By Heather Rhoades
I suppose I should start out by introducing myself. My name is Heather Rhoades and I am the ridiculously proud owner of the Lamson House, located at 241 Center Road. My husband and I finalized buying the house a little over 2 years ago and since then we have been asked repeatedly about how we came to own the house and what we plan to do with the house. And we have been given many, many stories about how the house played a part in the history of Bedford. So that is why you are reading this article. This is the first of a multipart series about how the Lamson House has played a part in Bedford’s history, why we love the house, what we have done to the house so far and what the future plans for the house are.
If you live in Bedford or you have ever lived in Bedford, you know my house. How do I know this? Because people hundreds of miles away know about my house. Shortly after we bought the Lamson House, my sister was attending a wedding in West Virginia. She was sitting at a table with other guests and the topic of being from Ohio came up. Much to her surprise another guest who she did not know said he was from Ohio as well. Even more to her surprise, he said that he was from Bedford. My sister answered that her own sister also lived in Bedford. The gentleman replied, “It is a great place, but I would only move back there if I could buy one house. It is this big, blue house. A beautiful, old house.” My sister was amazed again. She inquired, “Do you mean the big, blue house on Center Road.” The man was taken aback. “Well, yes,” he answered, “that would be the house that I am talking about. How did you know?” She smiled and said, “Because that is the house my sister just bought.”
So, if you are still in Bedford or if you lived here and have moved far away, I know that the Lamson House is or has been a part of the everyday background of your life. It is a solid fixture in your drive to work or your ride to school. It was there when your parents were young and is still there now that your children or grandchildren are young. It is a house that sparks the imagination and has stories, both true and half true, behind it.
My husband and I are working to save this icon of Bedford’s history and I want you to learn about that history and its future as well. So I invite you to join me in learning about this symbol of what Bedford was, is and can be.
