The Grapevine: An Electric Story for this Homeowner
By Rosalyn Queen on April 03, 2025
If you watch the news at all you have surely heard about electric cars. I have to confess that I do not have an opinion on them, but these stories brought me back to 1961 when we were building our new home.
We had just been married a few years, and we had not started our family yet and we decided that now was the time to get started on establishing a home for us. My father owned the lot our house is located on, and he gave it to us. We built the basement and lived in it for a 
year in order to save enough money to make a down payment. Our house payment was about $95 a month for 20 years.
year in order to save enough money to make a down payment. Our house payment was about $95 a month for 20 years.
Back in those days Clarksburg had a Home Show every year at the Carmichael Auditorium. It was a really big deal and highlighted everything associated with the home.
At the time I was working for the Clarksburg Cable Company and in my position, I manned our booth. With plenty of time I visited every booth and talked to the representatives. I visited a home building booth, which was owned by Joseph’s Homes. The store was located on Monticello Avenue, and Mr. Joseph was the owner. I was impressed by his presentation and had him do it again for my husband Fray. We were really interested and after the show he came to our home and defined every part of the building process and the financing. He sold us and we went with him.
His company was promoting an all-electric home. We liked the idea and joined in their effort to build us an all-electric home. All of our appliances were electric and there was no gas meter on our property. I want to explain about the heat. They referred to installing radiant heat. Each room had its own cable installation and its own thermostat. The heating cables were installed in the ceiling of each room and then it was plastered over the cables. The thermostat was located on a wall in each room. We were cautioned not to install anything on the ceiling so as not to disturb the cables. It is wonderful to have each room’s heat regulated to its use.
Fast forward 62 years we do not have a furnace and all the duct work running through our basement. We have never had to do any maintenance on the heating system ever. If we had a furnace, we would have to have a new filter yearly so we have saved that cost. Electric heat is so clean and our ceilings have remained white with only one paint job. I really recommend electric heat. And taking everything into consideration the cost is great. My largest bill this winter for one month was $350.00. It usually averages about $160 a month
I will have to be honest that I am not too happy with window air conditioners, but the house is so well insulated that it really remains cool most of the time.
So now if you come visit me and see the medallion (pictured here), you know why. Maybe you will see one on another residence. I think there were several other homes built at the same time.
Now you know the whole story and until next week, “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
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