Why We Bought a 100-year old House in a Forgotten Little Town
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Are we crazy?? Maybe! We just bought a 100-year old neglected fixer upper house in a tiny Wyoming town... But we have a feeling it's the beginning of something good. Here's the BEFORE tour-- we're beginning the renovation ASAP!
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Thanks for watching! Hit subscribe to follow along on our farmhouse renovation-- we'll be documenting each step of the process!
If you don't mind how much did you pay for it.
Yup, you're crazy. Crazy brave!
1:20 in on my first visit to your "show." Other Channels have needed a few views but I have a feeling I'm gonna like Subscribing to yours. I jumped on one other this quick & haven't regretted it. Good Luck & God Bless Your Renovation
More work for Christian .
Will you be posting videos on the Reno?
Just a thought, but if the town has no grocery, maybe starting a farmers market there might be an option for helping locals be able to buy and sell local, might help? just tossing out an idea.
Great idea!
Oh what a WONDERFUL idea!!
That is exactly what I was going to suggest. And local bakers/canners could also sell their goods - even hand made items, crafts, furniture, etc. I live in the Appalachian mountains (SW Virginia to be exact) and there are TONS Of rural development grants out there that encourage sustainability and local community support to revitalize towns like this that have so much potential. Maybe there's a family there that would like to open a Diner! How about an old fashioned soda and ice cream/sweets/bakery on Main Street. Maybe there is someone that would be interested in opening up a small grocery store that at the very least carried staples. We have had a very old and dilapidated building turned into a turn of the century looking hotel with a wonderful restaurant and gift shop - all built upon the town's development of our natural waterway and mountain trails so that people can come to ride ATV's, fish, bike, hike and relax in a quiet little town. The hotel (The Western Front in St. Paul, VA) is thriving and there are now bands that come and play, we have game/trivia nights, and Chef T even gives cooking lessons and delivers food during this pandemic. Our little community has gone from empty store fronts to having several new restaurants that are family owned and operated, a bakery, a local hardware store, a fitness center/gym, an Outdoor Adventure store where you can buy anything outdoors-ey and you can rent canoes and paddle boats for the river. It's been a beautiful thing to watch this town grow and thrive from it's old coal mine town "glory days". The Western Front was originally lined with bars (literally - and dirt roads with boardwalks crossing over to the boarding houses). I wish this family all the luck in the world and I can't wait to see the progression on the house - and the town!!!
yes they do that here in uk , they open the village hall in part to sell local grown and baked goods , eggs milk , meats but each thing that is sold is sold by a rotation of suppliers so they all take turn and the books kept mean they are all given what they earned with a small amount going to the church for restoration and repairs to the hall and the church , and this means the old do not need to travel to the city to get their food which would never be as fresh or free from chemicals , they sell everything they could want food wise and it means they rarely have to go to the city , only for things like foil and light bulbs , mostly others will pick them up for them , village people take care of each other
they sell bread , cheese , yogurt , tea , coffee , eggs milk , fruit , veg , pies , cookies , basics and other , they can sell cheaper than a shop because no business taxes and no business rent and no business rates
Be careful when taking pop-corn ceiling down. Some old houses might still have asbestos in there. Also I guess beside lots of other work, which needs to be done, electricity might need to be updated up to new standards or perhaps you won't be able to get insurance for this house.
Ceilings were dropped in the 70's as an energy-saving measure. Smaller rooms require less heat, so they just made them shorter by dropping the ceilings. The space between the old and new ceilings also acted as insulation.
Learn something new every day.
Double access to the basement is good if you have actual living space down there. It means two ways out Incase of a fire.
That is exactly what I was about to write!
Agree I wouldn’t close that. You can create a pantry storage right under that way you don’t really need that many cabinets in the kitchen.
Our 1850s house has double basement access, inside and outside. We love it.
The inside basement stairs are from the kitchen and we added some 3" deep shelves on one wall of the top landing, adding some easy access storage for cleaning products and other such items.
