I was born in Ionia, Michigan in 1962.  The middle child of 5, gives me the right to claim that I was ignored, doesn't it?  Well, I can't in good conscience say that.  I was raised by two school teacher 'history buffs' and tortured by my two older sisters.  A ritual that I then passed down to my two younger brothers. 

My parents were adamant about teaching their children the good and the bad concerning American history.  We visited countless battlefields, museums and other historic sites in this country.  During these travels, I would peer out the window of our VW van and wonder about the abandoned buildings that you see along the way.  Walking through the Yorktown Battlefield or Gettysburg Cemetary, you can't help but feel the energy of the people that once fought there. 

My love, my true passion lies in taking an old discarded and forgotten building, and restoring the life and spirit to that dwelling.  It might not be a famous piece of history to the mainstream, but it was once a home, a way of life to someone.  Which makes it an important piece of not only my history, but yours as well.

I have another life.  I have my responsible, paying the bills life.  For a reason that I cannot fathom, I feel compelled to follow this seemingly unobtainable path and dream about restoring these pieces of history.  Until that wonderful day comes, I am content to put my fantasies in the form of pictures.

Brenda Morris
Lake City, MI