Photo Series: the interior life of the Humor House

Steve+New%2C+the+owner+of+the+Humor+House%2C+poses+for+a+photo.+Photo+by+Carly+Rundle-Borchert.+

Steve New, the owner of the Humor House, poses for a photo. Photo by Carly Rundle-Borchert.

Steve New, born and raised in La Crosse, lives across from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. Many students walk by his home on the way to and from campus daily. Quotes and art shape his home, yard, and outlook on life. New sat down with The Racquet Press to share his unique, well-traveled perspective.

New said, “I’ve done a lot of traveling in my lifetime and I like to have the house reflect what I’ve learned traveling, what I’ve seen, what I know about other people from traveling. I like to come home to it—reminding me of my experiences. I never get tired of the decorations. There’s so much stuff—to some people it’s overwhelming. I always say welcome to the museum. I just like color… I’ve been blessed that I’ve been able to travel. I mean I’m not rich or anything, my parents were never rich. But I’ve always had the will to travel. I want where I live to reflect where I’ve been and what I’ve done. It’s all been good. I mean for the most part.” New laughs,  “Nothing’s ever always good. It’s fun after all the traveling to have something to come home to that carries on the experience.”

New mentioned the picture of him skydiving. New said, “I’m scared to death of heights. I hate ladders. It took every bit and more for me to go skydiving. But I get in the airplane and a calm came over me. I thought, well all these people are doin’ it; I’ve been to Israel and talked to soldiers who have jumped out of airplanes with live fire. If they can do it while being shot at I guess I can do it. You get people asking ‘Why would you ever jump out of an airplane. But the quote I have up there, ‘Take risks not to escape life but to prevent life from escaping’. I do things like that so life doesn’t escape me. I can’t do it when I’m dead.” 

When asked what he hopes to convey with the quotes and decorations in and around the house, New said, “I just want people to come by and enjoy it.”