The Newville Home

[magiclamp]

I was very fortunate to be invited into the Newville home back in 1997, along with a group of friends who were visiting from Japan. This was during Richard's return to the stage, when he did two shows at the CPAC, and shortly thereafter went on tour to Japan where he gave mostly sold-out performances. He was incredibly nice to let us take photos, footage, etc., and Evelyn Wallace herself walked us through the house, - sharing heartfelt conversation which I will never forget.

A few memories of my first visit to the Newville home come to mind..

A friend of mine asked if we could look through some of the Carpenters personal photo albums, and I just wanted to die. I thought, no, that's just not right, but Evelyn said of course, as long as we were careful with everything. There were photos of Mr. and Mrs.Carpenter when they were younger, including their wedding photos, etc., and many photos of their family, including a young Richard, Karen and Joanie. As I also recall, Agnes had just passed away shortly before we visited the house, and Richard had put the house up for sale. There were many Realtors cards on the dining room glass table, and a one-sheet with details of the home itself.

Richard being the ultimate record collector, had his LPs and such organized to a tee. I'm sure he'd make for an exceptional archivist! It was truly impressive! As we looked around the music room, It was so wonderful to see some of the hard to find pressings,- including Magic Lamp and Offering. There were several of each, along with many acetates {RCA, etc. etc.] of music by the Dick Carpenter Trip, and other pre-Carpenters recordings. There were many on the shelf, but I just felt so awkward taking photos/film of them.. But there must've been a good 25 or 30, and now it kills me that I don't know which recordings these were. Evelyn said we were welcome to look at them, and you can believe we handled them with the greatest of care.

The Newville home was certainly unique. To think Richard, Karen and their band did most of the pre-tour rehearsing in the music room is astonishing! Nowadays, bands rent out space in rehearsal buildings, but as I'm sure you all know, they'd soundproofed the music room so that they could work in there at all hours, without disturbing the neighbors or whoever else happened to be home. I just loved how Richard's piano sat off in the corner of the room, and behind it, a glass window which offered him a view of a lush Japanese garden, and water fountains. It was so elegant, and so beautiful. A perfect spot to sit down and compose I'm sure!

The two "set" chairs, which Carol Burnett had given Karen and Richard, were also kept in the music room. I'd seen photos of them before, but to stand there alongside their special chairs, which came from one of the most talented comediennes of our time, was unreal!

When time allows, I'll share more memories of the house.

Kindest regards,
magiclamp

[Rick Henry]

This is fantastic! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us.

I find it interesting that Carpenters rehearsed right there in their upper middle class home in the suburbs of downey, California. Maybe it's things like this that aided in molding that home spunned sincerity which resonates in their music so beautifully.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Magiclamp, this is awesome. How in awe YOU must have been, in the home of Karen and Richard. I know it gave me chills just driving by and taking photos of the outside of the Newville house a couple of years ago. Those photos are posted on this website. My wife, the one who isn't the "big" Carpenters fan was the first to recognize it and ask me "Wasn't that the house on the cover of the Now and Then album?" I was a bit taken aback by that, but looking at it, it was totally clear this was the house on that album cover, sans the ferrari in the driveway.

Thanks for sharing that experience with us.
Tim

[makapipi]

Wow, I am glad you found this site to share that experience.
I never thought there was other people who had that kind of
contact with the Carpenters.
You never know who is going to show up.

[Dave]

Your first visit?!!! You mean that there's more? Wow!
Since you're close to New Haven, could you go to the house there and take some photos? I work in field service, and thought that I was going there last year, but the job never came in.
That just HAD to be one of those experiences that cause your hands to tremble all through it.

[magiclamp]

yesterdayoncemore said:

Magiclamp, this is awesome. How in awe YOU must have been, in the home of Karen and Richard. Thanks for sharing that experience with us. <<<>>>>>
Tim

Tim, I was truly on cloud #9 when I stepped foot in the Carpenter family's home on Newville Ave. How many well known recording artists would extend such an invitation to their fans?! I will never forget Richard's kindness in allowing us such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I'm glad you and your wife enjoyed such a wonderful trip to Downey as well, and got to see the house up close. In my wildest dreams, I'd always hoped Richard would uproot the house to an area where it would act as a "museum" of sorts. Allowing their music room and poolroom [where so many precious pieces of musical memorabilia hung on the walls, not to mention the long shelves displaying Karen's Disney/Mickey Mouse dolls, etc.]. The house had so much personality, and of course that personality embodied the two people we've all come to love so well, Karen and Richard.

All the best,
magiclamp

[magiclamp]

dave said:

Your first visit?!!! You mean that there's more? Wow!
Since you're close to New Haven, could you go to the house there and take some photos? I work in field service, and thought that I was going there last year, but the job never came in.
That just HAD to be one of those experiences that cause your hands to tremble all through it.

Hi Dave,

Yes, I was at the Newville home on two occasions, and look forward to posting additional memories of my [first] visit, which was an indepth and extra-special occasion. I'm sure we spent a good three hours or so there, and then went on to visit additional Carpenters related spots, such as their "We've Only Just Begun"/"Close To You" apartments, Karen's former resting place at Forest Lawn Cemetery,
The Downey Methodist Church and Downey High School.

As you said, being at the Newville house really did send trembles down my spine, and being there with Evelyn {Wallace} made it even more unbelievable.