Yes good point
I like the hubby’s ideas. He sees the full potential.
Me too!
Yessir
That town does have potential. You guys should take over the Chugwater Chili brand, and make that take off. Make it a Wyoming farm to market food company, but expand it. Like making Chugwater Chili sourdough bread. Chugwater Chili steaks. That town's biggest potential is the interstate. Set up a business, and pull people off the road with an authentic Wyoming produce and food store, and a restaurant.
Agree-- the interstate right there is a definite asset! Lots of dreaming happening here on the homestead at the moment in regards to that. :)
Cool to see this comment after watching the newest video!
God bless you. Thanks for saving at least one home in a tiny town. Driving across America we have seen our fair share of beautiful towns that just died out.
Once while getting ready to drive over that 17+ mile bridge in Louisiana we stopped at a bait shop type general store with gas pumps from the 40s or 50s. Everything working and store open. Passed by about 3 or 4 years later and it was desert and half ransacked abandoned. ☹😥
Wow haven't thought of that in years. So thanks for saving a small part of a tiny town. As well as bringing back a wonderful memory of traveling around the USA. 🤠
I like the look of open shelves but I find them impractical. Stuff on them gets dusty and dirty and you have to keep them organized and neat looking all the time.
Same!
I soooo agree
I don't understand why anyone wants them.
Some glassed in cupboards alternating with open shelving (for art pieces, etc.), Glassed-in units good way to display your pretty bowls, plates, glassware while keeping dust free. Yes, must keep neat, but that will assist in organizing efficiently. Well organized = less stress!
I love open shelves because it forces me to keep my "cabinets" tidy. I cant just shove stuff in and close th doors. lol
This will be fun to fallow. I live in a little town. We do have a Grocery store and a Dollar General but that's about it. Our little town is trying to fix thing up. I'm alway happy to see people take an interest in to little towns.
Very cool! 🌸
You may want to check fire codes. In my state, you are required to have two exits from the basement. I love your ideas
lkassler ..... a 100 year old house-is grandfathered in ......
Different states, even cities, have different codes. She’ll find out when they submit plans to the city/ county.
@@gioiapharo7433 maybe not if it changes hands
lkassler it’s Wyoming and a tiny town ..... probably not much for codes.
Bought a 150+ year old house back in the 80's. The electrical was on 7 different fuse boxes and a tiny gas stove in living room provided heat. We remodeled twice, once to make it livable and then once the way we wanted it. The old wood was amazing. It had the old cookhouse out behind, the stove was long gone and had housed animals at some point.
I loved that place.
Sounds like our home
I just bought an old house too. Built in 1918, a small 3 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow. I close August 10th. A fixer upper. I will be right there with you but in Maryland. By the way I used to live in Wyoming too, Worland, Baroil, and Evanston. Good luck to us both!
Cool deal! Have fun.
If you will make the floors dark, the rooms might appear smaller and of course darker.
They use to drop the ceilings to save on the heating costs. Also, they would drop the ceilings to hide plumbing and duct work.
Good luck guys been doing this for a long time it's worth doing it. Save history. Old homes have soul new ones have nothing.
So excited for you. To see a young couple appreciate the quirkiness of an old home. To hear your children appreciate that hardwood floor warms my heart. Do they need a grandma LOL. Get out graph paper, draw out everything and get a feel for how things need to be positioned to fit your family.
Co to the county seat and see if you can find pictures of the home in it's early days. Also, County records will give you a look into the past owners and what may have been in that community back when the house was making it's journey to you. Am subscribing so I can follow your progress. Best wishes!
Wonderful comment 💜
You guys have an amazing amount of energy!
If you’re going to block off the stairs in the kitchen you might as well turn that stairway into a pantry or make the kitchen bigger.
I miss my mom hanging clothes outside.they would smell so fresh when she would bring them in.
