TOPO visits the Umbarger House at History Park

Assignment: Umbarger House. History Park.

Enter house built in the late 19th century in south San Jose.  The living area has several pieces of furniture as though the people that used to live here used this room frequently.  It appears that the room was used for different kinds of activities.  There is a desk that contains journals, ledgers, and bills.  A piano takes up one side of the room.  It must have been a source of entertainment.  There is also a sofa and two chairs placed near the window and a table.  The room is somewhat dark and there is only one overhead lamp.  Wonder what they did when it was dark.

TOPO in the Umbarger House Living Room

The house has two bedrooms. The rooms are small and don’t have very large closets. One room has a very impressive bed that occupies most of the room. The other room was occupied by a child, who left toys on the floor.

The last room resembles a kitchen but it appears that is it used for many activities. There is a large, black appliance that appears to heat things.  It has many tools on the horizontal surface. They must have been used to prepare food. A large basin that is taller on one side is sitting on the floor. Perhaps a person could sit in it. There are other tools in this room that are not identifiable. There is a board on two chairs covered with fabric. On top of the board is a flat metal object with a handle. Maybe it was used to flatten things.

TOPO in the Kitchen at the Umbarger House

Interesting to see how humans lived over 100 years ago.

–TOPO