It sounds like a small thing, but the hurt is big...

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

6. I don't think it's small. My mother's family has roots

in Virginia from the late 1600s. Her middle name is Virginia after her paternal grandmother. That GM &
GF (my GGParents) had a farm with a beautiful old house and barn. One of the sons came home from the war with "shell shock." He lived in a room in the barn and had an antiques business there.

After his death, the barn burned down with a load of antiques, both from the business and the family. A nicely-kept old Packard burned with it. Fortunately they got the horses out in time.

Mom's maternal GPs had a gorgeous Greek Revival home we occasionally visited in coastal. Virginia. Not entirely kept up, but I've always love old houses. Aside from the horror of bed pans & outhouses, it was magical visiting there, if also haunting. My GGGrandparents were buried in the yard.

After the death of my GGMs sister & husband, who had inherited the house, their children, who lived on adjoining properties, let the old home fall into disrepair and then knocked it down. I had visited there only twice in my life and I still I feel a great loss.

By the way, your description of your old family place was movingly written. Thank you for sharing. You have my sincere condolences.