Promise to share more when time allows, - hopefully later in the week!

RE: making a trip to New Haven. Somewhere, I have one or two photos of the Carpenters house on Hall Street. Will have to dig around to find them. Unfortunately, we'd hit major traffic going there, and dusk had already fallen by the time we'd arrived, so the photos are rather dark. We didn't go inside the house, but were invited to meet Debbie Cutticello's mother at her home, and from what Debbie shared, Mr. & Mrs. Carpenters home was exactly like theirs. I refrained however from taking photos while in Debbie's home, as I felt it to be an infringement of her [and her family's] privacy, given all the time/energy she was already sharing with us. Of course, I regret that terribly now {LOL!}, because she shared some wonderful photos and other items, such as the invitation she'd received for Karen[and Tom's} wedding. My camera sat on the kitchen counter, while Debbie shared stories and such.

Again, much more to share about my time with Debbie, so I will be back and share as much as I can remember.

By the way, Rick, - would you let me know how I can place photos of my visit to Debbie and the Newville home, onto the forum. I'll dig up a few and put them up when I continue my walk down memory lane.


Sincerely,
magiclamp

[Dave]

Simply amazing...talk about walking on "hallowed ground"!
I have never seen the New Haven house, as I mentioned I was hoping to do a drive-by in February of 2005, but it never happened. I have this mental image of a two-story house, not all that large, with hardwood floors and a stand-alone bathtub (like the one Bill Murray used in "Groundhog Day") for some strange reason.

[Moe]

Thank you for sharing your memories and letting the rest of us take the trip down memory lane with you!

[magiclamp]

moe said:

Thank you for sharing your memories and letting the rest of us take the trip down memory lane with you!

Hi Moe,

Nice to meet you

It's my pleasure to share these wonderful memories with everyone here.

I feel truly privileged to have had the opportunity to meet Evelyn Wallace, who did SO much for all of Karen and Richard's admirers, and to spend time in the Carpenter family home, where Karen and Richard, their parents and their band mates spent so many years, living their own lives and toiling away to create the music that we on this forum are here to celebrate.

Sincerely,
magiclamp

[magiclamp]

dave said:

Simply amazing...talk about walking on "hallowed ground"!
I have never seen the New Haven house, as I mentioned I was hoping to do a drive-by in February of 2005, but it never happened. I have this mental image of a two-story house, not all that large, with hardwood floors and a stand-alone bathtub (like the one Bill Murray used in "Groundhog Day") for some strange reason.

Hi Dave,

Nope, there wasn't a Bill-Murray-styled stand-alone bathtub[and let me add, how much I loved "Groundhog Day", too funny!].

Most of the rooms were carpeted, including the basement where Richard organized incoming shipments, most of which came from Japan, containing Carpenters related releases [videos, CD's, books, etc.]. I remember how the boxes seem to overflow with each shipments product. It was just wonderful to see so many rare pressings, and I'm sure Richard himself enjoyed receiving them.

As you know, he has a large family [five beautiful children], and from what I understand, he enjoys organizing collections of his and Karen's musical-contributions, for each of his children to enjoy down the road.

Kindest regards,
magiclamp

[magiclamp]

admin said:

This is fantastic! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us.

I find it interesting that Carpenters rehearsed right there in their upper middle class home in the suburbs of downey, California. Maybe it's things like this that aided in molding that home spunned sincerity which resonates in their music so beautifully.

Rick, you know what -- I think you've really hit on something key.

Karen and Richard placed a great deal of importance at holding onto their family values. How unusual that this included working out of their family's own home. I think there's a comfort factor to that, and as you said, this is what came through in their musical output, and overall image.

I really admire them for doing things "their" way.

Sincerely,
magiclamp

[Ming]

Thank you for sharing.

Ming

[magiclamp]

ming said:

Thank you for sharing.

Ming

Hi Ming .. and thank YOU!!!

Sincerely,
magiclamp

[smoothie2]

What very EXTRAORDINARY AND SPECIAL MEMORIES YOU HAVE magiclamp!!!!
INCREDIBLE!
tHANKS SO VERY MUCH for sharing these with us.!!
And you really found the perfect place for so....K. and R.
City!
so many of us on the forum live much too far away to ever getting to visit these places and so it's always a real treat to hear of all these things. I get a lump in my throat right now just
thinking about seeing "all things Carpenter"...
how the C's came about and how it is all very special of course to Richard.
And then to know "the C's" as they were still live on, but only
in spirit and memories. sure glad their music is still so popular.
I look forward to reading more.
thanks again..
smoothie

[wisejester7]

Hi magiclamp,

Your Carpenters story/encounter was fantastic. I'm glad you were able to experience the C's habitats (Downey & New Haven) and I'm especially glad you chose to share them with us. What a special place you must hold in your heart from those trips. I've heard that Evelyn Wallace was a special lady. I'm glad she shared her time and information with you. I'm envious, but delighted for you.

I saw a couple of the pictures from your collection on photobucket. Sweet! I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more of your encounters in the near (hopefully) future.

Again, thanks for sharing your wealth with all of us.
;-)wisejester7

[Rick Henry]

Thank you again MagicLamp for your many thrilling insights to the Carpenters and their homes. It is absolutely fascinating to read your stories. I look forward to your rwturn to the forum. Best wishes to you.