Almost Home

ALMOST HOME
Ok folks this is it, the last day here for this trip. We met with JB the electrician yesterday, and it's going to cost a buttload to do the electric , as the wiring that we have now is so old that it still has the porcelain conductors. I also found the gas lines for the original gas lighting, which is pretty cool.
I think the house was a catalog order. Back in the day, you could order a home from a home catalog - really, you could and it would be shipped to you soup to nuts, windows doors, fixtures, everything; for about $3000.00. Every wall & ceiling that I have opened says "alliance" written on it in script, or "W-Alliance" meaning that piece goes on the west side of the house. I figure the kitchen & summer kitchen was an addition in about 1910.
Basically, the reality is: we have to gut this house down to the beams and studs upstairs & downstairs . Then we can begin the rebuilding process of electrical, plumbing, insulation (of which there is none now) heating system, new sheetrock, all the floor, crown & chair rail molding, and doors and windows too. Basically we will be left with original floors, original fireplaces, orig. doors, etc, but all the windows will be replaced too. Might as well start the addition for the billiard room at the same time - just take out every permit imaginable & go at it. Thank go we have 2.5 years before we have to move, as this is a ton of work. But if you do the math, even rebuilding this house is still cheaper than building a new one, and we are saving American History. In the end - we will have a gorgeous Victorian home on a great piece of property to live out the rest of our lives there. I have already told my daughter that I want to be buried in our cemetery.
Will begin research on how to get a grant to clean up and maintain the cemetery when I get home, as it is a registered historic site, it should not be too difficult (I hope)
Today, we are going out to the house on last time, as my dad & I are meeting a G.C., Freddy, to have him do a once over on the house. Freddy can hang all the new sheetrock for us - I can do it, but would rather a pro do that part, and does fine detail work like trim and molding, and there is a lot of molding in this house. Perhaps having to rip everything out will give me the chance to put REAL period molding in, we'll see. Also have to stop at Lowes and buy a chain and a padlock to lock up the trailer as I refuse to drag that PIECE OF SHIT home with me. It will make a very handy farm trailer, it think that is the future that is instore for it.
Mom has her book-club meeting at her house today - so Dad, Melissa & I have to hightail it out of here - I am SO willing - who wants to hang out with 9 bickery old ladies? Figure we will take Melissa into Oriental so she can see the town, maybe do a bit of shopping or something. Then mom & dad are going out to dinner, so she & I are on our own tonight -
We are getting up about 4 am to start our journey home, I can walk a bit on my poor foot, so that is good, but it is still really swollen & hurts like a bitch. I am limping like a retard, but I have had enough of the crutches. So! see ya all soon! Can't wait to get back to see my honey-monster and everyone else!
Love ya!