An insider’s view of the Carpenter House

Source: http://www.thedowneypatriot.net
Date: June 29, 2007

DOWNEY--I now live in Austin, Tex. but was born and raised in Downey. My folks were friends with Mom and Dad Carpenter, my brother attended Downey High School with Richard Carpenter.

Richard played the piano and my brother played the organ. Dear Mrs. Walta used to let me tag along with my older brother to rehearsals and concerts and Karen Carpenter used to tag along with Richard at the same events. Being six years younger than Karen, she was assigned by Mrs. Walta to “keep an eye on me.” Having an incredible sense of curiosity, I used to get into some terrific jams at Downey High and Karen was always chasing me around, threatening me within an inch of my life.

She had an awesome sense of humor and we used to just get the giggles and get into more trouble.

From the time the house on Newville Avenue was built, it became an important place in my life. I feel like half of my growing up years were spent equally between my family’s home on Farm Street and at 9828 Newville Ave. You could always count on Dad Carpenter to have an extra Coke and Mom Carpenter was never out of stock on oatmeal cookies. Even after Richard and Karen “hit it big”, that home remained a very fun place to hang out. Lois, the house secretary, was the kindest lady I’d ever met. She would always be happy to take my stacks of Carpenters merchandise and have Karen and Richard autograph it all when they were back in town. She and Rosina ran the office and used to give me the most priceless photos and tell me the latest interesting happenings in the lives of “The Carpenters.”

Once upon a time in 1973, I was a senior in high school and Karen and Richard knew my choir teacher from their days at Long Beach State College. Karen and Dad Carpenter arranged an afternoon for me to bring some of my choir friends over to the house. It was a swim and barbecue thing and Karen was just in a wicked mood. She acted like one of the high school kids and hung out with us all afternoon. The swim portion of the afternoon began when Karen decided to push me in the pool – fully dressed! Two of my buddies came up and grabbed her from behind and all three of them fell into the pool, laughing and coughing water.

That was the Karen Carpenter I knew. To hear now that the pool and backyard are in a state of decay just rips me apart – the memories are so strong.

Dad Carpenter was just about the nicest, funniest man in Downey – we all just adored him. He would always make sure my family knew of upcoming concerts and events and help arrange tickets and such for us. He had a Carpenters “roadie” jacket made for me for my 17th birthday. Needless to say, I was a very popular guy in high school. Dad Carpenter was always out in front of the front yard at 9828 Newville Avenue, washing the cars and the Carpenters van, watering the garden or just hosing down the driveway – and he loved to sit on the front porch and just wave at people as they drove by.

Since the house was built on a cul-de-sac, people had to make a second drive back by the house and Dad would wave at them again. What a dear, dear man he was.

Mom Carpenter was a little on the stern side but she had a heart of gold and she took us kids under her wing as if we were her own. My folks both worked so I was sort of a latch-key kid and always felt welcome in her home – but our shoes always had to be taken off. Now, to hear that the floors and walls and carpet are just destroyed and smelly with mold and mildew, breaks my heart. Mom C. was a housekeeper. That house always smelled fresh and clean and now it has fallen into a bad state.

Karen loved to come down and go to the Hotel Laguna in Laguna Beach and sit out on the ocean deck and watch the sunset. She’d wear these big hats and huge sunglasses to be “incognito.” She couldn’t have been more obvious and would always attract attention and people would come up and ask, “Aren’t you…” and she’d act terribly surprised. She was always happy to sign autographs – she didn’t like photos taken but always signed autographs.

One February 4, 1983, I had a job interview in Newport Beach and was driving down Pacific Coast Highway at about 9:45 a.m. when a DJ broke into a song and announced that “an unconfirmed report says Karen Carpenter has died in Downey – no, now we have confirmation – Karen Carpenter has indeed died in Downey.” I was in shock. I managed to get to a payphone (in the rain) and called my folks who said it was true – Karen had died.

Karen’s funeral service was held at Downey United Methodist Church with the interment at Forest Lawn in Cypress. It was an absolutely surreal morning and one I will never forget as we all gathered to say goodbye. After the interment, we went to the Carpenter House at 9828 Newville. There were some old friends there, mixed with very nice celebrity friends of Karen and Richard’s. Dad C. was playing doorman and coat check; Mom C. stayed pretty close to the kitchen and food. She seemed to be moving outside of her own body, just trying to keep it together.

I remember talking with Olivia Newton John out by the pool and Dionne Warwick in the kitchen.

9828 Newville is loaded with memories – mine and those of so many other people who ventured into it. I realize it is just a house, but that house deserves better than it has gotten. The people that now inhabit that shell of a house (now divided in two) didn’t have the opportunity to know it as the Carpenter House. They bought a house with a lot of somebody’s stuff in it and are now attempting to cash in on its fame.

Its fame isn’t what 9828 Newville is all about. It’s a house where two of the most successful kids in show business history made history themselves – taking so many of us along for the ride.

As I drove past 9828 Newville last weekend, it was a bittersweet experience. I had my favorite Carpenters CD playing in the car and Karen was singing “Yesterday Once More.” The words are so poignant now:

“When I was young I’d listen to the radio – waiting for my favorite songs, when they’d play, I’d sing along – it made me smile.”

I attempted a smile as I waved for the last time to 9828 Newville but I just couldn’t hold back the tears. My mom and dad are gone now – Mom C. and Dad C. are gone now. And now, in all likelihood, the Carpenter House will soon be gone as well.

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