I returned this morning to check on the George T. Browning house. Demolition progress was slow on Monday and Tuesday, but when I arrived on Wednesday morning with Matthew, the house had been completely leveled to the ground, and most of the brick had been removed from the property.

All that remains of the house now are memories, history, and photographs. It is now confirmed that the George T. Browning house no longer stands, as it was demolished on April 3rd, 2012, likely later in the day.

Attached below are the final photos of the house, taken on Tuesday morning.

It is possible that if the Browning family had retained ownership of the Italianate/Tuscan villa-style home for a longer period of time, the property could have been restored and still occupied today.

For further exploration of the historical significance of George T. Browning’s house, I recommend viewing the Google Maps Street View. It is likely that the house was still occupied during Google’s car drive-by in May 2009.

We must come to terms with the change that has occurred. Regrettably, there is nothing more that can be done, as the house has been lost.

And this is after.

While on our way back from the site, Matthew made a special request for us to stop by the library. How could I possibly refuse his enthusiasm for visiting? It brings me great joy to see him so engaged during our visits. He always greets the librarians warmly, strikes up conversations about his favorite superheroes like Superman or Iron Man, enjoys playing on the computer, checks out books and DVDs, and treats himself to something special.

As I sat next to Matthew while he played on the computer, I couldn’t help but recall the photos I took a few months ago from the library window of the George T. Browning house—showcasing the exhibit Somethings That Always Change In Our Library. To my surprise, not only had the art exhibit changed, but the George T. Browning house was no longer featured in the window.

Not to be continued.