The old barn was probably a livery stable. My gr. gr. grandpa ran one in Ohio, sounds like you have some great ideas of marrying the old with the new. Best to you and your little town.
You could possibly start a market that sells products from your homestead and possibly inspire the town to jump on board and everyone grows or does or makes something. Or you could have your own line of products ( like what pioneer woman has done) but make them Heritage cooking approved and stronger and the house could be your storefront! The potential is endless! I’m so excited to see what you will turn it into!
What you don't want to keep the green carpet? LOL, this is a cool house!!
I so wished I lived in the US I have dreams of living in just such a property with a workshed out back and a pick up truck......that`s my dream
Stop dreaming and do it. A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Life is too short to only dream!
You might want to keep the basement access to the kitchen if you are going to can and store large quantities of canned goods in the basement... Also, walking on tile for many hours can tire your legs and back more than some kind of flooring that has a little give to it. It is so exciting to have a new place to redesign!! Blessings on your journey!!
We have been looking for a "new house" for months. One of my criteria is to have basement accessibility quick and close to kitchen, for my canned foods and canning supplies. Depending on where your other access is, you may want to rethink which one you get rid of.
I thought same thing.
I was thinking that too
Definitely would want the one closer to the kitchen
House has good bones- lots of potential. Old houses are usually a labor of love (headaches & $$$) but so much more characterful. Can't wait to see what happens next. 👍👍
I'm with you, Jill! Old houses have beautiful bones! Great architectural elements, hardwood floors, built in cabinets, and solid wood everything! You are so fortunate that Christian can do all the different types of work that need to be done! Looking forward to the updates as she gains a semblance of her old glory! I love that it used to house a livery stable!
9:50 It has LOTS going for it! BEAUTIFUL!
Wow the thought of all that work was just stressing me out lol.
Some of the parts of the home are so cool. We live in a home built in 1905 and understand some of these things that people in a modern home just don't experience. Stairs going up or down from that era are impossible because they are narrow and steep. I am older now and looking at all the work makes me feel tired. :) keep at it. I will watch your progress with excitement.
The basement stairwell, would make a nice walk in pantry area.
Oh how lovely! My sister had an old house similar and I know the exact feeling and sound of those little closet doors in the bedrooms. A quirk her house had: no electrical outlets in the bathroom so when she wanted to blow dry or curl her hair, she did it in her bedroom at a vanity/mirror!
Fabulous .I love it it has so.much potential .. my house in UK is 1930s and yes agree the older houses have lots books and cranny and storage
Yes they do!
I totally love it when you guys pull up the carpet on the old floor and found the beautiful wood floor underneath and your kids are just “what beautiful floor!” So cute.
Anyone who has been clotheslined knows exactly what you’re talking about!
Also,,, a work triangle: stove to fridge to sink can be less tiring
You guys are very brave and very talented. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Awesome family. ✨
Wow.. you are brave!! I hope the 'bones' of the house are sound and in good repair, since that can increase renovation costs. But it looks interesting! I love old homes too! Hope it goes smoothly for you guys!
I would make a little pantry out of the space going to the basement.
Yeah. If you get rid of all those cabinets you need food storage somewhere. Open shelving is pretty until you have no storage and you have to clean all the grease and dust from everything on those shelves!
@@lindalumae I had shelving one time and is allot of cleaning. Looks nice though.
Oh JILL! I can't wait to watch how this progresses! Such potential!
I’d put another pantry closet where the double access to the basement is. 😉
I listened to a podcast called Rural Revival and there is a group of people in Minnesota who are reviving a small town . Cool idea.
I love that podcast! She came out to our homestead last July and did an interview-- super cool gal!
If anybody is going into one of these old homes with popcorn ceiling we removed all the popcorn in just a few hours at a reno house. Sprayed it with a mix of water and cheap fabric softener then scraped it off with a long handled scraper. We scraped it right onto the old carpet and then rolled up the carpet for disposal. Some popcorn is sealed but a lot will come off much easier than you would expect just by wetting it.
