I've worked closely with various different construction/renovation contractors for almost 20 year now and they all looked really professional except for this man. This man is NOT a professional... he's an artist!
Luckily that has happened in Phila. I used to live in a renovated old hospital. So the exterior walls were over a foot thick. It does have historical certification. It's the old Wills Eye Hospital founded in 1832. The bldg I lived in opened in 1932. And stayed a hospital until 1980 when it was converted to residential living. It was an honor to live in such a place ! ❤
@@skepticalobserver2135 I honestly don't understand why people keep saying this.....100 years isn't "OLD" goodness, my first home was georgian, my second was victorian, and now I own a young 1920's bungalow in a road of houses and bungalows built together!
We have become such a throw away Society, how refreshing that a building gets restored instead of wasting all of that beautiful wood work and history. AWESOME JOB!!!!
This is true in every country. In Germany we have thatfor a building diary, were you make daily notes what has been done and by whom. There will allways be at least one who does shoddy work.
@@LupusMechanicus Homeowners always think they could do what the Contractor does if they had the time. Sure, perhaps, but consequently, they don't want to pay what it costs, and what it costs is never enough for the stress, the planning, the execution, the sales, satisfying the customer. Trades people are treated like modern day peasants if they allow it and homeowners are happy to treat them as such and don't believe they're doing anything wrong. They believe that their white collar office job is incredibly challenging and being a carpenter should be fun and they can't understand why you aren't excited to do and shepherd them through every decision of their $100,000 renovation that should be a $200,000 renovation, during which they will constantly nag, question your expertise, assume stuff is finished and critique it, say stuff like: "I didn't know it was going to look like that", hire a shitty architect, hire a shitty designer or none at all, take the cheapest price, complain why it's so expensive, blame the contractor, be horrible at making decisions, blame the contractor again, never learn from their mistakes, take an eternity to pay their bills even though their bills spell out exact costs...
I'm a Mason from Toronto,Canada. I specialize in restoring 100+ year old homes and buildings. Oldest I've completely restored is a Church built in the 1890s. I would have sincerely loved every second of restoring this old schoolhouse,in and out. It's an absolutely stunning building and property. Thank you kindly for preserving history while modern markets,instead, demolish and erase it. Many,many thanks.
I hope that someone does a good job if my parents are really going to sell my grandpas house. I’d hope they’d make it a smaller scale mansion inside lol
@Ladybird765-m3u most cities have pockets of original Victorian era structures. The areas they're built on were normally settled much earlier,with cheaper materials, like wood at the time. Roads wouldn't have even paved yet when the brick homes went up. Smaller towns,removed from bigger cities, tend to still house more of these older buildings. Sadly, some left to fall into disrepair.
@@woohunter1They’ve invested so much money in their house , maybe this is somewhere money can be saved. The kids are young and they can be rough on furniture. I’m sure that some day in the future they’ll be able to upgrade to something better than Ikea.
my aunt bought a school house in 1964 and turned it into her home, at the time the county was asking 3 thousand dollars, she told them she had 1, 000 in cash they accepted it. she gave our family the playground equipment. It turned out quite nice.
Wow! That was the exact school I went to for 5 years in Indiana! I have so many memories there and it’s amazing seeing the building given a new life instead of destroyed.
This is the comment I’ve been searching for. With almost 4k comments, I was hoping at least one person here either attended or lived near this amazing building. I love old buildings and their history.
I felt a sadness watching this building being lovingly restored. Last year while reading my mother's 1943-1945 letters to my dad in WWII South Pacific, I went to the High School where she and my dad grew up in Gary, Ind. Dad's old house backed up to the School's football field. So fun to look up in Google maps to see their respective houses. Mom's house being humble as her dad was a Police Officer. But the lovely school where my mother was taught Latin and Dad went on to Law School; Lew Wallace High School was completely gone, flat. Amazing what invasion does to a town. To have this lovely mid-west school saved is a monumental event...not many get that. My parents went to their HS reunion for 50 years, it was a very close group of individuals until the end. My HS was a joke during the heavy handed racial bussing that went on in Dallas at the time. A real nightmare that I never wish to revisit at age 66.
@marithag2319 the WWII generation despite the war and Great Depression had a good childhood and long lives. They still knew what it was to have farm or garden grown food, loving extended family and good neighbors around them, and faith in our good God. Every generation since has been atomized and robbed.
@@brandywineblue Well, guess my parents taught me well, at 66 I still run my homestead with chickens and rabbits and can them in the winter for food...makes great tacos. No refrigeration when the lights go out. Trying to teach all the young families around me how to do this too. The middle aged women are hopeless in the kitchen mostly. Most can't afford a place to even start accumulating what is necessary. This economy will kill our people. Famine is coming......
The glossy finish on the floor with all the great lighting will show every spec of dust... I grew up with hardwood floors not that glossy but great natural light and mom dust mopped every day.
When I was Arlo's age, my great grandfather would take me to his buddy's shop while the guy worked and they talked. Since it was Serbian I understood none of it so I just hung out and watched. He was an upholstery shop. 18 years later and my mom wanted to recover a Victorian side chair. I said "we can do that!" I then proceeded to tell her everything we would need. We went out and bought it and did the chair. My mother had NO idea how I knew how to do that Several years later in conversation she mentioned that Grandpa's friend was an upholsterer. Arlo will have learned all of this but won't know how he knows. Show him the films. What a great job. What a lovely family. Than you for sharing
That’s what I was thinking.We added onto our living room onto our front porch. Our contractor told us 4-5 weeks but it ended up taking them 7 months!! They only worked 2-3 a day or didn’t show up. Big mistake hiring them!🤬
I am SO IMPRESSED with your restoration of this beautiful old building! Mu daddy was a Master Brickmason, born in 1893, and he would “tear up” seeing how you saved the brickwork and so much of the original craftsmanship in your beautiful home! Congratulations!
I can't even begin to describe how happy this makes me. I love seeing history being preserved in old buildings, rather than being completely stripped and made into a blank slate or modernized. And this is such a beautiful building to preserve as well!!
In 1931, my father was born in a one room schoolhouse on the way to the hospital in town, 20 miles away. My grandfather later bought the old schoolhouse and had it placed on his property, which he remodeled to replace the old, old family house that they currently lived in. The schoolhouse has doubled in size since my grandparents passed, and it is still in the family, and the gorgeous brickwork is something to see. Thanks for the great video, which brought back some lovely memories for me.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if these schools are a lot cheaper than buying a house and how it is taxed. Please comment if you do know. Thanks again.
There was a one-room schoolhouse on my grandparents’ dairy farm. When my mom was little, she’d sit in the bicycle basket of one of the older girls and stare in the window. When she was 4, the teacher gave up and just let her come in. Of course she was a star student. Because the teacher started her at that age, she graduated from high school 5 months after her 17th birthday. By 23, she had her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mom didn’t do anything halfway.
I LOVE THIS!! 50 years ago, when my husband & I were married, I told him I wanted to buy an old school & turn it into our residence. He said, in no uncertain terms, that it wasn't happening. I realized we didn't have the money, time or "know how" to accomplish such a thing. But to vicariously experience this through your family was so delightful. Enjoy your beautiful new home...and a very nice job.
Massive respect for you guys for restoring the old doors and trim instead of just binning it and buying contemporary run of the mill doors and panels. Despite a complete transformation you have retained the soul of the building.
I remember this! It popped up for me when you first bought it and I thought it was so intriguing, but disappointed it was such a new endeavor and I couldn’t see the end result. With my unmediated ADHD, I immediately forgot about it and here you are three years later with a gorgeous home. Sometimes, the algorithm just KNOWS.
As a former tradesman, historian, author and lover of all things preserved and good, this transformation made my heart sing! I wait for another video where your imagination soars yet further and your library is come. ;) A very satisfying video and I praise your efforts. Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing.
You don't know how much I love you for restoring it with all of those art deco vibes and funky historical colors instead of just painting it gray and chopping it up into that awful Scandinavian Minimalist style that has ruined so many other historical renos.
Scandinavian minimalist style has a place, too and can function beautifully - just not in these old buildings, which have their own unique syle they should retain.
