Embarassing! We went to an Open House that wasn't OPEN!

OH well, we really did it this time!

Yesterday, as we were sitting out on the front porch, sipping our coffee.... we noticed a new little sandwich board type sign out in front of the mansion across the street from us saying it would be Open House from 1:30 to 2:30.  We knew the house was on the market again, as the previous rental occupants had moved out once their home was built.  We had been anxious to see the inside of this fabulous house.... so we ran our errands in Appleton early in the day and made it home in time to attend.

Besides being a "nosy neighbor" I am trying to convince a friend to retire here and extolling the virtues of our wonderful little town of Chilton.  So I wanted to take more pics of the inside than what is on the website:

Here is the link to the realtor's page with more info:

218-N-MADISON-ST-CHILTON

At 1:30 we walked on over and went up the front walk, 

quite excited to see the inside

 of this huge almost 5,000 sq ft home that was built in 1880's

We rang the front doorbell as a courtesy to let the realtor know we were there... but nobody came to the front foyer.  We removed our shoes as there were some dropcloths on the floor.  We entered into the home and as we walked through the first floor, we thought we heard someone out by the garage.  Figuring the realtor was busy with another couple, we wandered around the home on our own.  

We had done some previous reading up on the history of the home. Originally it had been built by a man named Christopher Hugo, from Bavaria, Germany, who owned a prosperous cigar making operation in the small city of Chilton. He also was a city mayor and alderman.  From there, other important city forefathers owned the home, including the Knauf family, the Engler family and the Elliot Family. 

Through the foyer, music room, parlor, grand room, library etc. we found ourselves just enamored by the wonderful charm and classic style of this amazing home.  Such workmanship and skill features built in the bygone era of craftsmanship!

In some of the rooms, there are hand painted murals all around the borders of country scenes, 

perhaps from the original owner's native lands of Bavaria?  

Many of the rooms had fireplaces and huge windows letting in the light.

We wandered up through the second story... 

admiring the six bedrooms, and a sun room that would make a great studio.

 Most of the bedrooms have their own sinks and vanity area.  

We enjoyed looking at all of the old fixtures... and 

marveling at how THICK the walls are (look at the depth of this windowsill) 

Still not hearing anyone come into the home yet from the backyard, we went up a twisty staircase with FIVE turns on it's path upwards....  up to the third story which I imagine were the maid's quarters, nursery and children's school and play area.  The windows at the end of this big space overlook the front lawn and across the street to our house. 

As we wound our way back down the stairs to the second story, we finally heard someone come in downstairs, so we went down to make ourselves known. 

Imagine our surprise when we didn't see the expected lady realtor from out on the front sign... oh no no no------ We saw a gentleman garbed up in painting clothes and working tools in his hands!  I think he was even more startled than we were!!!!    (good thing he doesn't carry a gun, eh?)

Soooooo adding insult to injury, I asked him if he was here WORKING ON THE HOUSE????  NOooooooooooo

 he was the OWNER!!!!!!

and to make matters even worse ..

the added little sign out front?  it's for 

NEXT SUNDAY!!!!!!

"DUH" on us.... it hadn't occurred to us that it was Monday- Labor Day- 

and it didn't dawn on us that the sign said SUNDAY!  

We had only looked at the time listing when it was open, 

and didn't think of the day......

In our defense, I guess in all my years of selling real estate, I never placed an additionaql sign out front A WEEK IN ADVANCE of an open house... especially without a DATE on it?  We just saw the additional sign and time and thought it was meant for that day.  

He graciously introduced himself, and soon after his wife came in and we explained our horrid faux pas of coming into their home uninvited and walking around like a couple of oogling idiots!  He had been out cutting some trim wood in the garage and she had been out running errands and just came back.  

The house is vacant right now, as they have built another home out of town. They were using the extra long weekend to get more things done on this in time for the Open House NEXT Sunday.  ARGGGHHH!

We chatted with them for a bit about the house and tasks of selling a house in this market and all about the wonderful town of Chilton.  They gave us their blessing to share the photos and even post this on my blog.  Who knows, someone who reads this might be my new neighbor!!!

(and we promise to never go into the house again unless we are invited)