Target Village - Mary in the Hydrangea Bush

After George and Mary throw rocks at the Granville House, there is an awkward moment that leads to Mary losing her robe (why don't I have any stories like this from my teenage years???), Mary hides in a hydrangea bush. This is that moment.

Target Village - George and Mary Throwing Rocks

On their way back home from the dance, George and Mary pass by the Granville House. There, they share a moment and then throw rocks and make wishes. This is that moment.

Target Village - The Old Granville House of Bedford Falls

This box for the Granville House got damaged by a leaking water heater.

The Granville House is the center of George and Mary Bailey's life together, beginning with two wishes and ending with a town gathering around them in support.

The side of the box reads, "A leaky roof and a loose newel post can't keep George and Mary Bailey from making the Old Granville House their home. It is here they share their hopes and dreams, raise their four children, decorate Christmas trees, and discover what the whole town already knows - that it is indeed a wonderful life."

Front

Right side 

Rear

Left side

Blogging From A to Z - G is for Granville House

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

Granville House:

The Granville House, located at 320 Sycamore, Bedford Falls, NY,  is a special place.

The Granville House
Source: http://fan.tcm.com/blogpost/its-a-wonderful-life-
christmas-movie-extraordinaire

When we first see it, the home is a broken down, ancient shell of a home. Most of the windows are broken out, the roof is shoddy, and it has pretty much been left to rot. It's so bad that George Bailey says he "wouldn't live in it as a ghost."

And let's not forget the nosey neighbor who tries to talk George and Mary into kissing so he can watch. Peeping Tom much? It would be funny if his name was Tom. I need to look that up.

When George and Mary get married and celebrate their honeymoon there, we see that the inside is in worse condition. The floor joists from the second floor have collapsed onto the stairwell. The plaster is falling off of the walls. There is clearly severe water damage.

A close-up.
Source: http://hookedonhouses.net/2011/12/19/its-a-wonderful-life-
george-and-mary-baileys-drafty-old-house-in-bedford-falls/

It is at that moment that the Granville House gets a new life. Mary works hard to refurbish the house and turns it into a beautiful home.

Then George goes to Pottersville. Once he realizes the horror of the reality - or the fantasy - or the alternate history - he asks to be taken "home." When he gets to the Granville House, he discovers that the house has "died." It has reverted to its former dilapidated condition.

But when George returns to Bedford Falls, the Granville House, in effect (though not in fact) gets its third rebirth, becoming a warm home again that welcomes family and friends.

Check out this site about the Granville house. It's very well done.

Here is a still from It's a Wonderful Life showing the Granville House straight-on.
Source: http://throwinstones.blogspot.com/2010/09/late-to-game.html

It's a Wonderful Travelogue Part 2: Seneca Falls, NY

On August 6, 2014, I visited Seneca Falls, NY with my family. It's about an hour or so east of Niagra Falls, so it makes for a nice trip.

Seneca Falls claims the title of "The Real Bedford Falls," which is the setting of the film It's a Wonderful Life. Residents claim that the town - which Frank Capra was known to have visit - was his inspiration for the design of Bedford Falls. The Web site www.therealbedfordfalls.com tells that story.

To tell the truth, I have read the argument, yet I remained skeptical. I felt like it was an attempt to grab some good PR based on a couple of weird coincidences. And yet, when I got there, I was really impressed. Read the argument at the link above and check out some of the pictures below.

As an added bonus, Seneca Falls has the It's a Wonderful Life Museum. I was amazed at the collections I found there. They were so much fun, and the collection was growing. A group was traveling around the country picking memorabilia from key collectors, including Karolyn "Zuzu" Grimes and The Goodson Collection to bring back to the museum. Learn more about the museum at www.wonderfullifemuseum.com.

Have you been to Senca Falls? Do you want to go? Do you believe their claim? Comment below!

Here are photos of our trip from my personal collection:

This mill looks like the mill that can be seen in the background when the Martini family packs up their cars to move out of Potter's Field.

Another photo of the mill.

The bridge that started it all.

Me near the bridge.

The approach to the bridge...complete with a pedestrian walkway and a story of one person's sacrifice to save another.

George Bailey wasn't the only one to jump from a bridge to save someone's life. Antonio Varacalli did it in real life. He lost his life.

A plaque on the bridge identifies the connection to It's a Wonderful Life.

Even the streets are appropriately named.

These streets are in It's a Wonderful Life, as well.But you have to pay attention to catch that detail.

This is one of two houses that reportedly inspired the Granville House.

This is one of two houses that reportedly inspired the Granville House.

Same house, different angle. 

The train depot can be seen in the distance, left-center. 

Me in front of the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

I wish I had purchased these dolls when they were sold at Target. They are worth a small fortune now. These dolls are at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

I have seen these Zuzu dolls selling for big money on eBay, but never in real life. This was in the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

This really cool model of Potter's carriage can be found on display at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

An IAWL-themed quilt on display at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

A painting of Clarence that hangs in the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

This incorrectly-quoted line from It's a Wonderful Life is a close-up detail of a larger painting of Clarence. This was on display at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum,

This cigar lighter, seen in the It's a Wonderful Life Museum, is like the one George Bailey wished on.

I totally wish I had a million dollars. It didn't work...yet.

I have never seen this train set until I found it on display at the It's a Wonderful Life Museum,

I inspected every square inch of every collectible inside the It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

George Lassos the Moon, without the lettering, but signed by Jimmy Stewart. SO COOL! On display at The It's a Wonderful Life Museum.

Seneca Falls is also the home of the Women's Rights National Historical Park. The park tells the story of the first Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls in 1948.