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From The Archies’ #1 song “Sugar, Sugar” and the hit movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” to Woodstock, “Easy Rider” and the Apollo 11 moon landing, the year 1969 presented contrasts in evolving pop culture and technology, plus a fairly stable housing market.
The housing industry was strongly driven by the Baby Boomers, and some 65% of Americans owned their homes. The average age of buying a house was 23, and the median home price was $25,600. While Madison and Luke Underwood were able to buy their first house in Fairlawn in 2019 when they were 20 and 19, the price was much higher. They purchased the Floyd property just two years later, defying today’s average first home buyer being between 35 and 40 years old. The median home price this year is a whisker over $400,000.
The single-story, low-pitched ranch was a very common house style in the late 1960s, characterized by a much more open interior than earlier, boxy homes with walls between all the rooms. Large windows and sliding glass doors were prominent, and the backyard patio designs replaced the ubiquitous large front porches. Brick, stone and wood siding were common materials.
It was the time of mid-century modern with its clean minimalist lines, open floor plans and functional spaces. This blend of nostalgia and practicality captured the Underwoods on first look at their current home in Floyd County.
Floyd Beckons
“We saw this house for sale on Facebook, and my first reaction was ‘That’s way too far, why would we move to Floyd?’” states Madison. For Luke, there is a strong family connection. He spent much of his childhood in Floyd County with his beloved grandfather, Raymond, who owned Underwood Chevrolet back in the day. He feels a large part of his paternal roots reside in Floyd.
It was the very end of December in 2021. With Madison’s mind still stuck on a potentially long 30-minute commute to their business, Nomadic Camper & RV Repair, the couple drove out to the house. “We fell in love with the kitchen and the view of the mountains!” she gushes.
The 1,760-square foot ranch, built in 1969, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a detached garage. That’s all terrific, and when you factor in 6.31 acres, 2-car detached garage and no close neighbors, well, any 30-minute commute fades away. “I’m so used to it now, it doesn’t even seem like 30 minutes.”
Light Renovations
The house was in great condition, perhaps credit those late 1960s building standards. Luke relates that they whitewashed the brick exterior, added a blue metal roof and installed a windmill. They also renovated one combo bathroom and laundry room. The Underwoods, high school sweethearts since they were 15 and married since 2022, plan to finish the full basement, maybe add more bedrooms. [Maybe add more kids? I didn’t ask.]
The couple can comfortably envision and embrace any renovation project. They have already flipped a house or two, and Luke takes on all manner of repair and upgrade work with campers, RVs and horse trailers every day in their business. From wiring and painting to water damage repair and custom interiors with new carpet, counters or fixtures, he’s more than handy with tools and gadgets of all kinds.
Business, Education, Entertainment Value
As a professional photographer, Madison saw the potential instantly of holding photo shoots right at home with that incredible view. “It’s like the cherry on top for my photography business,” she says. “One day I’d like to build a studio for my work.”
“We don’t plan to move again, “Luke adds. “We want [son] Rawley to go to Floyd County Schools, and this is where I feel that I belong.”
Every evening in the summer, Madison and Luke walk the property and/or sit on the back porch and simply enjoy the view. Hosting gatherings with the long-range vista is amazing. They say it’s a little slice of heaven right in Floyd County.
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Madison Underwood
