again, even if just to read the words and you will hear Stuart’s story of this lost family. I haven’t found further information as to what happened after his findings. Hopefully there was peace for the man and help for the dog. I might keep searching around for an ending. I do know that the music industry did not like his first recording of that song. It was too sad they said. The song we heard was not the original melody, but the peppy, uplifting tune we remember. It might not have become the hit it was had it not been changed. To me, the story is still sad, you just don’t notice with the happy tune it became. I will return to my story of my old house later!
