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Show j ohn Harrington The charm of Old Town could never be more apparent than if you were to live in one of the numerous old and somewhat crumbling homes that give this section of town much of its mystique. There are many things to look for in the proper Old Town house if you are out to recapture the era when Park City was a booming mining center and these houses were gracious places to five. That means they are not gracious to live in now unless you have dumped a bundle into gutting and renovating the insides of such a home. If you haven't, but live in one, or want to, you simply have to shut your eyes and let the walls bombard you with the essence of the past in order to fully understand what Park City was like in those bygone days. But, you can't just select any Old Town house if you want this flavor. There are certain things one must look for in seeking the rustic, yet historic, existence in Old Town. Here are a few. Plumbing: your house should have it, but it should be nearly disfunctional. The proper malfunctions would include pipes that freeze every time it dips below 32 degrees, a leaking bathroom sink, a cracked, yet intact, toilet and a bathtub with feet whose toes have all been smbbed. Heat: no utilities allowed. In order to re-live that special time in history, heat with wood or coal or forget it. This will make for some awesome 50 degree temperature swings in the house at night while you sleep under 15 woolen blankets and a Frostking expedition sleeping bag. Insulation: none. Walls and floors: these are all constructed of rough pine timbers aged to a dark hue and replete with four-inch splinters that frequently go clear through your feet, even while you wear boots. Your old home will make industrial-strength tweezers a must. Wiring: precarious, but operational. The proper code violations include lights switches with exposed connector screws so that any casual flip of the switch will result in a 120-volt reminder of where you live. There are extras, but most of them are optional. Perhaps the best gauge of your Old Town shack are the comments of your friends who live in modern comfort. If, when you have them over, the conversation invaribly wanders to how horrible your living conditions are, then you have successfully selected the proper house for historic living. i As for indicators on when might be the opportune time to vacate, when you wake up one morning with the roof in your bed, it's time to go. |