RWI002 The History of 222 Herweck
The First Overnight
I remember vividly the first night staying in our house on 222 Herweck Dr. We had just closed the sale in late November 2002. Julie went to stay with her parents, but I insisted on staying in our new home.
The electricity had not been set up yet and the home was completely empty. This house is so big and laid out in a way that you could have a full-blown party going on and hear nothing in the master bedroom.
I grabbed some towels for bedding and set up in that master bedroom. It was a cold and creepy night for me as I shut my eyes.
The Transition
We had just sold our modest home in Medford Lakes New Jersey.
We traveled back to Texas with our two-year-old Jonathan and Newborn Kaylin.
We were able to take the proceeds from our home in NJ and double down on our home on Herweck.
Our new home in Texas
222 Herweck had been vacant for two years before we purchased it from an investor who bought the house to make an assisted living property.
The city of Castle Hills was not playing nice with the investor and would not give them the permit for a commercial property. The house was in disrepair and we later heard stories from our neighbors of teens using it as a party place and neighbors sneaking in to take a look around.
The owner before the investor was a little old lady whose sister had built the home in the 60s, and lived there until she passed away. One of her relatives oversaw much of the building and the additions to the property that became the new home of the Peters Family.
Initial Adjustment
Once all of stuff arrived from New Jersey and was placed throughout, our house still looked empty. We bought the home with the intention of raising a large family and staying put until the last bird left the nest.
Our third child Luke was born three years later, and he turned out to be our last as Julie had to have her baby maker removed.
Although the family remained small, we were able to fill the home with stuff and remove the feeling of emptiness.
A Chance Encounter
Shortly after our arrival, we were invited to a Pampered Chef party hosted by our good friend Monie. It was at this party that Monie realized that she was good friends with someone that used to live at 222 Herweck.
We met Chance and Nichole McGhee at another occasion and found out that Chance used to live with his grandmother at 222 Herweck while he was attending Law School.
The McGhees had a daughter Sydney who was the same age as Jonathan and a son Colton who was the same age as Kaylin. Luke was always the third wheel as these kids grew up together over the last 16 years.
We became best of friends with the McGhees and they closely watch as we transformed the home over the past couple of years.
At the time, my Parents Don and Claire were living in Alexandria Virginia. We invited them to come visit shortly after our arrival. It so happened that our neighbors were selling their home which was straight out our back door.
The home is Spanish style, with a pool and a circular drive that my mother had always wanted. My parents were living next door by the summer and we now had access to our own pool.
Dad purchased a Class A RV that we would take to Lake Belton often and once to Colorado. That thing was a bear to drive, but gave us the taste of RV life – Julie and I borrowed it once to stay on Padre Island.
Time to Update
Our first remodel was the main area of the home. We removed walls, replumbed and transformed the kitchen from a small galley kitchen into a spacious open kitchen with an island that had a great view of our back yard.
Because the home was so large, we were able to host many parties. During these parties the women would gather in the kitchen, the men in the newly renovated bar area that was once a maid’s quarters, and the kids would be out back on the swing, trampoline or tree house. We used to gather for Family Sunday once a week with our family and close friends. All of our kids grew up together in that back yard.
Our second major remodel had us replacing all the windows, the roof, flooring and adding Solar Panels and remodeling bathrooms. During that time, we converted our 1000 sf space above the garage from a mans cave to the offices of Lone Star State Construction. My brother Dave, myself and nephew Jason started the company on a shoestring in that space above the garage. My brother Daren joined us a couple years later as we expanded into an Inc 5000 fastest growing company.
Family Sunday
Because of our expansive back yard and access to a pool next door, our children and their friends have many memories from Family Sundays, Easter, Christmas and summer breaks.
Danger Will Robinson
My first terrifying memory was when Kaylin was two years old. She went out back to play while Julie and I were going through our daily routines. I went out back to check on her and there was no Kaylin to be found. At the time we had no fence around our yard and I freaked out.
I went yelling for Kaylin up and down the street. I was terrified that she had been abducted or just wandered off into some dangerous situation. I ran back to the house to console Julie who had been searching the many rooms in the house. We started to reach for the phone and heard a giggle.
Kaylin was on the back porch sunk in one of the chairs hiding from us as we ran around screaming like two crazy people. Needless to say, a 6’ fence was installed around the entire property within a week.
The Don
I even became a Godfather in the Herweck House. The event was for Zander, the son of Monie and Steven. Their preacher presided over the ceremony and we had a little party afterwords.
Monie had selected her childhood friend Eva Longoria to be the Godmother. So now I get to tell my buddies that Eva is my Godwife and have a good laugh.
Our Dream Home
The house on Herweck has been a 16 year Dream for Julie and me. We had plans to stay another 10.
I had already envisioned my next remodel to install a Mac Daddy covered patio with stone fireplace and to remodel the space above the garage into a four room Master Suite.
It has been really hard to leave this place behind.
As we shifted our minds to downsizing, we had to buckle up and begin The Purge…
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