Where my Grandmother's house once was ... by kimariehere
Open full image in new tab Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Hello all!!
Ok there is a story behind this one that runs deep in our family... this is where my Grandmother's house once was (up till last year)... It is now the beginning of a Jack Nicholson golf coarse . All the memory's still float around and linger here. When I went back to Michigan My Mom and I ,we still drive here many times just cause it is still such a special place when we drive past.
My Grandparents bought this beautiful hilltop home in the 50's . I went there as a child in the summers it was a place of magic to me and I still sometimes remember the smells and feelings there .It was one of the only hilltop homes in Benton Harbor Mi and near the beach.
After Grandmother and Dad died My Mom went back to the family home and felt comforted by it with its many memory's and ghosts of the past- if walls could talk! . She restored it and put
80 thousand into the restoration. When the home was perfect and finished with its grand view of the paw paw river leading to the big lake ( can't see the river view in this pic on the other side ), Harbor shores developers/ Jack Nicholson reps tell my Mom she has no choice but to sell them her home & property!!! (http://www.harborshoresdevelopment.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=16)
She tells them at first they can't have it that it's her family home and that she just restored it.
They say to her well its "hole 13" in the plans and even if she did somehow keep it there they would have to put a big net over her front yard and change the driveway from the back hill up. She cried. Here she just lost her Mom her brother, my Dad and this home and land was why she moved to Michigan & away from California for.
Anyways so my Mom got a lawyer and got a good settlement and bought a new beautiful home .She moved a lot of the landscaping to her new house across town some trees didn't make it. Sad story her river view is no longer and Grandma's beautiful home torn down where all the family dogs were buried. She took me to the land a few weeks ago after dinner . The land is 20 feet higher with fillers and waterways.. I hardly recognized that is was where Grandma's house was ! So I took this shot of it as the sun slowly sank with my memory's .
Its amazing you can own land 100% -...no guarantees out there you get to keep it though - they can still buy it out/ take it from you...
I am an optimist though - always have been so i try to look at the glass half full and don't mean to sound down about this at all ...just an adjustment. When I was walking around here I tried to remind myself that the good news is that the town of Benton harbor & area is being restored /beautified by this project. I am glad that it will be a beautiful place that people enjoy. I realize its sometimes a little hard to say goodbye to some places dear to the heart. Have you ever had to say goodbye to a property you have loved? It's a matter of the heart.
post work - ( just slight saturation
& curves, framed, and reduced )
-just thought I would share our story today.
Thanks for all your wonderful time and comments !!
Love to all
((( Big Hugs )))
~Kimmers ! ♥ :O)

Comments (114)
Wonderful scenery and golden light, Kim!!!
What a touching and very sad story i cant believe this type of thing can happen but it does all over the world nothing is ever really yours ((((((hugs))))))for you and your mum hugs lou x
As allways! Excellent capture!!! Well done Kimmers... :o)
touching ! fantastique light !
I am afraid to open eyes, I am afraid that it will be gone. But in depth of my feelings, it remain for ever!!!
It's always difficult to say goodbye to people, to property, and especially the house where we spent so much time happy! It has been so for me, after my sisters and me sold the house of my parents after their death... your photo is very beautiful! :)
the magic is still there my friend... thanks for the pic and the story. I'm furious right now!
Such a sad and touching story and yes I have had similar things happen to me as well...but no one has built a golf course there...just let the house go down in disrepair... I can see the tears welling up in your eyes now... Nothing can replace memories tho sis and that's all that matters.... Hugs Susan~
About the only thing that is constant in this world is change.A fine shot of this place which is filled with memories.
Beautiful !
Thanks for sharing this story although it made me sad. Sometime progress is NOT a good thing. Tony.
Such a sad story and too bad about the house :o( ....beauty of a capture though !!! ** * H u g s ***
Excellent composition
Although I golfed when I was a young lad, I know longer feel any attraction to golf courses nor the so-called "sport." The loss of this property, regardless of the settlement, just doesn't seem right. More like a miscarriage of justice. Thanks for the story and photo Kimmers.
Yes, two years ago I said goodbye to my grans home, when I moved to NY from Wash. State, no going back as its been given to another money monger (nothing the community will derive from it), and a year later gran passed away and he did not even have the courtesy to tell me, but like you I have some grand memories. Its a great shot, I like the way you caught the sun and its good that you feel positive about it. Good for your mom too that she got a good settlement! Bravo times 3!
the rich 's money talks and the ordinary folk gets a backslap with a closed fist.good she got some money.eminent domain sucks.so many here in Dallas was forced to move especially for the cowboy stadium in Arlington and they never got what their property became worth with the stadium there
Humm… A history not too radiant of joys my Beautiful It is very difficult to design a Tel. attack for a family established since of the generations and to be made remove their memories of antan. My heart east obscures this history my Beautiful. I hate plooses my memories because they could not be similar any more. A photo austère with your glances where you then to find the way of your memories. I compatrie with you my Beautiful and. Thank you much of to have taken a time to show your sorrows and torments ((5++)) Humm... Une histoire pas trop rayonnante de joies ma Belle C'est très difficile de concevoir un tell attentat pour une famille établie depuis des générations et se faire enlever leurs souvenirs d'antan . Mon coeur est assombrit de cette histoire ma Belle . Je déteste perdre mes souvenirs car ils ne pourront plus être pareils . Une photo austère à tes regards où tu ne puis retrouver le chemin de tes souvenirs . Je compatie avec toi ma Belle et .Merci beaucoup d'avoir prise un temps pour démontrer tes peines et tourments ((5++))
B E A U T Y
Such a lovely warm shot, but cold hard story.. I am glad you can find some peace with it. {{{hugs}}}
So sad history, but wonderful shot!! Hurry up!!
TANKS TO SHARING YOUR LITLE HISTORY TO US !! WONDERFUL PLACE !!
What a sad story, and yet you post such a lovely and optimistic photo. It's beautiful, Kimmie... and so is your spirit. Thanks for sharing this with us, honey. -M :^)
Oh My gosh - - - I have no words except that something similar happened to us as a family, too. What a beautiful thing that you can go back and capture the presence in the land.
Sad story....but this photo is perfect!!! great capture!!
sad they can do this to people. but now the laws is on the side of the rich people and sometimes they lose too. Goverment just takes. My heard is sad now but this is a very good shot here
Poignant story with so many memories. Excellent image with the sun lighting up the tree. Dave
What an idyllic spot what a shame it is still not there :) Cathy xoxoxo
Very touching storys Kimmers and I feel for your loss but you will always have such beautiful memorys of such a special place...Beautiful shot..Jen
She must have seen many beautiful sunsets like this in her day. I'm ashamed to call myself a golfer, if this is the cost. A fitting image here to cherish~ Aloha~
Some call it progress... I am not entirely sold on it... Touching story Kimmie...