Marilyn's House

The setting for the Restoration of Spirit Showcase House and Garden is Marilyn's House, a turn-of-the-century Victorian beauty. The house was built in 1893 by Greenleaf Builders; the original permits and blue prints were lost in the flood at City Hall, so the architect remains unknown.

Janet Kohl bout the house in 2001 from the previous owners, Joseph and Barbara Marton.

Mr. Marton bought the house in 1969 with his first wife, Marilyn. It has been said that Joseph and Marilyn had a love affair not only with each other but with the house. the two spent an entire summer installing the cedar paneling that still remains on the third floor. They agreed that if doing the remodeling project themselves became too stressful on their marriage, they would just quit and hire a contractor. They only took one weekend off and went to the movies.

After Marilyn passed away, Joseph met a nice woman named Barbara at church. When he went to pick her up for a date, he was awestruck to find that she lived in an identical Victorian designed by the same architect. It seemed to be destiny, so the two married and lived in the house until 2001, when they retired to a condo.

With ten years of restoration and construction experience behind her, Janet Kohl bought the house with a project in mind. What she didn't realize is that she would learn to restore herself in the process.

The Janet Kohl Group did a complete overhaul to the house. Behind the walls, all-new plumbing and electric was added, as well as space pack air conditioning. all the plaster was repaired and skim coated, and all original bulls eye molding was restored. The quarter sawn oak floors were beautifully refinished. Walls were moved and bathrooms added. The existing bathrooms and kitchen were gutted and redesigned with modern lifestyle in mind, but in keeping with the old-world charm of the house.

The exterior also was transformed. The front porch was rebuilt and brought back to its original splendor, putting back its round pillars, Victorian spindles, and wainscoting ceiling. Janet painted the house a sunny yellow, the exact color of the house her son was born in (which has since burned down).

The front garden was designed and installed in 2001. The back garden was a recent addition for the showcase.

When the house was complete, Janet had a friend come see the completed project. He performed the Shamantic ritual of journeying, in which he felt to have come in contact with the spirit of Marilyn. He felt she was still lingering in the house and when he asked her why, she responded with, "I'm getting ready for the party." Who knew!

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