The Battle Creek Home

Judging by Willie's memory of his boyhood home, she succeeded in this. He later wrote about the six-room cottage:1BIO 400.8

It was one and two thirds stories high, and faced east on Wood Street.... The front room on the first floor was both parlor and sitting room. Back of this was a small bedroom to the north, and to the south a kitchen, which was used also as a dining room.1BIO 400.9

Upstairs the front room was broad and roomy, about eight feet high in the center and sloping to four feet at the north and south sides. There were two windows on the east. Back of this large front room were two bedrooms and the stairway.1BIO 401.1

The moving in was quickly accomplished, and almost immediately a twelve-foot lean-to was built on the south side. This was known through the years as the boys’ room. Later a similar lean-to was built on the north side. This room served many purposes. For a short time it was the residence of my mother's parents, Robert and Eunice Harmon; later on, after they had moved to a cottage of their own, it was occupied by my father's parents, John and Betsy White. James and Ellen White greatly enjoyed having their parents near them.—WCW, “Sketches and Memories of James and Ellen White,” Ibid., February 13, 19361BIO 401.2

W. C. White spoke of a well dug on the property line so that several families might be served. Its clear, cool water left a lasting impression on his mind. He recalled:1BIO 401.3