...and I forgot the "more inside".
Dammit!

They're burning down Bellaire? I had friends in college from there!

watch memories go up in flames

Huh? They're not burning your actual brain, are they?

Wow, that's a street I take to avoid congestion on the 610 and Beechnut. Am I thinking the right Maple Street? If so, I'll check it out when I go to the bank later today.

As far as I know, it's just the one house and not my brain. But we'll have to wait and see what's printed on the sign. This may be more tragic for me than I first imagined.

Okay, I drove by and the sign says "This house has been donated to the Bellaire Fire Department for training" ... that's all, no date or anything. You might want to call the fire department for further information. The house itself looks in good condition from the outside, though it's dwarfed by the two McMansions on either side. One would presume that once the house is burned, another one of those monstrosities will take its place, which is really too bad because those houses in Bellaire (and Meyerland and Sharpstown) were very well constructed. When I remodeled my new house last year (I live near Houston Baptist University) nearly every worker I hired marveled over the solid construction of the house saying, "They just don't make them like this anymore."

I would have taken a picture, but it's raining really hard right now. Really hard!

Thanks WolfDaddy. We've left a message with the Fire Department and hope to hear back from them today.

The property was purchased by the owners of one of the McMansions next to it so that they could actually have a yard. So there likely won't be another house going up in its place.

You are very right about the quality of those houses. My parents paid about $30k for the house in 1973 and I believe the last tax appraisal was over $300k. My father did a lot of work improving the house while we lived there and he has commented on how well built it was. It's a shame that it won't continue to be used as a home, but at least it's going out in a blaze of glory.

My grandparents had a second house on their property in Maine. We called it the guest house, but it was actually the original house on the property. It was a cute, two bedroom place, with an original stone foundation. After many years, with raccoons constantly getting into the attic and tearing up the ceiling and insulation, and the foundation crumbling, my grandparents deceided to give the house to the local fire department to practice on. I wish I could have been there to see it.

Damn. I'd be disturbed. Utterly.

Sorry for your trouble.

Huh? They're not burning your actual brain, are they?

Good point, very well expressed. The past is gone, the place is no longer the same, except inside us. I have trouble learning that one.