The gray has taken over so many houses for sale that I view. Just seems brain dead to me. Don't think, just make it all gray. I'm in a 1920s house that has walls & beauty. When I thought I was moving, clients all wanted to gut every wall. No! It's a bungalow❤
I used to live in an elementary school that had been converted to apartments. Two schools were closed down in the 80's and were going to be knocked down, but a local carpenter wanted to save both schools, so he bought them and slowly converted them into apartments over the years. He is retired now, but his son now runs the apartments and is still converting the last couple spaces 40 years later. Honestly, it was one of the best places I have ever lived. It was in a quiet residential neighborhood with a nearby grocery store, the thick walls kept everything nice and warm in the winter and kept noise out, and the character and history of the school was really cool. The only disadvantage was that you had to walk outside to the detached garages that were built in the old school parking lot, but that was a small price to pay for a great place to live.
Having done a few renos myself, all I could think of as I watched this was - the cost - due to the size of the building. Very few couples could afford to do a project so massive.
I used to be a contractor, and the level of a thoughtful historical renovation and construction you all did was very high! I am VERY impressed. Congratulations and I hope many happy years raising your familt in this old/new schoolhome
I’m so impressed with the reviews the homeowners have given all the tradespeople! The appreciation and kindness is wonderful to see! I built a home 30 years ago. I had one rule. We were all to be kind to each other. We didn’t have to agree but we did have to be kind. There are ways to disagree that do not demean another person. I didn’t allow my children to call each other names. I wouldn’t allow it on that job. I had my general contractor’s nephew banned from the project. He didn’t take me seriously! Respect for ALL…regardless! 🥰
I really loved that too, I read really far into the contractor reviews. It says a lot about a person, that they prioritize praising people, and the things they value shine through.
good for u. i had friends who added a second floor to their home. they decided to do their own finish work. my best advice to them was that if they wanted to stay married they should work in different rooms and not get caught checking on each other's work lol.
@@evergreenvalleyhomeimprove7269I'm guessing at least 2 or 3 times that much. I built custom homes throughout the 90s to 2008. That was the haydays of affordable homes. Nowadays the prices just make me gasp. The prices for comparable homes have went up 3 to 4 times as much. I'm sad for this new generation trying to make ends meet. I am retired now living in one of the last homes I built. This is were I will die.
@@whaterfooHate to tell you but Carbon Footprint is just double speak for Human Being. They want to reduce humans not some mythical score they created.
They would have benefitted more from turning it into an affordable multi family dwelling with smaller starter homes around it for blue collar workers. This country needs more affordable housing for blue collar workers.
I do too. But that is a lot more space than a single family needs. This is one reason why there is a lack of affordable housing for blue collar workers.
Am I the only person who DOESN’T consider this to be a ‘beautiful building’? In fact I think it’s a very plain and rather ugly, municipal looking building. I have great admiration for all the trades who did a great job, as I have for the homeowner who certainly rolled her sleeves up and got stuck in too. But I can find nothing aesthetically pleasing about the ‘house’, if you can call it that, either inside or out. What on Earth will they do within the building? It will inevitably lack a homeliness about it due to its cavernous design. Their heating bills and running costs will be horrendous, or they’ll freeze, which is the reason that the original school had to close down after only twenty years of use and the children divided into other smaller schools 80 years ago. They will be heating the air 8’ or 9’ above their heads! Each to their own, but I’d have thought that for the cost of the building plus the cost of the renovation they could have built or bought a truly beautiful house.
My granny bought a condo in a renovated school and it was gorgeous. She taught herself to read and cleaned bathrooms for a living so that was such a treat to see her in this beautiful condo with cathedral ceilings substantial windows and brick mortar. Your building is very similiar. Absolutely beautifully restored building. Sunshine’s everyday 🌞 through those windows. 😊Blessings to you.
As a retired teacher with several family members in education, we all LOVE old schools. Your family repurposing this beautiful old school is amazing and thanks for sharing this joy with us. God bless.
I, too, am a retired elementary school teacher. As a child, all of my old schools were of brick construction so I have a special bond with the style. My first assignment as a first year teacher just happened to be one of the oldest schools in our district and could have doubled for the one in this series. Special little nooks and crannies that just begged to be explored---and I did! It still had the old voice tubes to each room originating in the principal's office down on the lowest floor! Yuip, this series was a balm to my antiquated soul.
As a now retired contractor who had a project featured in a magazine, I have to say you have (or your designer has) excellent taste. Restoring the pre war era doors and woodwork, if its not warped, will be much better than anything you could buy new. Chefs kiss right there.
My mom and dad wanted to rehab an old "little red school house" after we kids were grown and gone. Dad died before I was twelve, a dream never materialized. Good for you to following your dream.
IMPRESSIVE!! Not just your bravery and vision, but you didn't just demo the interior! You saved and restored so much! What a gorgeous home this is going to be for many many decades to come!!! Amazing!
Bob Villa would have loved this. One of the best things I’ve seen. This should get a documentary it’s such a labor of love. The doors, the windows, the tiles - oh my.! I can’t imagine living in such a gorgeous place.
Agreed on both points. This was amazing to watch. Such a breath of fresh air seeing someone renovate old with a soul as opposed to building something new and sterile. Beautiful
@@GeminiWoods It does take a lot of monetary investment, but you can see this couple put a LOT of sweat, time and thought into this project. Quite a few folks with the capital to do this would have contracted the whole thing out and claimed all the credit. The fact that they showed most, if not all, of the contractors and gave props to them helps the community out also. Stand up folks in my book. And a beautiful transformation also.
Thank you for preserving such a wonderful old building and not throwing up another McMansion somewhere. Restoring so much of the original materials is what is so special. There's another lifetime and more in those old doors and trim. This is beautiful.
LOVE this so much!! The other day my 20-year old daughter was in her room and I heard a voice and said, "What are you watching?" She told me it was a family that was renovating an old school house. I described you and she said "Yep! I've been watching them for a while." We had no idea that we both had been following your family's story. I loved that moment and I love this one! It's official -- there may be finishing touches, but the first toy has been placed and move-in can begin! CONGRATULATIONS on coming to a close with all your hard work and dedication. It's a beautiful tribute to what existed before and is such a love story to your family about what it will be for years to come. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!!
@@Schoolhousehomestead. What about protecting around the school house with metal fencing. Something strong enough to protect your family and friends. It is said in the bible that there will be rough times ahead for all of us. With your schoolhouse being right off the road. It will be easy for anyone that has negative energy and thoughts come and cause harm especially with all the unprotected windows. I as a Christian woman don’t know you personally but feel it’s my job to just send a little reminder Please include some strong protection on the outside of your property. Keep up the good work and congratulations
I know this old school house! My sister and her family live very close. East Enterprise, I’d drive past school going to visit. Great to see someone bring it back to life!
Needless to say: OUTSTANDING JOB!!! Y'all are so brave to take a great (and a "solid built") building and re-claim it as a home. My husband and I bought a 1920' Catholic Rectory and restored it for our home. It was a diamond in the rough, but so it was so worth it. The older buildings are by far so much better that any "new-builds" will ever be....builders back then were true craftsmen and took great pride in their trades. Loved the wonderful job you did with original doors. And excellent choice on using "spray-in" insulation: it's a real game changer. May cost more but it seriously delivers! And I appreciate the your attention to the details....LARGE and small, it shows the love you have for this beautiful home to be. Really happy for you.
@@trevorthomas4053 They have to be. I bet they are over 1 million in, probably a LOT more. It would be interesting to know incase other people want to try something like this. Most can't afford it, at least, that is what I think...
Even if you bought it for $1 can't imagine the yearly taxes, electric and cost of renovations. I'm too broke for that. It's a mansion. Happy for y'all though ❤😊
Someone won the lottery, lol. I lived in an old school that had been separated into large breezy apartments when I was young. It was great. This is absolutely beautiful. Well done.
There is a place in Indianapolis. It was an old ballpark and they remodeled in into apartments. They kept the ballfield and all the apartments overlook the ballpark.
