I built several clubhouses while growing up, and I'm working on a book titled Our Clubhouses, Stories About the Joy of Building. It shares my clubhouse building experiences until I was well into my teens, and includes the stories of several other backyard playhouse builders. There are also how-to plans and sketches of great clubhouse ideas for kids and of backyard retreats for grownups.
I had built the clubhouse above in 1959, when I was 11. My friends Chris (in the picture), Kathy (whose yard this was in) and Chris's sister Chele and I formed a club and played in our clubhouse almost every day. It was painted turquoise. I spent a lot of time adding on rooms and fixing up the place (note the wallpaper in the doorway) and I believe it helped me grow and stay sane.
In 1989, I built the playhouse below for my three daughters, who have all outgrown it. Now the neighbor kids play in it.
Funny thing...just as I was writing this posting, I saw two girls heading for my daughters' playhouse with a bucket of paint! Sure enough, when I asked them what they were up to, they announced they were going to paint part of the inside that was still bare wood. I said OK.
And life goes on!
I'll post updates as the book progresses, and let you know when and where it will be available!
Comments