by Naomi House, MLIS
updated 10/28/14 – SOLD!
My House in New Orleans
In my article, Why I Quit My Library Job and Why I No Longer Want One, I mentioned that currently my main income comes from renovating old houses and selling them. I have been flipping houses since 2009 and this is our seventh house and second in New Orleans. Whenever I finish a house and put it on the market I share on INALJ.com. Why you might ask? Many reasons: people are curious, I like to show off the hard work we did, potential buyers might see it, people might share with friends who are potential buyers and I also usually get to meet local librarians this way, some are curious and come to the open houses. But whatever my reasons the fact remains that INALJ.com is my website. I have worked roughly 40 hours a week, holidays, through medical emergencies, etc on this site, my site, for nearly four years and I think it is worthy of sharing, so it is. I share other voices on INALJ.com as well, but it is my platform. I say this at the top because I get a few concerned readers each time chastising me for going beyond the scope or mission of INALJ (note, I set the scope and mission / there is no mission statement yet but my houses will go into it) or anger that I should share a house with job hunters who might not be able to afford it (note, some can, I refuse to limit by ‘some’). I will share every house I flip on here because most readers who would click on the article are just curious and I like to share this side of what I do.
So if you happen to be in New Orleans or nearby and want to see the house we will be doing open houses, 8/17 1-3pm Sunday is the next one or email me and maybe I can just let you pop by. 🙂 Like any good researcher I did some digging and found some fun facts about 1909/1911 and 1919 Washington Avenue (in New Orleans many houses were built as doubles and converted. Our house also includes the lot next door, hence the 3 addresses).
- The house was built between 1896 and 1909
- The lot used to house a Blacksmith shop circa 1890s-early 1900s
- Our backyard neighbor’s house used to be a dairy in 1896
- New Orleans main streets used to be paved with sea shells (many oyster shells) before cement so our yard is filled with shells
- Many famous Jazz sites are close because Central City has been integral to Jazz since the beginning. The Dew Drop Inn is within walking distance. Also Bounce music and many famous musicians and rappers have come from this neighborhood.
- I can walk to the Anne Rice house (spooky gates)
- The house has 3 original plaster medallions left and 8 original fireplaces with summer fronts (these are non-working old coal fireplaces)
- Original hardwoods (this house is rare in that it did not flood during Hurricane Katrina)
- 12 foot ceilings!
- Pocket doors
So if you live nearby we’d love to meet you and are happy to show off the house- please feel free to share with those you know. And as always in New Orleans, laissez les bon temps roulez!
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