I love to see it. I do wish that more videos like this included a running total of costs - labor, materials, and so on. I love saving old homes, but just knowing what my wife and I have put into restoring our (WAY smaller) 1870 Midwest farmhouse I know someone here has got to be either a lottery winner, trust-fund kid, or in the C-suite somewhere. Maybe you cover this in other videos but that would have been interesting to see in this summary.
Ya'll have gotten a lot of hate in the comments and that's unfortunate. I appreciate the artistry of the project by both the homeowners and the various contractors. I especially appreciate the fact that it took three years and wasn't a hurried project for the sake of viewership. If anyone wants to advance to the tile work, it starts around minute 21!
There should be no room for hate. it is a kind desecration conflagration type of thing. A love of passion and instead of just bulldozing an ancient master piece shrine these folks just worked with what they had. I mean that old brick work is world class even the bricks themselves are something that will never be made again. The masons that took that animal on were awesome folks. There is nothing hateful to say about someone living out their dream works. Stains and some materials may not be what they used to be but I mean overall only a lunatic. Skip that only a Biden voter would say something stupid about the project.
Wow! As an electrical contractor myself, I can say you guys had a lot of highly skilled tradesman on site. The transformation is impressive. You guys do nice work too! There was so much to do. Such a huge building to make into a home. I would love to see more as well. Thanks!
The paint colors, the sunlight peaking through as you built the kitchen, the hours of hard work, the brick!! The green bathroom!!! Ahhh this is such a dream 🥰
What a beautiful testament to family, community, and perseverance! The way you honor everyone who contributed to this schoolhouse transformation - from family to contractors - shows the true heart of renovation projects. Simply inspiring!
I Commend you for hiring all the tradesmen to renovate this historic building. The wealth it takes to do a project like this is not something most people can do, so using your wealth to put people in the community to work, rather than a spec house in a new construction neighborhood, is responsible and respectful.
@@uuuultra wow....imagine assuming someone's citizenship status based on their looks. I realize that you're rage-baiting here, but Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I wasn't expecting it on this wholesome video. You're going on the prayer list.
Amazing. I went to a school like this for 7 years, in the 1960's. I remember walking up the stairs. The worn out stairs. This is so great. I love everything.
I can’t even begin to comprehend the expense involved in a project like this. My fiancé and I bought a house built in 1927 (3200 sq ft) and the cost involved in just getting it up to code has been overwhelming. Kudos to you for taking on such a project. It’s beautiful.
3200 Sq ft starter home ? Of course the cost will be astronomical ... bringing it up to code, and up to your expextations. I wish you all the best, and hope that your pockets are as deep as your dreams are lofty.
I have so many questions....but mostly I want to say, WOW!! What a laborious and phenomenal job! I love that you saved so many of the doors and floors where you could. You also had some amazing contractors who understood the assignment. Job well done! Thank you for sharing.
My wife and I are renovating an old train station in Germany (1865) it’s been a journey and a labor of love. I feel your pain, joy, heartbreak and jubilation great job you guys. 🎉
Basic economics. People with money spend that money, the people that work for them take that money and pay their bills and spend the money in their communities. Those businesses hire people that get paid..... the circle goes on and on. Now, if you taxed these people at 75% or more like liberals want to do.....that money circle gets broken.
@@sjastram Nobody’s talking about taxing the wealthy 75%, at least in this country, and at the most EQUALLY prosperous times in American history, the wealthy were taxed more than double what they are now You’re making the same factual misstatement all apologists for the wealthy make - suggesting something absurd to make people turn against about something fair “One of the greatest scams of the millionaires is to convince somebody making $100,000 that it’s the guy making 25,000 who’s the real problem”
My goodness! I can't even imagine taking that project on, but I am very happy to get to watch the progress. I want you to be sure to tell everyone 1) cost of the schoolhouse in dilapidated condition; 2) square footage and 3) total cost of renovations. Fabulous work. I guess neither you nor your spouse work full time, because this is enough work for everyone for years and years. Can't wait to see the end result. Precious children too.
WOW!!! What an adventure and how many amazing memories you're creating with your family and community! It's nice to see people still restoring old buildings instead of demolishing them. I know not every building can be saved, but if you have the funds and it can be done - why not? I love everything you've done and so glad you took the plaster off and refinished the existing brick in some of the rooms! And the mosaic tiles are just exquisite!
The very first business listed in the notes if based in Massachusetts so don’t assume it’s all local. Also it’s not like most contractors are short on work. Whenever I want something done I usually need to call several just to find one who will even bother returning my call. And most won’t bother with smaller jobs of the average Joe because they all want the big money jobs from wealthy people like the people in this video.
Not necessarily true. Most rural towns can't stand people like this. They move in from the city, over pay for property, driving local prices up and then keep voting the same exact way that ruined the places they fled from. Many complain about local smells and slow traffic while insisting on new regulations. I hope that is not the case here but more often then not that is what happens.
Like millions of Americans, I attended an elementary school in the 60’s identical to this design. Beyond fascinating to see your reclamation of this building. Loved it! Bravo. 👏
This level of commitment to a project is so inspiring to me. There are NO SLACKERS in this family. Thank you for sharing your journey. I am so impressed.
Im from this area of Indiana and recognized it right away. I remember passing it multiple times a week and remember being in this old school house soooooo many times when I was a kid. I have since moved to Florida but whenever I visit my family back home I see it again. Im so glad it found a great family to preserve it!
@@jeniferwhittington9083 You think you can do this type of work without being a millionaire? In what world do you think this job could be done for cheap? You have to have no clue what these things cost and what it costs to do all the work done, if you don't know this.
My Dad could do it all. Carpentry, Electric, plumbing, repairs on cars, and everything was level at our home. Watching this brought back memories. Thank you.
This is epic. I wanted to do this so badly over 20 years ago but my home town wouldn't sell the old school. They used it as "overflow storage" and basically let it rot. So glad you folks could pull this off.
Nice but it’s too bad the City did not get this building and turn it into affordable housing because of the amount of unused space. Or at least some type of community building for all to reminisce on and enjoy. They did a good job though but I see a lot of old buildings like this that could be restored for the homeless. You will never use all that space.
@@elizabethmchenry3102 I've also seen home healthcare workers wear scrubs as well as others in different fields of work like nurses or employees of nursing homes
@elizabethmchenry3102 even at 500grand a year, you're probably only netting 350-375/year after taxes. Most have ATLEAST 50k in med school loans. That had to be a million dollar renovation. She's gotta be making some serious money too
Talk about a labor of love! I appreciate how you feature the kiddos and listed all the contractors who completed each task. I would have given up after the 1st year, if not sooner. Bravo! I can't wait to see it completed!
Wow, I can only imagine the gratitude of the community around this old school for y'all saving it and restoring it. Granted, you changed a lot, the original structure still stands.
I am so glad this building is not being left to rot away. It makes me sad to see these beautiful buildings in decay. We have too many in this country. We lived in Germany years ago and I can remember only seeing one abandoned building. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
My husband and I remodeled 3 houses from a brick shell to beautiful homes. We did most of it ourselves (with professional craftspeople doing the plumbing and masonry), ran all the wiring and conduit runs, put in the bathrooms and finally drywalling and decorating. But we were late 20's, 30's, 40's and early to mid 50's. Right now, I'm turning 72, hubby is 65+, and the energy and money for taking on a big product is gone! Congratulations and best wishes. DO IT WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG!
Most young people don’t have the wealth to do this anymore. Americans in their 30’s and 40’s now have only 25% of the buying power as their peers even 50 years ago. It’s sad, but most places like this will have to be saved by the wealthy who care
Wow..what a beautiful restoration.👍. When I was a young boy my dad made me take my little red flyer wagon across the field to an old little school house being torn down. I collected the old on-site kiln fired bricks that were used to build the school. I made endless trips as an 8 year old and every evening after supper I would sit and knock the old mortar off the bricks. Fast forward to today..I’m 62 and getting ready to sell my parents home after both had passed away. Dad(July 2019) Mom (May 2024). The whole front of their house is done in the old bricks from the schoolhouse that I had gathered as a child. I remember getting big outdoor trash cans and filling them full of water to put all the bricks in to soak for a couple days prior to laying them. If you didn’t soak the old kiln fired bricks prior the brick would draw all the moisture out of the new mortar and you would end up with joints that needed tucked pretty immediately when it dried. My dad taught me endless skills of the carpenter trade and it’s sad to say those trades are slowly diminishing in our fast pace times today. I see all these post here about the cost this cost that…yes everything cost money but what you and your family have here will last generations. I applaud you for the dedication and detail of taking such a huge project head on✌️♥️.
