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Epilogue <br />We have had an inordinate education process about historic preservation work, and we have learned a <br />tremendous amount in these months. Our hearts have always been completely in line with the idealism <br />of respectful ownership of this venerable home, and we aspire to bring it to life, both in structure and in <br />function. We wish to celebrate its history, and we wish to share it with people who may never have a <br />chance to experience a historic home such as the Kownover Farmstead. <br />Before we even signed the purchase documents, we had performed genealogical tracing of the <br />Kownover family all the way back to the 1400's in the Netherlands, a documentation that will be <br />exciting to share. Additionally, we have contacted and met with many descendants of the founding <br />family, some of whom still live in the area, and others of whom now live internationally. In this <br />process we came to realize that one of our long-time clients <br />was in fact a granddaughter of one of the Kownover children <br />born in this home. Additionally, we have given tours of the <br />home with other descendants, and have provided home <br />updates to Willem Van Kouwenhoven, the self -professed <br />family archivist, who lives* in the Netherlands and was <br />instrumental in providing much of the information that was <br />used in the historic registry process of this home. Karen and I <br />have been humbled and pleased to have the support of the <br />Kownover family in our efforts to preserve and celebrate the home and its history. Prior to the heavy <br />and emotionally burdensome work in this process, our main focus was to have a Kownover family <br />reunion of sorts this year, inviting former owners of the home as well. <br />Very sincerely, <br />David Visser <br />* Willem Van Kouwenhoven passed away unexpectedly on 3/31/17. We exchanged several emails <br />during our time owning this home. My last message to him, updating him on improvements we had <br />made, was sent to him in January 2017(prior to violation notice). His comments about our <br />improvements are in the attached email. <br />