Time Capsule: Freistatt, Missouri

I'm pretty darn excited to start a new series called "Time Capsule." Normally, I would just share some of these photos on my Instagram story and be done with it, but now I have a designated place to share even more. And it's fun!

This post is about Freistatt, MO, a small town established by German settlers in 1874. Why did I end up there? To pick up items from an online auction, of course.

I could talk about my experience with online auctions for at least 20 minutes, but instead, I'm going to share some photos of Freistatt, the inside of the house I went to, and a special backstory.

A peek inside the local general store in Freistatt

I normally don't bid on items from auctions that are out of town; meaning anywhere that requires me to drive over 30 minutes. It's not usually worth the miles, but, I made an exception when I saw this auction. You can still see the items that were up for grabs, if you're curious.

I was even more intrigued when I read about the person who owned all of these treasures.

Alice Helmkamp lived in this home for 90 years. Can you imagine? She was born there, never married, and lived in the home until she passed away in 2023. Alice was a school teacher in a Monet, MO for 30 years, and she accumulated a lifetime of vintage and antique treasures, including items that her parents collected.

As soon as I stepped in the house, I gave myself an unguided tour, and walked up a narrow stairway to see the upstairs. The house was obviously in disrepair, but I felt so much love and energy emitting from it.

Can you imagine how many memories were made in this home over the course of 90 years? I wish I could go back in time and see photos of Christmas mornings, Halloween nights, and family dinners.

That pencil sharpener .... 💛

Here's a view of one of the upstairs bedrooms and the downstairs bathroom.

I'm so thankful that I was able to see this home and bring home a few treasures from Alice. I'll share those soon!

After I left the house, I did a little small-town exploring. The community hall wasn't open, but I put my phone up against the glass pane and snapped a photo. It looks like the perfect spot to play Bingo and drink black coffee.

I rarely take pictures of cemeteries, but this one obviously caught my eye.

Freistatt, MO has a population of under 200 people and it's filled with nostalgia. I'm not sure where I'll end up next, but I hope it feels as special as this town did.

xoxo, Jacki