Your tile guy is really really great. Those mosaics were amazing everyone who touched the school house were fantastic. I'm so glad you saved this historic schoolhouse
I love, love, love this! I usually scroll through videos but I watched the entire thing from start to finish. Don't know what the challenges were over the years but those contractors delivered. The one who really stood out for me was the tile guy. Amazing job! May your family and your generations to come find love, peace, joy, good health and solitude in your home in the many years to come! Blessings.
Every time I pass by an old building, I think of the people who built it and what it might have been like for the first owners on move-in day. And then I think about all the hundreds of stories that must exist in somebody's head and photo albums, recording the events that must have happened there - all the joy, the sorrow, the coming and going of generations. And I wonder if any of the people who lived or visited are still alive, and what stories they might have to tell. It would be wonderful if anyone who worked at or attended your school-house could share their stories with you.
There is an old schoolhouse on Harsens Island, Michigan. Looks extremely similar. It sat empty for a few years until a restauranteur bought it. It is now called The Schoolhouse Grille. Excellent food. We're so glad it was saved. They kept it as original as possible.
That style of building must have been extremely common at a certain point in time. There are so many old school buildings in Iowa that look almost identical to that. Probably some kind of depression era government building program?
You guys put a lot of money into this old building and as a retired tradesmen, thank you and to all your tradesmen who helped you in this endeavor thank you I love when people take these old buildings and bring them back to use warns my heart
That building held so many good memories for so many people over the years. I'm so glad you were able to rescue it. I'll bet all the local contractors enjoyed taking part in bringing it back to life. It's going to be a point of pride for the entire community.
So adorable when the little boy said to his sister: Margot, dont fall in that hole! I loved watching every moments of that incredible job. So well done! Big up and congratulations to all the workers and the family.
This brings good memories. In 1937 my dad bought an old one room school house built in the 1870's 5 miles west of Oxford Ohio in Indiana. He and his father converted it to our family house. They raised the floor 3 feet to change the ceiling height form 13 feet to 10 feet. We had windows 8 ft tall from the floor on up. This was a true brick builing and not just a brick facade. The roof was the original slate roof. The yard had become a junk car lot. Total floor area was about 900 square teet. thnaks for the vidieo.
With all due respect to all the tradesmen who are clearly amazing at their jobs, your tile man is the star of the show. Beautiful work.
100% Ive never seen anything like that
👍 Seeing him working down on his knees like that made my similarly-aged arthritic knees, back and hips ache just watching him! 😳 😄
I've worked closely with various different construction/renovation contractors for almost 20 year now and they all looked really professional except for this man. This man is NOT a professional... he's an artist!
I must agree Greg is phenomenal. I wonder if he’ll do any work in the western New York area.
And the BRICKMASONS!
Old buildings like this deserve to be renovated.
Oh, but to heat it in winter😢
I love old buildings and think the same when I see them! Unfortunately, everything is so expensive these days!
But it's not "old" it's only 100 years old 😂😂😂
Luckily that has happened in Phila.
I used to live in a renovated old hospital. So the exterior walls were over a foot thick. It does have historical certification.
It's the old Wills Eye Hospital founded in 1832. The bldg I lived in opened in 1932. And stayed a hospital until 1980 when it was converted to residential living.
It was an honor to live in such a place ! ❤
@@skepticalobserver2135 I honestly don't understand why people keep saying this.....100 years isn't "OLD" goodness, my first home was georgian, my second was victorian, and now I own a young 1920's bungalow in a road of houses and bungalows built together!
the older gentleman who did the all the tile work is amazing at what he does!
Yes I need him with the massive amount of tile I have and need to rid myself of....
It's so well done ... I didn't really like that green tile tho ☺️
❤🩹❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yes.❤❤
Yea but it was stupid and tacky af its no longer a school so why put the name of the school there
We have become such a throw away Society, how refreshing that a building gets restored instead of wasting all of that beautiful wood work and history. AWESOME JOB!!!!
The hardest part of any construction are honest and reliable contractors…..you got awesome people.
This is true in every country. In Germany we have thatfor a building diary, were you make daily notes what has been done and by whom. There will allways be at least one who does shoddy work.
So true! My aunt is restoring a country house from 1901 in Spain and her renovation is being stalled by unreliable lazy contractors!!
The hardest part of any construction are honest and reliable home owners that pay for the work they ordered. FTFY
@@LupusMechanicus Homeowners always think they could do what the Contractor does if they had the time. Sure, perhaps, but consequently, they don't want to pay what it costs, and what it costs is never enough for the stress, the planning, the execution, the sales, satisfying the customer. Trades people are treated like modern day peasants if they allow it and homeowners are happy to treat them as such and don't believe they're doing anything wrong. They believe that their white collar office job is incredibly challenging and being a carpenter should be fun and they can't understand why you aren't excited to do and shepherd them through every decision of their $100,000 renovation that should be a $200,000 renovation, during which they will constantly nag, question your expertise, assume stuff is finished and critique it, say stuff like: "I didn't know it was going to look like that", hire a shitty architect, hire a shitty designer or none at all, take the cheapest price, complain why it's so expensive, blame the contractor, be horrible at making decisions, blame the contractor again, never learn from their mistakes, take an eternity to pay their bills even though their bills spell out exact costs...
The hardest part of any construction in a large city is dealing with the local code authorities and inspectors who hate the idea of your dream.
I'm a Mason from Toronto,Canada. I specialize in restoring 100+ year old homes and buildings. Oldest I've completely restored is a Church built in the 1890s.
I would have sincerely loved every second of restoring this old schoolhouse,in and out. It's an absolutely stunning building and property.
Thank you kindly for preserving history while modern markets,instead, demolish and erase it.
Many,many thanks.
I hope that someone does a good job if my parents are really going to sell my grandpas house. I’d hope they’d make it a smaller scale mansion inside lol
1890? Like my whole street was build before then
@Ladybird765-m3u most cities have pockets of original Victorian era structures. The areas they're built on were normally settled much earlier,with cheaper materials, like wood at the time. Roads wouldn't have even paved yet when the brick homes went up.
Smaller towns,removed from bigger cities, tend to still house more of these older buildings. Sadly, some left to fall into disrepair.
@@drezonb9546most towns and cities in England are Victorian and before
@@Laura-l2u6tWe have a Tudor house in ours, plus many Georgian houses.
I am 70, a cabinet maker of 40 years, retired now. Would have loved to work with this crew!
Fabulous results all round! God Bless all.
I cringed a little when I saw them building and installing IKEA cabinets! This place deserves so much better. They look nice, but….
but what? They can use whichever materials they choose...jeez🙄🙄
@@woohunter1agree, it calls for more substantial solid wood cabinets.
@woohunter1 why, such a young building deserves furniture with a young vibe surely?
@@woohunter1They’ve invested so much money in their house , maybe this is somewhere money can be saved. The kids are young and they can be rough on furniture. I’m sure that some day in the future they’ll be able to upgrade to something better than Ikea.
Respect to all of those Tradesmen, they keep the world going. Also, I respect you guys for preserving a piece of history.
my aunt bought a school house in 1964 and turned it into her home, at the time the county was asking 3 thousand dollars, she told them she had 1, 000 in cash they accepted it. she gave our family the playground equipment. It turned out quite nice.
This comment.i love
I went to a 1 room schoolhouse in 1967. Wished I bought it.
❤
How big (or small😁) is it?
Did yall keep it or resell it?
Wow! That was the exact school I went to for 5 years in Indiana! I have so many memories there and it’s amazing seeing the building given a new life instead of destroyed.
This is the comment I’ve been searching for. With almost 4k comments, I was hoping at least one person here either attended or lived near this amazing building. I love old buildings and their history.
