A house of chiropractic coincidence

MARION VAN DIJK/Nelson Mail

WORK IN PROGRESS: Daphna and Corrian Poelsma with their children Sebastiaan, 7, Angelina, 5 and Histen, 3, outside the 1870 building they are renovating in Wakefield.

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A 130-year-old Wakefield house is being renovated to be used as a residence and chiropractic centre more than half a century after one of the country's first chiropractors opened his practice in the historic building.

Richmond chiropractors Corrian and Daphna Poelsma fell in love with the former W Painton General Store early last year. They bought the Edward St building in March and subsequently learned that it had previously been owned by another chiropractor, Maurie Wratt, from 1945 to 1965.

"I was talking to one of our patients about the house and he said `I used to go there with my Dad when he was being treated by Dr Wratt' so it was a real coincidence," Mr Poelsma said.

"Apparently he trained in Davenport in Iowa from 1919 to 1924 and started practising here in Wakefield in 1945. Chiropractic only started in 1895 so he must have been one of the first chiropractors in the country."

After finding out about the building's chiropractic past, Mr Poelsma contacted two of Dr Wratt's daughters and invited them out to their old homestead. He said Janet and Gwenda Wratt couldn't believe the wooden two-storey house was in such good condition.

"They were talking about the borer falling on their heads when they were living there so they were surprised it was still standing."

The Poelsmas were also amazed at how well the building, which is registered with the Historic Places Trust, has aged. It was a testimony to the skill of the original builders that the budget for the renovations, which included a new kitchen and bathroom, was less than $100,000.

"It cost in the low $200,000 and the budget for the renovations is less than $100,000, so we are happy with that," Mrs Poelsma said.

Although the Poelsmas bought the building for its traditional architecture and its appeal was subsequently enhanced by the chiropractic connection, Mr Poelsma admitted there was another reason why he liked the building.

"I have a problem," he confessed. "I'm a Saab (car) nut - I have nine of them.

"And the house has a 130 metre square shed out the back for me to store them. That's very important."

The Poelsmas and their three children hope to move into Edward St by the end of next month. They plan to open a satellite practice to their Tasman Bay Chiropractic Centre in Richmond in their new home later in the year.

- © Fairfax NZ News