Harmon-y in a Double Home

By Jimmy Bonner.

Leon and Mildred Harmon began dreaming of a country home back in 1938 after they were married. And after 39 years of city living they finally made one by putting two houses together.

Their unusual country home is near Water Valley in Yalobusha County, Mississippi. The couple joined two houses built in the early 1930's that had been on the farm of Mrs. Harmon's mother.

The Harmons, who are both retired Monroe, Louisiana, schoolteachers but originally from rural north Mississippi, had dreamed for years of a home back in the country with plenty of room. So last year they left the city and returned to Mississippi.

"Leon and I both wanted the privacy and peacefulness that country living offers," said Mrs. Harmon. "And we wanted our grandchildren, who live in large cities, to have a chance to visit a place that hasn't been changed by man. Out here, we can see nature at its best trees, birds, squirrels, fish and all kinds of wildlife. There's just nothing like it."

The Harmons put together their home during a period of about five years, working during weekend trips from Louisiana. By the summer of 1977, they were able to move in and add the finishing touches.

A self-trained carpenter, Mr. Harmon connected the two houses himself and did all the carpentry work and most of the other work needed. Mrs. Harmon helped with the interior decorating and landscaping, with assistance from Mrs. Mamie Shields, Extension home economist in Yalobusha County. The two houses combined gave them nine rooms and about 3,200 square feet of floor space.

Mr. Harmon estimates the total cost of building the house at about half the price of a comparably sized and equipped new home, or about $15 per square foot. As an added advantage, the house reflects their own taste in design and decoration.

The house is completed now, but the work hasn't stopped.

"We plan to have azaleas and a nature trail in the woods surrounding the house," said Mr. Harmon, who enjoys fishing and hunting on their land. "We also will have a garden and orchard."

Adapting to a new, quiet country life hasn't come without problems, said Mrs. Harmon. "We miss the shopping conveniences and the culture of the city," she said. "It also took quite some time to complete the house. But we would do it all over again because we enjoy the work and living in the country."

Assess Family Needs

Your present family needs go beyond the number of bedrooms in the house. Consider your living habits, work, relaxation, and entertainment; and think of the needs of each in terms of space, privacy, storage, access to other areas of the house, and comfort level required for each activity.

Entertaining large groups means a need for large rooms. If you frequently have overnight guests, a spare bedroom may be important. If you plan to raise your own food, the kitchen and utility area should provide space for the processing involved, and storage of canned or frozen food.

Each family is unique. These are only suggestions that may stimulate your thoughts in assessing present family needs.

All families change and consequently family needs will not be the same in the future. A young, growing family undoubtedly will need more space in the future. Look at expansion possibilities. Consider using presently unfinished space such as attic,, basement, or attached garage.

Generally there should be room for an addition to a rural house. The main thing is to plan such an expansion or addition at the time remodeling is being done. The heating system and electrical service should be sized for add-ons if expansion is planned. Rough plumbing may also be planned for expansion.

If your family is presently large, it will decrease in size as children establish their own homes. Perhaps see if an area of the house can be closed off when unused, but be available for guests. Or could a part of the house be converted to an apartment for rental? By making the division between units with removable panels, the house could be changed either way as needed by your family. Of course, the feasibility of this arrangement depends on being in a location where there is a demand for such rentals.