08/12/2026
If these walls could talk, they would have 146 years of stories to tell.
When we took on this beautiful home, built in 1880, our goal was simple: save it.
We aren't attempting a historically exact restoration, nor are we trying to turn this home into something it was never meant to be. Our goal is to preserve as much of its original character as reasonably possible while giving it the structural integrity, safety, efficiency, and modern amenities needed to carry it through another generation.
Where original features can safely and practically be saved, we intend to save them. Where age, rot, water damage, or deterioration makes that impossible, we will replace them with materials and details that complement the character of the home.
The front porch has already been a perfect example of the challenges that come with a 146-year-old house. Our original plan was to save it. Unfortunately, the steps and flooring were completely rotted through and structurally unsafe. We braced the porch roof, rebuilt the floor and steps, and then attempted to repair the existing roof. Once we got into it, we discovered the wood was so deteriorated it wouldn't even hold nails.
At that point, saving it was no longer restoration—it was leaving an unsafe structure in place.
So, down it came.
We'll rebuild it with the goal of bringing back the look and character of the original porch as closely as practical, only this time it will be strong, safe, and ready for many more years of front-porch memories—and safe enough for the postman to deliver the mail .
And the porch is only part of the story.
There are gaping holes in the siding in multiple areas of the house. We've discovered raccoons living inside the walls and birds living in the walls, floors, and attic. Before we can worry about pretty finishes, we have to make this old girl safe, dry, secure, and weather-tight.
Our next priorities are closing and repairing the exterior openings to keep the wildlife out and getting the house sealed well enough that it can eventually be properly heated and cooled. The roof and windows will follow as the next major phase.
This won't happen overnight. Our crew works on these projects during their available downtime, so progress can sometimes look slow from the outside.
But great things take time.
We know there will always be different opinions about what should or shouldn't be done with an old home. We respect the history of these houses tremendously—that's one of the reasons we're investing the time, money, and effort into saving them in the first place.
Unfortunately, Harrison County has already watched too many beautiful old homes deteriorate until there was nothing left to save. We would rather thoughtfully rehabilitate one than watch another piece of our county's history collapse.
There is a long road ahead for this 1880 beauty, but underneath all those years of wear and tear, she still has plenty of life left in her.