How exciting! I can’t wait to watch the transformation!
How exciting for you!! The little town almost sounds like where I live, except we actually have a couple of gas stations/convenient stores & a post office. I love this little town that I live in. I can't wait to see how this all works out for you!! Fingers crossed & many prayers!!!
Do you know how bad I want to sell our ranch in Central Oregon and move to Wyoming? Husband spent a couple of winters in Riverton. Prairie and old farmhouse, I'm in!
My last home was an 1840 farmhouse in a small New Jersey town. I loved that house! Worked my tail off and was sad to end up losing it ( long nasty story) but I will always treasure the memories. You guys rock!
Very fun! First thing I would do is start taking down walls creating open spaces. What a treasure under the carpet! Honestly wonder how you guys handle everything! 🌺
Rule of thumb, always tour the house first, make your renovation plan BEFORE you move in. That's what I do. I also look at pictures in magazine for inspiration. I can't plot out things on a whim; too willy-nilly for me because I will fluff everything up!
That's wonderful house! Love the character it has.
We just bought a 120 year old house in South Dakota to spend our summers at. Just love the old!
In the kitchen if ya change the door so it opens outward instead ya could turn that space leading tobthe basement into a pantry as well. Just a thought that popped into my head as I was watching uour walk-thru. Good luck and hope ya have fun with the remodel!
I cannot imagine taking on such a project when there is so much to do with my own land and gardens. Good luck brave family! ❤❤
Moving to a small town is the best thing for your kids! They will get tons of life experiences here! Making new friends that will last a life time! Great Choice GUYS!!!
I love watching those interested in renovating an old home! I am following another family on you tube that are totally remodeling a home but they are going to be living in it while working on it!
I will be anxious to watch your progress too!
Congratulations! I love old houses.
Congratulations! I’m so excited to see how it comes along. I would love to buy old houses to revive but I’m a few years still from living out that dream. Happy to live vicariously through you for now 🙂
I love it, they don’t create homes like these anymore.
This is the perfect house for a family. The quality of the structure. Just take your time. The space is huge and the options are limitless.
This is so rad😍
Nice flooring and great potential for rehab. However, that house is so old it may have asbestos in the popcorn finished ceilings or in those ceiling tiles or asbestos may have been used for wrapping pipes. It is sure to have lead paint on some of the doors, window frames and trim work. I would also be suspicious of the safety of the electrical wiring.
I would hire a professional to test for asbestos and for lead paint. And I would probably take down all the lathe and plaster and the sheetrock throughout the house so that any mold, wood rot, weakened studs or joists and dangerous wiring could be found and corrected.
As someone who has owned a rental property for years, I urge you to use very basic cabinets, basic counter tops, basic kitchen appliances, put in very sturdy showers or tubs, add low water use basic toilets and sturdy basic flooring in bathrooms and kitchen. Renters will not take good care of expensive cabinetry, countertops, appliances, etc. so do not spend the money on expensive upgrades. Expect that your wood flooring with get scarred from renters dragging furniture across it, or from indoor dogs or from poorly supervised children. Make sure you install basic blinds in every window and some basic curtain brackets above windows. You do not ever want the damage from a renter trying to install curtain rod brackets in your walls. Stick with inexpensive basic white or cream interior paint throughout, because you will probably have to repaint after each set of renters vacates the house. Make sure the landscaping is easy to maintain or hire a landscape service because renters cannot be counted on to keep plants trimmed and lawns mowed and watered.
Keep in mind that renters will not care how much you have spent on making that house look nice and some renters will trash a rental if they know you will not be inspecting the interior every six months or so. Do use the services of a realtor or property manager to help you find good tenants and to do a credit check and criminal background check on anyone who wants to rent that house. And actually take the time to verify the current employment and call the references listed on the application form. You do not want to rent to an ex-con with a history of drug-related convictions who will turn your property into a grow house or a meth lab. Nor do you want to rent to a slovenly or destructive tenant who has forfeited their deposit on previous rentals.
