A brief biography of the Delaware House

I bought this house in 1978, the year I turned 20 years old. I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it. A family of four was renting it; a young couple with two small children, and it was wintertime. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, and two space heaters going full blast on the day I looked at the house. That was all it had for heat. These Cemesto houses (which they were called because of the material used to build them), were built quickly but sturdily during WWII for the new "Oak Ridgers" who were working on the Manhattan Project and were originally heated by coal furnaces that, for the most part, had all been removed long before 1978. It had old green carpet in the living room, and needed a lot of work throughout, including new plumbing and wiring. There were very few electrical outlets and virtually no insulation. I moved in on a Saturday in March, and by the next day I had torn down the two walls that separated the kitchen from the living room, giving the house an open, airy feeling. That move-in weekend marked the beginning of what was to become a constant way of life for me; working on my house. Paint, insulation, a garden, a wood stove, new plumbing and new wiring were added during that first year.

I had lots of help from friends, relatives and boyfriends along this journey, and am grateful to all the inspiration and physical labor they contributed over the years. I started renting it unfurnished, on an annual basis in 1992, until 2007, when I decided to fulfill a dream (and perhaps the house's destiny) and convert it into a furnished guest house.

I believe that this little house has come full circle; it originally housed families that were in Oak Ridge for a mission, working on something much bigger than themselves, and it provided a warm respite from daily work. Today it provides the same respite; to individuals and families who also find themselves in Oak Ridge for work, or to look for a new home or maybe even something bigger than themselves. For whatever reason you find yourself here, this house will provide you a comfortable, temporary residence.

I have many happy memories from living in this house. There were numerous parties here, as well as long stretches of solitude and peace. And I am grateful for the opportunity to share it. I hope you visit us soon.

About the Owner, Anne Freels

I fell in love with corn shuck dolls in 1975, when I learned how to make one in an Appalachian Studies class during my senior year of High School in Oak Ridge, TN. I have been making the dolls ever since that day. In addition, as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the beauty of other natural materials, and this led me to a pursuit of another passion: natural skin care.

To learn more about Anne Freels visit southernhighlandguild.org/annefreels/