A look back at our first starter home in Aurora, Ohio #TBT
Posted By RichC on July 30, 2026
Some of my fondest memories as newlyweds come from looking at these photos from 1982. The little red brick farmhouse was our first starter home in Aurora, Ohio ($54,900). It was unique in 
more ways that one:
- A one-lung pump (clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk) and heavy iron well-water that turned Brenda hair red (eventually we replace with city water and sewer).
- We also had a Maytag wringer washer that came with the house do our laundry.
- The old oil furnace was replaced in our second year … partially with a homemade woodstove and an eventual a $700 gas line and a new natural gas furnace.
- Built a 10 x 12 ft deck off the rear so we could entertain outside.
- Steps to the basement from in the garage … which was something we carried over into our new house.
- The garage became a workshop and a place I started printing.
All in all, we were fortunate to be able to acquired the existing mortgage at 12% when others were paying 18%. We lived here for 5 years, had baby Katelyn in 1986 and eventually moved one town over to Hudson, Ohio.
*** Also, being a car guy, Brenda drove 1978 Chevy Monza wagon ($3800 new and when she bought it new — very functional) … and I drove an economical 1977 Honda Civic (a rebuildable).
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