We learned this the hard way years ago, renting to section 8 renters... 3 times the house was destroyed. Got so fed up with it, we sold it.
As a tenant, I agree with all of this and urge you to please just hire landscapers. Renters don't want to have to acquire tools and spend the time to care for someone else's property when the next place they go may not need them.
Small towns are wonderful places that need to be saved. Thanks for getting the ball rolling on this one.
What an exciting project! Thank you for sharing this with us! 😁
We bout our house built in 1928 last August. We love it. Lots of work done and more still to do. Best wishes. I wouldn't trade my house back to renting ever.
OMG! You're like my daughter or little sister. I just found your channel and I'm binge watching. I grew up on a farm when I was a kid. Animals and produce. I swear I'm trying to get back to it. I just bought my 10th house trying to find my "forever home" I spent many years as a peace officer and interior designer (almost all cops have a side gig just in case) for 30 years. Anyway, my new house is 119 years old and I'm finally home. I'm in the mountains on 1.62 acres. Not the smallest I've lived on, but sufficient enough to grow food. I love this house. I'm currently trying to make her look her age. It's only had about 3 owners before me. She's been greatly loved. So far all it's needed is paint over all this paneling and new flooring. Next year I'll do the attic bedrooms. They're each in 1960 and 1975. But the bones are amazing. I'm done with the inside for now as it's Spring! All my attention in on seeds. This house has a huge basement. I'm turning half of the basement into a grow room for my seeds and microgreens to sell! The other two rooms are for food (I'm a prepper) and a home gym. I'm in a new growing zone here as I'm in Northern California at 2000 feet above sea level. We get a lot of snow but not nearly as much as you! Anyway, I'm going to enjoy binge watching your videos. You're adorable and so refreshing!
I love it! I enjoyed watching every bit of it and listening to the podcast about your big dreams. Prayers for continued blessings on the entire remodel. That house is a smaller version of my own… We restored ours 20 years ago and still love it! I only wish I had that amazing barn/shop! Anyone who lives there will be Super blessed! I’m excited for you!🤗
My house is 125 years old. We didn’t have closets. My husband built out closets from the chimney to the walls. We put a bathroom with a shower stall and stack washer/dryer on an enclosed back porch so that there would be 2 bathrooms to the house. Our basement is an actual root cellar. We had different renters over 20 years who overlooked rotting here and there and roofs leaks not told about so we are back in it fixing it back up. Wish I had that kitchen. Ours is a galley kitchen but with renovations we can live with it.
My dad was a contractor. He bought the house he grew up in from his parents before they passed away, and when he retired, he remodeled it, to an extent, and moved in. He said once, looking back, he "should have tore it down and built a new one. It would probably have been cheaper, and it would have been much nicer."
I was wondering the same thing. some old things like the windows and doors can be salvaged and used in new construction. I used to love "old" houses too but wonder at what point do you decide the cost benefit of restoration.
I'm seriously super excited for you guys. For being grown over, the house is still has really good bones and doesn't look very damaged. Congrats on your new endeavor!
You are not crazy!🙂This home was in much better condition than I expected. Good luck and have fun. Exciting project.
Wow, what a great find. You guys are gonna have fun. Your husband is great, just goes with the flow!
“Secret Garden Feeling”, Yes!! Make an archway to that door!
it is always so exciting to renovate. We have done is a few times. Love your hubby's input. I have shelves in our current home and I love them. They make a small space feel open. Looking forward to the makeover.
Congratulations to you and your family. A beautiful home with lots of potential.... 🇦🇺
I think you're on track, doing the right thing and I really like your idea. I feel it in my bones you'll be successful. 😊
Thanks Robin!