I felt a sadness watching this building being lovingly restored. Last year while reading my mother's 1943-1945 letters to my dad in WWII South Pacific, I went to the High School where she and my dad grew up in Gary, Ind. Dad's old house backed up to the School's football field. So fun to look up in Google maps to see their respective houses. Mom's house being humble as her dad was a Police Officer. But the lovely school where my mother was taught Latin and Dad went on to Law School; Lew Wallace High School was completely gone, flat. Amazing what invasion does to a town. To have this lovely mid-west school saved is a monumental event...not many get that. My parents went to their HS reunion for 50 years, it was a very close group of individuals until the end. My HS was a joke during the heavy handed racial bussing that went on in Dallas at the time. A real nightmare that I never wish to revisit at age 66.
@marithag2319 the WWII generation despite the war and Great Depression had a good childhood and long lives. They still knew what it was to have farm or garden grown food, loving extended family and good neighbors around them, and faith in our good God. Every generation since has been atomized and robbed.
@@brandywineblue Well, guess my parents taught me well, at 66 I still run my homestead with chickens and rabbits and can them in the winter for food...makes great tacos. No refrigeration when the lights go out. Trying to teach all the young families around me how to do this too. The middle aged women are hopeless in the kitchen mostly. Most can't afford a place to even start accumulating what is necessary. This economy will kill our people. Famine is coming......
Another one in Southern Indiana looks just like it.
God bless whoever keeps this place clean.
The glossy finish on the floor with all the great lighting will show every spec of dust... I grew up with hardwood floors not that glossy but great natural light and mom dust mopped every day.
@@alienonion4636 20+ years ago we built our home and have all hard flooring. I bought a dust mop and found my new best friend!😁
A few robot floor cleaners would be a tremendous time saver for Mom! 😊
@@LightoftheMoongee, I wonder if it could save Dad some time, too…
They can probably afford to have a janitorial staff
When I was Arlo's age, my great grandfather would take me to his buddy's shop while the guy worked and they talked. Since it was Serbian I understood none of it so I just hung out and watched. He was an upholstery shop.
18 years later and my mom wanted to recover a Victorian side chair. I said "we can do that!" I then proceeded to tell her everything we would need.
We went out and bought it and did the chair.
My mother had NO idea how I knew how to do that
Several years later in conversation she mentioned that Grandpa's friend was an upholsterer.
Arlo will have learned all of this but won't know how he knows. Show him the films.
What a great job. What a lovely family. Than you for sharing
the fact that this took ONLY 3 years is insane to me, considering how slow some new construction is, amazing
That’s what I was thinking.We added onto our living room onto our front porch. Our contractor told us 4-5 weeks but it ended up taking them 7 months!! They only worked 2-3 a day or didn’t show up. Big mistake hiring them!🤬
Money talks and some contractors suck
That woman annoys me
@@timmurphy5137 Annoying woman is how it was done so quickly! 😂
@@cindyb3028 hilarious. You can frame a new house in 1 week with a good crew
I am SO IMPRESSED with your restoration of this beautiful old building! Mu daddy was a Master Brickmason, born in 1893, and he would “tear up” seeing how you saved the brickwork and so much of the original craftsmanship in your beautiful home! Congratulations!
My brother also. same
The brick❤❤❤
I hate when I drive by and see an old building going into complete decay... So happy you can renovate this one, what a gift!
I can't even begin to describe how happy this makes me. I love seeing history being preserved in old buildings, rather than being completely stripped and made into a blank slate or modernized. And this is such a beautiful building to preserve as well!!
In 1931, my father was born in a one room schoolhouse on the way to the hospital in town, 20 miles away. My grandfather later bought the old schoolhouse and had it placed on his property, which he remodeled to replace the old, old family house that they currently lived in. The schoolhouse has doubled in size since my grandparents passed, and it is still in the family, and the gorgeous brickwork is something to see. Thanks for the great video, which brought back some lovely memories for me.
Thank you for sharing ❤
Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if these schools are a lot cheaper than buying a house and how it is taxed. Please comment if you do know. Thanks again.
Aw, that's so lovely. ❤
There was a one-room schoolhouse on my grandparents’ dairy farm. When my mom was little, she’d sit in the bicycle basket of one of the older girls and stare in the window. When she was 4, the teacher gave up and just let her come in. Of course she was a star student. Because the teacher started her at that age, she graduated from high school 5 months after her 17th birthday. By 23, she had her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mom didn’t do anything halfway.
I LOVE THIS!! 50 years ago, when my husband & I were married, I told him I wanted to buy an old school & turn it into our residence. He said, in no uncertain terms, that it wasn't happening. I realized we didn't have the money, time or "know how" to accomplish such a thing. But to vicariously experience this through your family was so delightful. Enjoy your beautiful new home...and a very nice job.
Massive respect for you guys for restoring the old doors and trim instead of just binning it and buying contemporary run of the mill doors and panels. Despite a complete transformation you have retained the soul of the building.
Ditto for saving some of the plaster!
they probably bought it cheap
Plus this new stuff does not have the bones like the old stuff.
Motherfucker those doors and that trim were 'run of the mill' when they were installed.
@@uuuultraThere is nothing cheap about what's going on here.
I remember this! It popped up for me when you first bought it and I thought it was so intriguing, but disappointed it was such a new endeavor and I couldn’t see the end result. With my unmediated ADHD, I immediately forgot about it and here you are three years later with a gorgeous home. Sometimes, the algorithm just KNOWS.
As a former tradesman, historian, author and lover of all things preserved and good, this transformation made my heart sing! I wait for another video where your imagination soars yet further and your library is come. ;) A very satisfying video and I praise your efforts. Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing.
You don't know how much I love you for restoring it with all of those art deco vibes and funky historical colors instead of just painting it gray and chopping it up into that awful Scandinavian Minimalist style that has ruined so many other historical renos.
Scandinavian minimalist style has a place, too and can function beautifully - just not in these old buildings, which have their own unique syle they should retain.
The gray has taken over so many houses for sale that I view. Just seems brain dead to me. Don't think, just make it all gray. I'm in a 1920s house that has walls & beauty. When I thought I was moving, clients all wanted to gut every wall. No! It's a bungalow❤
@@1940sDream good for you!!! Keep saying no! I live in a 1924 house not many updates. Rock solid and affordable.
AMEN!!!!
I used to live in an elementary school that had been converted to apartments. Two schools were closed down in the 80's and were going to be knocked down, but a local carpenter wanted to save both schools, so he bought them and slowly converted them into apartments over the years. He is retired now, but his son now runs the apartments and is still converting the last couple spaces 40 years later. Honestly, it was one of the best places I have ever lived. It was in a quiet residential neighborhood with a nearby grocery store, the thick walls kept everything nice and warm in the winter and kept noise out, and the character and history of the school was really cool. The only disadvantage was that you had to walk outside to the detached garages that were built in the old school parking lot, but that was a small price to pay for a great place to live.
The parking lot was turned into garages! Wow that is so cool.
Having done a few renos myself, all I could think of as I watched this was - the cost - due to the size of the building. Very few couples could afford to do a project so massive.
I used to be a contractor, and the level of a thoughtful historical renovation and construction you all did was very high! I am VERY impressed. Congratulations and I hope many happy years raising your familt in this old/new schoolhome
I’m so impressed with the reviews the homeowners have given all the tradespeople! The appreciation and kindness is wonderful to see! I built a home 30 years ago. I had one rule. We were all to be kind to each other. We didn’t have to agree but we did have to be kind. There are ways to disagree that do not demean another person. I didn’t allow my children to call each other names. I wouldn’t allow it on that job. I had my general contractor’s nephew banned from the project. He didn’t take me seriously! Respect for ALL…regardless! 🥰
Way to go. Awesome.
I really loved that too, I read really far into the contractor reviews. It says a lot about a person, that they prioritize praising people, and the things they value shine through.
good for u. i had friends who added a second floor to their home. they decided to do their own finish work. my best advice to them was that if they wanted to stay married they should work in different rooms and not get caught checking on each other's work lol.
As a contractor I just had to comment and say amazing job on the home and the video. I hope all the hard work is enjoyed and used for generations.
I love that the original brick was kept and restored. watching the kids grow up and seeing this place come together gives me hope as a single mother.
