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I will be converting an old homesteader’s house into a temporary studio. The house originally belonged to a man named Billy Johnson. He immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1909. It took Billy five years to prove up on his homestead. Billy and his brother Axel eventually built the house I am converting into a studio. Billy also dug a well and built his sheds and raised sheep. He mortgaged his farm many times and took various jobs to make ends meet. He took a few jobs doing carpentry and he hauled gravel in his truck for the gym in Judith Gap. Billy always managed to pay off the mortgage. He never married. In the spring of 1960 he sold his ranch to Henry Lode, my grandfather.
In 1978 my parents moved their trailer house from Colorado and placed it on Billy’s old homestead. The photo above shows my parents’ trailer and the original buildings that Billy built. Billy’s house is circled in the photo.
This is what the place looks like today from the same view-point again Billy’s house is circled in red. My parents worked hard through the years raising livestock adding to the homestead and raising a family.
The Current Condition of Billy’s House
Billy’s House has been used for storage from the time my 
grandparents had purchased it in 1960. The house has had some minor upkeep. It’s been painted and the roof on the main part has been repaired. The roof on the addition hasn’t had any repairs and now the addition is falling from the building, It will eventually be removed.
On the north side of the house the root cellar is collapsing in and there is a rotten beam. We will be replacing the beam eventually and the house will be moved from its current location. The four windows on the main part of the house will also need to be replaced.
There are two rooms in the main part. The east room is the largest. I have to remove some of the items that are being stored in it. The plaster is cracking on the walls and ceiling and there’s a place where the plaster has fallen off of the ceiling. I will be attempting to repair the plaster. I will also have to install a wood stove for heat.
That sounds like you’re kind of project. I’m free to help starting in November! 🙂
I’m extremely excited to have a studio. You are more than welcome to come see me anytime. You wouldn’t even have to work.
Awesome! Will you install the wood cook stove seen in photo? It’s beautiful, would be great if it’s useable! Sounds like you have your winter work cut out, can’t wait to see it. I haven’t looked at that website yet, will do. Happy remodeling 😊👍
I am going to hook up the cook stove for sure. There are two places to hook up wood stoves so I will have another wood stove to use for heat in the winter.
What is the story behind the site name. I will have to come see the studio.
My favorite flowers are Irises. On a windy day out at the ranch as the dirt was flying and finding its way into my eyes I thought to myself, My irises are dusty whether their in my eyes or in my flower bed. I chuckled and decided to name my studio Dusty Iris.