So many possibilities! I look forward to seeing your progress! :) Congratulation on your new property.
My daughter and son bought this house last fall!!! This was awesome to see!
Wow....I hope yall show us all the transformations. What a great series this would make. Its gonna be beautiful.
Yes! We're planning on making it into a series. :)
@@theprairiehomestead I'm a new subscriber and am wondering if you are still moving on this project? I don't see any more videos.
Wow! I cant wait to watch your progress! This old home is going to shine with new life!!! Exciting!
I love that old teacher desk in the basement! This will be a fun new adventure for you with rentals, My husband and I started buying and restoring houses 7 years ago and that was the start of our rental business,. We have 6 houses and only plan to have 10 max because we only want what we can take care of on our own. It is a retirement plan for us.
We also have a dropped ceiling in our old home. It was usually done due to more efficient heating and the current style.
WOW!~~ What an undertaking! Looking forward to following you on our journey!~~
I will be praying for you all! Both of you have such great ideas and the motivation to revive this regal old home! 🏠
Your vision to bring life into a small country town showed in your eyes when you spoke! Such exciting things are to come and will be worth the investment of energy, funding and time!
God is with you on this one! Blessings from Oregon! Can’t wait to see the results!
Love it you guys!!! Cant wait to follow the progress... Excited!!
We are closing on a 1937 stone house in a small town. It has all the quirkiness like yours. We will be living in ours though. Congratulations! 💕
It's wonderful you want to find ways to help revive not just a home but revive the community too. We need a lot of people with the same mindset to help out all over the US, and I think it might start a trend. It's crazy how too many people are crammed in metropolitan cities, where housing is limited when there are desolate towns all over the country waiting to e revived again.
@Ms. Anthrope I can sympathize your point of view, the only problem is there are too many towns that are dying. Not saying to turn them into another metropolis, that's the last thing that is needed, but if there is not a healthy amount of residence to take care of the communities, they will turn into a ghost town. If small communities are revitalized, it could also have a healthy impact to how we as a society interact with each other. Small town lifestyles are able to have a bond with a lot of people in the region yet maintain their privacy. In cities, most people don't interact with each other and that is likely how crime gets away when no one is able trust each other. If you look at the big picture, it could have a positive effect culturally.
Oh that a beautiful 💓 new home it's 100 it's gas lot character
It's lovely I love it you're outside and inside
Wow. What a project. I love it and can’t wait to see.
How exciting!! I'd love to do this in our town! One day!
Can’t wait to see the transformation!
How fun! I would rework the kitchen completely and add room from the stair cases you are going to close off. The “office” and laundry room combo on the main floor would make a great master suite. If you are renting it out you should check out Meet Kevin and Graham Stevens channels.
Oooh all those lilacs are making me itch...they give me bad hayfever! Congrats on the new house - it looks very 'country' and soothing ❤️
That's a big project. Good luck with your remodel and plans for reviving that little town.
Looking forward to watching you guys move forward with the reno,
Its a gorgeous house & 100 year's old, I bet those walls have some tales to tell.
So wonderful! I'm so excited to watch the progress on your new adventure!
We live in an 80 year old house built in 1930. The charm is amazing.
Crazy? And if you are crazy....we were there too. We purchased ONE and renovated it for
Rental Purposes. We are living in the home we built. It does take LOTS OF CLEANING...and then rebuilding. My husband got a person to come and take all the "stuff" in the house. Once he got here he wanted to take just the old antique things...my husband...YOU TAKE ALL. And he did. They saved us the time to CLEAN OUT THE STUFF....It is a lot of work. We have rented and it worked. If your husband can do a lot of the work...FINE. Good Luck.
Good little property to create a new RUclips show for
..or make many Prairie Homestead Videos for.
Congrats!
Character and gteat potential! Your a very hard working and industrious couple! Love the idea of renovations, secret garden, neat to have an outdoor kitchen in the back. Brings out your creative juices! Much love to your family!