Tomie’s three “primary” houses were featured in national magazines. The house in between the Wilmot Flat house and his last home was called “the red house,” for obvious reasons. COUNTRY LIVING magazine photographed it in 1985 and the article was in the January, 1986, issue. Tomie hated the three-story house, but loved the barn and wanted to renovate it. His architect cousin, Leslie Gill, worked on the new design of the barn. But, the bank wouldn’t lend him the money. He quickly sold the red house and moved into another home in New London. Art director Nanette Stevenson was visiting for a few days during the move from the red house. Early in the morning, Tomie knocked on her bedroom door and told her to get up because the movers had arrived. He was holding a power screwdriver and we needed to take apart her bed. Some days later, he held a large daytime party at the new house. We had barely set up the kitchen and the bedrooms. Boxes were everywhere. There was a lot of curiosity in town about this house, so we told the guests that this was their chance to snoop. Open closet doors, etc. They would never again get this chance. They weren’t disappointed. The living room sofa was hanging from the cathedral ceiling with fluorescent lights underneath. Basement gym shower with mylar on the walls to act as mirrors. Shag carpeting on the ceiling of the shower/hot tub area, and a round light table in the corner next to a real old-fashioned barber’s chair. Just some of the features. Tomie had made chili and corn bread. The dog, Bingley, greeted every guest and was exhausted by the end of the day as were we. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