While 99 percent of us couldnt afford this, its lovely to watch and dream! I bet it will be lovely when its all furnished and had decor and landscape.
I can't even fathom how much this reno cost.
@@TonySmithJrprobably between $750k to $1m. Possibly more. 😬
@@evergreenvalleyhomeimprove7269 That's like a townhome where I live... I might have to start considering this.
I'm just glad someone is renovating an older building instead of tearing it down and putting who knows what there!
@@evergreenvalleyhomeimprove7269I'm guessing at least 2 or 3 times that much.
I built custom homes throughout the 90s to 2008.
That was the haydays of affordable homes.
Nowadays the prices just make me gasp.
The prices for comparable homes have went up 3 to 4 times as much.
I'm sad for this new generation trying to make ends meet.
I am retired now living in one of the last homes I built. This is were I will die.
The way the whole community is benefitting from your wealth is so beautiful. This is the way!
The carbon footprint they created redoing this building for a small family is so massive it's shameful.
@@whaterfoo yet building new from ground up would use massive amounts of new material.
@@whaterfooHate to tell you but Carbon Footprint is just double speak for Human Being. They want to reduce humans not some mythical score they created.
@@whaterfoo 🤣 People really assume a lot, eh? They’ve just started their family. Maybe they’ll have a dozen children 🥰
They would have benefitted more from turning it into an affordable multi family dwelling with smaller starter homes around it for blue collar workers. This country needs more affordable housing for blue collar workers.
I´m so happy when a beautiful old building is saved!
I do too. But that is a lot more space than a single family needs. This is one reason why there is a lack of affordable housing for blue collar workers.
Am I the only person who DOESN’T consider this to be a ‘beautiful building’? In fact I think it’s a very plain and rather ugly, municipal looking building. I have great admiration for all the trades who did a great job, as I have for the homeowner who certainly rolled her sleeves up and got stuck in too. But I can find nothing aesthetically pleasing about the ‘house’, if you can call it that, either inside or out. What on Earth will they do within the building? It will inevitably lack a homeliness about it due to its cavernous design. Their heating bills and running costs will be horrendous, or they’ll freeze, which is the reason that the original school had to close down after only twenty years of use and the children divided into other smaller schools 80 years ago. They will be heating the air 8’ or 9’ above their heads!
Each to their own, but I’d have thought that for the cost of the building plus the cost of the renovation they could have built or bought a truly beautiful house.
We're YOU going to restore it?@@LRCW1
@@moyrahoodway to encourage people.
My granny bought a condo in a renovated school and it was gorgeous. She taught herself to read and cleaned bathrooms for a living so that was such a treat to see her in this beautiful condo with cathedral ceilings substantial windows and brick mortar.
Your building is very similiar. Absolutely beautifully restored building. Sunshine’s everyday 🌞 through those windows. 😊Blessings to you.
As a retired teacher with several family members in education, we all LOVE old schools. Your family repurposing this beautiful old school is amazing and thanks for sharing this joy with us. God bless.
I, too, am a retired elementary school teacher. As a child, all of my old schools were of brick construction so I have a special bond with the style. My first assignment as a first year teacher just happened to be one of the oldest schools in our district and could have doubled for the one in this series. Special little nooks and crannies that just begged to be explored---and I did! It still had the old voice tubes to each room originating in the principal's office down on the lowest floor! Yuip, this series was a balm to my antiquated soul.
As a now retired contractor who had a project featured in a magazine, I have to say you have (or your designer has) excellent taste. Restoring the pre war era doors and woodwork, if its not warped, will be much better than anything you could buy new. Chefs kiss right there.
My mom and dad wanted to rehab an old "little red school house" after we kids were grown and gone. Dad died before I was twelve, a dream never materialized. Good for you to following your dream.
Incredible make over and dedication to historic preservation. Gregg's tile work was top notch. Everyone well done!
IMPRESSIVE!! Not just your bravery and vision, but you didn't just demo the interior! You saved and restored so much! What a gorgeous home this is going to be for many many decades to come!!! Amazing!
As another local, I've been passing this school for over a decade, and I'm so glad you've made it your home! 🎉
Does anyone know where this is?
@@terrythoreson2158 out off 252 just past Nineveh Indiana
@@terrythoreson2158 It's in Mexico.
@@terrythoreson2158somewhere in Indiana.
@@fazbearanimations2622bruh.. what?
Damn, I love those old doors. The whole place is just incredible.
I went to school there First through Six! Rather you get it than letting the t go to waste! Congrats and best of luck!
Ty!! It might be a different one, this one closed in 1936!
@
I’m old but I have a great wife who can set me straight… SHE DID!
@@dougadams9458😂😂😂😂😂
Bob Villa would have loved this. One of the best things I’ve seen. This should get a documentary it’s such a labor of love. The doors, the windows, the tiles - oh my.! I can’t imagine living in such a gorgeous place.
Agreed on both points. This was amazing to watch. Such a breath of fresh air seeing someone renovate old with a soul as opposed to building something new and sterile.
Beautiful
Bob Villa is a joke
I always wanted to live in an old church, firehouse or school. May you enjoy it for many years and future generations.
When you hit 30 - this becomes your fantasy. Glad somebody is living it.
Just takes fat stacks.
@@GeminiWoods It does take a lot of monetary investment, but you can see this couple put a LOT of sweat, time and thought into this project. Quite a few folks with the capital to do this would have contracted the whole thing out and claimed all the credit. The fact that they showed most, if not all, of the contractors and gave props to them helps the community out also. Stand up folks in my book. And a beautiful transformation also.
Yes!
@@kenbrown5449perfectly stated.
Absolutely amazing…..what memories for your entire family. I love so much to see anything old saved from the wrecking crew. Great job!
Mr. Greg is one of my favorite things about this entire renovation. He is amazing! ❤
Thank you for preserving such a wonderful old building and not throwing up another McMansion somewhere. Restoring so much of the original materials is what is so special. There's another lifetime and more in those old doors and trim. This is beautiful.
LOVE this so much!! The other day my 20-year old daughter was in her room and I heard a voice and said, "What are you watching?" She told me it was a family that was renovating an old school house. I described you and she said "Yep! I've been watching them for a while." We had no idea that we both had been following your family's story. I loved that moment and I love this one! It's official -- there may be finishing touches, but the first toy has been placed and move-in can begin! CONGRATULATIONS on coming to a close with all your hard work and dedication. It's a beautiful tribute to what existed before and is such a love story to your family about what it will be for years to come. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!!
oh my gosh that's so crazy about your daughter!! 😂 And thank you so much!
@@Schoolhousehomestead. What about protecting around the school house with metal fencing. Something strong enough to protect your family and friends. It is said in the bible that there will be rough times ahead for all of us. With your schoolhouse being right off the road. It will be easy for anyone that has negative energy and thoughts come and cause harm especially with all the unprotected windows. I as a Christian woman don’t know you personally but feel it’s my job to just send a little reminder Please include some strong protection on the outside of your property. Keep up the good work and congratulations
@@tiffanyokunola We have security and will ramp it up before actually moving in, and then yes we do have a fence planned! thank you!!
That was amazing! Incredible vision!
I know this old school house! My sister and her family live very close. East Enterprise, I’d drive past school going to visit. Great to see someone bring it back to life!
If this was a disney cartoon that old school house would be so happy. May it give you many wonderful memories.
Needless to say: OUTSTANDING JOB!!! Y'all are so brave to take a great (and a "solid built") building and re-claim it as a home. My husband and I bought a 1920' Catholic Rectory and restored it for our home. It was a diamond in the rough, but so it was so worth it. The older buildings are by far so much better that any "new-builds" will ever be....builders back then were true craftsmen and took great pride in their trades. Loved the wonderful job you did with original doors. And excellent choice on using "spray-in" insulation: it's a real game changer. May cost more but it seriously delivers!
And I appreciate the your attention to the details....LARGE and small, it shows the love you have for this beautiful home to be.
Really happy for you.
Im in my 50s and dont think I have made as much money in my lifetime as that renovation had to cost. Its awesome and yes, Im jealous.
They're definitely loaded to the gills.
