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OGDEN — Jonathan Boothe was hunting for a new address in November when his mother drew his attention to a decidedly old one.
It was a white, two-story house not far from the corner of 34th Street and Adams Avenue, and it had an all-too-familiar history dating back more than 100 years.
“My great-grandparents were the original owners of this house built in 1907,” Boothe said.
Boothe said when they passed away, his grandfather purchased the house and raised his mother and aunts and uncles in the home.
“When my grandparents passed away about 20 years ago, the family got rid of the house,” Boothe said.
When the opportunity came to buy it, he couldn’t resist.
“As soon as I walked through the house, I knew this was home,” Boothe said, still in disbelief about the serendipitous timing of the purchase. “Yeah, we called this house the ‘Miracle on 34th’ this year, and that’s what we’re going to keep calling it — Miracle on 34th Street —because that’s what it is.”
Boothe said he has always held an appreciation for all things old — something he hopes to pass onto his son someday with the old house.
“Once it’s not mine, it’s going to be his,” Boothe said. “Yeah, I’m hoping to keep this house in the family forever. Forever. It should be.”
Eight-year-old Clay marked the fifth generation to live in the home, something he already seemed to appreciate at his young age.
“It’s very great!” the boy said. “I love it a lot!”
Boothe said he definitely believes the purchase was meant to be.
“This place is a miracle — it’s a miracle to me, it’s a miracle to my son, it’s a miracle to everybody in this family just because of the history in this house,” Boothe said. “I can feel my family here. I can feel my grandpa’s spirit and my great grandpa’s spirit and it’s really awesome.”
