467 Orchard Avenue

The frame Dutch Colonial home of Tim and Danielle Sowers, 5 children, and 3 spoiled cats is located on the south side of Orchard Avenue near North Balph in the Bellevue Land Company’s “Sunnyside Plan of Lots and is a division of the old Bayne Farm. The land was laid out into building lots in July 1890. Like many of the subdivisions in Bellevue there were deed restrictions to encourage the construction of substantial single-family homes rather than apartments and flats. In 1901, the lot was sold to Charles Spring for $1900. Spring built the home soon afterward and lived there with his wife Sadie for nearly 30 years.

The Sowers wanted a small, walking school district, and Bellevue was just the community for that—with the bonuses being the quaint parks and libraries and a neighborhood that was perfect for trick-or-treating. The perfect trick-or-treating neighborhood it is with several hundred children coming to their door each year.

In January 2020 a devastating fire swept through the house, leaving little intact except the framing, some of the roof, the foundation, and the footprint. The Sowers found some original pocket doors that had been lost in the framing, and some gorgeous (but smoky) oak flooring under the carpet. This restorative labor of love included locating the front door/sidelights and fireplace mantels from architectural salvage from a property of similar age. The interior newel posts were restored and used

for the front porch banister. Danielle and Tim even ventured into other states during the pandemic searching for necessary components to restore the house. “It’s been a pleasure to find objects and decor at thrift and antique stores and estate sales rather than buying everything new - which makes it feel more lived in, rather than replaced,” Danielle said.

Tim and Danielle were able to rework the footprint a bit to fit their lifestyle. They were also able to add a primary bedroom on the first floor along with an ensuite bath with spa amenities.

This beauty of a home will soon boast of a dedicated space for canning and home brewing, clean and sophisticated storage, and an out-of-the-way place for exercise equipment.

While the fire was devastating, the Sowers were committed to not leaving behind an empty lot in the heart of Bellevue or adding something to the neighborhood that was out of character. Instead they saved as much as possible and did their best to replicate the rest, investing countless hours in the rebuild, despite many challenges posed by the pandemic. The reborn home now fits seamlessly into the streetscape of the neighborhood and will be a community asset for many years to come.