@@trevorthomas4053 They have to be. I bet they are over 1 million in, probably a LOT more. It would be interesting to know incase other people want to try something like this. Most can't afford it, at least, that is what I think...
They did a huge amount themselves. Kudos!
I have 10 yrs of owning my own business in cleaning homes. I'll be happy to help you lol
That was my thought.. I wonder what they do for work to be able to afford something like this! 😮 Good for them though.
Even if you bought it for $1 can't imagine the yearly taxes, electric and cost of renovations. I'm too broke for that. It's a mansion. Happy for y'all though ❤😊
Yeah I knew when I saw "Cocktail cellar" these people had some money.
It was maybe sold cheap even for taxes they also have this channel.
@@retroredo9850I don’t know how much revenue they bring in from this channel but it wouldn’t put a dent in the cost of living at this property.
This is in Indiana, which has a lower than average property tax.
I dont think i could pay off those new wooden floors in my lifetime
Someone won the lottery, lol. I lived in an old school that had been separated into large breezy apartments when I was young. It was great. This is absolutely beautiful. Well done.
Bet it wasn't breezy when the kids were sweating thru fall and spring classes.....but sure was breezy all winter long!
She didn't win the lottery, but she does work her ass off from what I hear.
There is a place in Indianapolis. It was an old ballpark and they remodeled in into apartments. They kept the ballfield and all the apartments overlook the ballpark.
I love to see it. I do wish that more videos like this included a running total of costs - labor, materials, and so on. I love saving old homes, but just knowing what my wife and I have put into restoring our (WAY smaller) 1870 Midwest farmhouse I know someone here has got to be either a lottery winner, trust-fund kid, or in the C-suite somewhere. Maybe you cover this in other videos but that would have been interesting to see in this summary.
and why so much square footage and how are you heating and cooling ?
this is ridiculous.
Ya'll have gotten a lot of hate in the comments and that's unfortunate. I appreciate the artistry of the project by both the homeowners and the various contractors. I especially appreciate the fact that it took three years and wasn't a hurried project for the sake of viewership. If anyone wants to advance to the tile work, it starts around minute 21!
Only jealousy and IGNORANCE !
There should be no room for hate. it is a kind desecration conflagration type of thing. A love of passion and instead of just bulldozing an ancient master piece shrine these folks just worked with what they had. I mean that old brick work is world class even the bricks themselves are something that will never be made again. The masons that took that animal on were awesome folks. There is nothing hateful to say about someone living out their dream works. Stains and some materials may not be what they used to be but I mean overall only a lunatic. Skip that only a Biden voter would say something stupid about the project.
😊@@thekingsilverado3266
@@thekingsilverado3266This has nothing to do with politics. Take that drama somewhere else.
You had me agreeing until you threw politics in there. @@thekingsilverado3266
Wow! As an electrical contractor myself, I can say you guys had a lot of highly skilled tradesman on site. The transformation is impressive. You guys do nice work too! There was so much to do. Such a huge building to make into a home. I would love to see more as well. Thanks!
The paint colors, the sunlight peaking through as you built the kitchen, the hours of hard work, the brick!! The green bathroom!!! Ahhh this is such a dream 🥰
What a beautiful testament to family, community, and perseverance! The way you honor everyone who contributed to this schoolhouse transformation - from family to contractors - shows the true heart of renovation projects. Simply inspiring!
What a boost your home project gave to the local economy.
I Commend you for hiring all the tradesmen to renovate this historic building. The wealth it takes to do a project like this is not something most people can do, so using your wealth to put people in the community to work, rather than a spec house in a new construction neighborhood, is responsible and respectful.
spec houses still use tradesmen, and employ people one way or the other
my wife found the pictures ua-cam.com/video/FebXfPBu0H0/v-deo.html
they all look like American citizens
@@uuuultra
What's your point?
@@uuuultra wow....imagine assuming someone's citizenship status based on their looks. I realize that you're rage-baiting here, but Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I wasn't expecting it on this wholesome video.
You're going on the prayer list.
Countless children formed core memories in that building. Wild.
If the walls could talk🤔😮🫨😬🙂...
Yes. And it was back when they actually got an education.
@@m.freeman4763As opposed to what??
Amazing. I went to a school like this for 7 years, in the 1960's. I remember walking up the stairs. The worn out stairs. This is so great. I love everything.
I can’t even begin to comprehend the expense involved in a project like this. My fiancé and I bought a house built in 1927 (3200 sq ft) and the cost involved in just getting it up to code has been overwhelming. Kudos to you for taking on such a project. It’s beautiful.
3200 Sq ft starter home ? Of course the cost will be astronomical ... bringing it up to code, and up to your expextations. I wish you all the best, and hope that your pockets are as deep as your dreams are lofty.
I think the cutest thing I have ever seen is a toddler helping Dad with the excavator.
I thought that was the most dangerous thing. Children don't belong on heavy equipment no matter how cute.
I absolutely love that people are doing this to old schools. They are historic and they don't get torn down.
my wife found the pictures ua-cam.com/video/FebXfPBu0H0/v-deo.html
it would have cost more to tear down than to sell
I drove past my old school and saw that it had been torn down. But that was fine since it had no character.
I have so many questions....but mostly I want to say, WOW!! What a laborious and phenomenal job! I love that you saved so many of the doors and floors where you could. You also had some amazing contractors who understood the assignment. Job well done! Thank you for sharing.
My wife and I are renovating an old train station in Germany (1865) it’s been a journey and a labor of love. I feel your pain, joy, heartbreak and jubilation great job you guys. 🎉
Sounds VERY interesting! I wish the process was on UA-cam!
@@jonothandoeser we are seriously thinking about starting a channel I will let you know.
That sounds like a super cool project! Maybe someday I will get to watch your progress on it as well
Basic economics. People with money spend that money, the people that work for them take that money and pay their bills and spend the money in their communities. Those businesses hire people that get paid..... the circle goes on and on. Now, if you taxed these people at 75% or more like liberals want to do.....that money circle gets broken.
@@sjastram Nobody’s talking about taxing the wealthy 75%, at least in this country, and at the most EQUALLY prosperous times in American history, the wealthy were taxed more than double what they are now
You’re making the same factual misstatement all apologists for the wealthy make - suggesting something absurd to make people turn against about something fair
“One of the greatest scams of the millionaires is to convince somebody making $100,000 that it’s the guy making 25,000 who’s the real problem”
My goodness! I can't even imagine taking that project on, but I am very happy to get to watch the progress. I want you to be sure to tell everyone 1) cost of the schoolhouse in dilapidated condition; 2) square footage and 3) total cost of renovations. Fabulous work. I guess neither you nor your spouse work full time, because this is enough work for everyone for years and years. Can't wait to see the end result. Precious children too.
Beautiful,can't wait for the next steps,thank you for sharing this
It helps when you come back to your small town w/a golden parachute!
It's so sweet to watch your kids grow up throughout this project.
WOW!!! What an adventure and how many amazing memories you're creating with your family and community! It's nice to see people still restoring old buildings instead of demolishing them. I know not every building can be saved, but if you have the funds and it can be done - why not? I love everything you've done and so glad you took the plaster off and refinished the existing brick in some of the rooms! And the mosaic tiles are just exquisite!
I KNOW WHERE THE "FAMILY" GET-TOGETHERS ARE GOING TO BE!!!
And the lucky kids, what an indoor playground!! 😊
Look at all the people you put to work. This town must love you guys..
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
The very first business listed in the notes if based in Massachusetts so don’t assume it’s all local.
Also it’s not like most contractors are short on work. Whenever I want something done I usually need to call several just to find one who will even bother returning my call. And most won’t bother with smaller jobs of the average Joe because they all want the big money jobs from wealthy people like the people in this video.
This was my first thought.
getting lost in your own home. How do you create a living atmosphere here without making it look like a big compagny office?
Not necessarily true. Most rural towns can't stand people like this. They move in from the city, over pay for property, driving local prices up and then keep voting the same exact way that ruined the places they fled from. Many complain about local smells and slow traffic while insisting on new regulations. I hope that is not the case here but more often then not that is what happens.
Like millions of Americans, I attended an elementary school in the 60’s identical to this design. Beyond fascinating to see your reclamation of this building. Loved it! Bravo. 👏
This level of commitment to a project is so inspiring to me. There are NO SLACKERS in this family. Thank you for sharing your journey. I am so impressed.
Im from this area of Indiana and recognized it right away. I remember passing it multiple times a week and remember being in this old school house soooooo many times when I was a kid. I have since moved to Florida but whenever I visit my family back home I see it again. Im so glad it found a great family to preserve it!
Is this right outside of Allen County/Fort Wayne?
@@mosin9349 Johnson County, IN-- just south of Indianapolis.
And I cry over a $600 job from a contractor....wowza!! Such a beautiful transformation!
They’re millionaires, what do they care. Acting like they are just homesteading and being this midwestern dream family is a joke.
@@timcarter817 how do you they are millionaires?
@@jeniferwhittington9083 she's high up at a $300m company
@@jeniferwhittington9083 You think you can do this type of work without being a millionaire? In what world do you think this job could be done for cheap? You have to have no clue what these things cost and what it costs to do all the work done, if you don't know this.
@@jeniferwhittington9083obviously Bay Area escapees?
My Dad could do it all. Carpentry, Electric, plumbing, repairs on cars, and everything was level at our home. Watching this brought back memories. Thank you.
This is epic. I wanted to do this so badly over 20 years ago but my home town wouldn't sell the old school. They used it as "overflow storage" and basically let it rot. So glad you folks could pull this off.
This schoolhouse is not far from where I grew up. Thank you for all the work you've done and for repurposing this building! Such wonderful work!
Nice but it’s too bad the City did not get this building and turn it into affordable housing because of the amount of unused space. Or at least some type of community building for all to reminisce on and enjoy. They did a good job though but I see a lot of old buildings like this that could be restored for the homeless. You will never use all that space.
@@oliviadennis6476 and who would foot the bill, pray tell
@@oliviadennis6476It wouldn't be practical for homeless people to live there. Homeless people tend to live in towns/cities.
Is this right outside of Allen County/Fort Wayne?
@@mosin9349 - the schoolhouse is in central Indiana
I wonder what these people do for a living. I can't imagine the money it cost to renovate. It is absolutely beautiful!!!
Looks like the husband is a physician. In one scene he was wearing scrubs. Either a anesthiologist ( who makes a ton of money) or specialist.
@@elizabethmchenry3102 I've also seen home healthcare workers wear scrubs as well as others in different fields of work like nurses or employees of nursing homes
She was working in marketing at BarkBox and her husband, Wilson, was working as an orthopedic surgeon in NYC hospitals when they bought the house.
@elizabethmchenry3102 even at 500grand a year, you're probably only netting 350-375/year after taxes. Most have ATLEAST 50k in med school loans. That had to be a million dollar renovation. She's gotta be making some serious money too
Oh my! I can’t believe you accomplished all of this in just 3 years! It’s a huge project. Amazing!
Talk about a labor of love! I appreciate how you feature the kiddos and listed all the contractors who completed each task. I would have given up after the 1st year, if not sooner. Bravo! I can't wait to see it completed!
There is something deeply soothing about watching professionals do renovations.
I love it when old buildings are repurposed and brought back to life. This is excellent 👏🏽
Wow, I can only imagine the gratitude of the community around this old school for y'all saving it and restoring it. Granted, you changed a lot, the original structure still stands.
Just absolutely awesome. I love when people repurpose old and give it new life.
I am so glad this building is not being left to rot away. It makes me sad to see these beautiful buildings in decay. We have too many in this country. We lived in Germany years ago and I can remember only seeing one abandoned building. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
My husband and I remodeled 3 houses from a brick shell to beautiful homes. We did most of it ourselves (with professional craftspeople doing the plumbing and masonry), ran all the wiring and conduit runs, put in the bathrooms and finally drywalling and decorating.
But we were late 20's, 30's, 40's and early to mid 50's. Right now, I'm turning 72, hubby is 65+, and the energy and money for taking on a big product is gone! Congratulations and best wishes. DO IT WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG!
Yep..... I agree!
Amen to that 😂👍
Most young people don’t have the wealth to do this anymore. Americans in their 30’s and 40’s now have only 25% of the buying power as their peers even 50 years ago. It’s sad, but most places like this will have to be saved by the wealthy who care
Cheers to the tradesmen contractors and suppliers involved in this project. You did it right.
The fact that you did this with kids. That has my respect in itself. As someone who has a 3 yr old and 4 month old.
Wow..what a beautiful restoration.👍. When I was a young boy my dad made me take my little red flyer wagon across the field to an old little school house being torn down. I collected the old on-site kiln fired bricks that were used to build the school. I made endless trips as an 8 year old and every evening after supper I would sit and knock the old mortar off the bricks.
Fast forward to today..I’m 62 and getting ready to sell my parents home after both had passed away. Dad(July 2019) Mom (May 2024). The whole front of their house is done in the old bricks from the schoolhouse that I had gathered as a child.
I remember getting big outdoor trash cans and filling them full of water to put all the bricks in to soak for a couple days prior to laying them. If you didn’t soak the old kiln fired bricks prior the brick would draw all the moisture out of the new mortar and you would end up with joints that needed tucked pretty immediately when it dried.
My dad taught me endless skills of the carpenter trade and it’s sad to say those trades are slowly diminishing in our fast pace times today.
I see all these post here about the cost this cost that…yes everything cost money but what you and your family have here will last generations. I applaud you for the dedication and detail of taking such a huge project head on✌️♥️.
♥
What a wonderful story about you and your father. Such a blessing!
A medallion would make that first light even better. This video has a lot of joy in it.
Your tile guy is really really great. Those mosaics were amazing everyone who touched the school house were fantastic. I'm so glad you saved this historic schoolhouse
last of a dieing breed.
I love, love, love this! I usually scroll through videos but I watched the entire thing from start to finish.
Don't know what the challenges were over the years but those contractors delivered. The one who really stood out for me was the tile guy. Amazing job!
May your family and your generations to come find love, peace, joy, good health and solitude in your home in the many years to come! Blessings.
Every time I pass by an old building, I think of the people who built it and what it might have been like for the first owners on move-in day. And then I think about all the hundreds of stories that must exist in somebody's head and photo albums, recording the events that must have happened there - all the joy, the sorrow, the coming and going of generations. And I wonder if any of the people who lived or visited are still alive, and what stories they might have to tell.
It would be wonderful if anyone who worked at or attended your school-house could share their stories with you.
There is an old schoolhouse on Harsens Island, Michigan. Looks extremely similar. It sat empty for a few years until a restauranteur bought it. It is now called The Schoolhouse Grille. Excellent food. We're so glad it was saved. They kept it as original as possible.
That is just so cool!
That style of building must have been extremely common at a certain point in time. There are so many old school buildings in Iowa that look almost identical to that. Probably some kind of depression era government building program?
Wow, that is a name I haven't heard in decades and decades. Grew up near there, nice that they turned it into a restaurant.
You guys put a lot of money into this old building and as a retired tradesmen, thank you and to all your tradesmen who helped you in this endeavor thank you I love when people take these old buildings and bring them back to use warns my heart
That building held so many good memories for so many people over the years. I'm so glad you were able to rescue it. I'll bet all the local contractors enjoyed taking part in bringing it back to life. It's going to be a point of pride for the entire community.
Where is this
@@opallynch4815 Johnson County, IN--south of Indianapolis
So adorable when the little boy said to his sister: Margot, dont fall in that hole! I loved watching every moments of that incredible job. So well done! Big up and congratulations to all the workers and the family.
I’d be done at the sight of that many doors alone,
and you fully restored them all, incredible
All I can say is "wow"! I admire you for taking this task on and making it your home. I've always wanted to do that to an abandoned church.
This brings good memories. In 1937 my dad bought an old one room school house built in the 1870's 5 miles west of Oxford Ohio in Indiana. He and his father converted it to our family house. They raised the floor 3 feet to change the ceiling height form 13 feet to 10 feet. We had windows 8 ft tall from the floor on up. This was a true brick builing and not just a brick facade. The roof was the original slate roof. The yard had become a junk car lot. Total floor area was about 900 square teet. thnaks for the vidieo.