Unbelievable how greedy developers erase our history and more importantly, that our cities and towns close blind eyes and let them do it. Where I live we just lost an 1820s Greek Revival House that was completely untouched and still had all of its original graining, mantels, windows, etc. No one even cared. It is an empty parking lot. You have done a magnificent restoration Mike. Thank God you came along in time to save it.
I was born an raised in Connecticut. The disregard of the state's amazing history is pathetic. Thank you for your care and amazing work. The state should reward you with property tax-free status for life.
Even with properties owned by the state or various historic groups, the benefits they offer to renovators are usually laughable. There was a historic house in New York state that was offered cheaply but the person who restored it ... and it required well over a million dollars in renovations ... would agree to live in the house for twenty years and then turn ownership back over to the state. And they actually thought someone would agree to this deal.
@@snaavs Agreed. The idiots in Hartford are so busy trying to squeeze every last possible penny of revenue out of its citizens that they've lost all sight of common sense. I first came here in 1987 and was amazed at the destruction of CT's values & reputation since. "Land of steady habits", my foot ... at least not any more. The footage of the framing is spectacular. I had the opportunity to live in a 1790 farmhouse for a few years; the original P&B construction was awe-inspiring, you could see the original adz marks and _almost_ see how they did mortise & tenons way back then. Getting to see it all stripped down was an amazing experience, shows what craftsmanship _used to_ be. *Thank you* for posting this.
Its not just Connecticut it is all over the United States, the structures are coming down in place of cookie cutter homes guaranteed to last only 20 years or so. The foundations are poured and the homes built before the foundations have a chance to cure out. The foundations crack within one year from being built......junk!
Born in Mystic, CT, raised in North Stonington in a restored home built in 1690. Live in NC now but really miss New England and the charming coastal Connecticut towns. Would move back if the tax rates and cost of living weren’t so high.
Because of your passion for the 1760 house, the chestnut trees used as beams still in a sense continue to live, at least in spirit. The house was built with a craftsmanship that is unmatched today and it's so wonderful that you became the loving homeowner. So nice to see you decorated the house for Christmas. The 1760 house is a beautiful treasure.
What a beautiful job!! My family lived there for some time. 1983-1985 we rented it from the Canfield Family. We LOVED it. I was only about 13 years old. We played in barn. There was a pig pen and we used to ice skate on the pond. SO many memories. We used to pretend we lived in the 1800s. What a great restoration. LOVE it!!
I'll probably never have the honor of seeing this house in person but I'm so very thankful that you were able to purchase it and love it !!! Just Wonderful ! Thank You for sharing!!!
I agree with you. To follow up with such a magnificent historical home is beautiful for me as a history Buff. My grandmother had an old farmhouse in NY from the 1800's. We loved going there to explore it and old barns and other farmhouses that were no longer standing. I always had hoped to live in the really old houses and was able to for a couple of years plus lived next to the very old log cabin that was the first home before they built the old house that I got to live in up in Montana. God Bless you for bringing it back to life and then sharing with us!!!!!!
My town demolished a 1740's house similar in character. I tried to get it saved, they said it was then demolished it. The same family owned it. husband and wife tree in front.
I want to congratulate you. Not on your house and your restoration. The beauty of your house and the quality of your work goes without saying, it's obvious. But I want to thank you for this great little documentary. Your recording of the project and the history behind it is an example of the amazing things the Internet is capable of. Thanks for sharing it with everyone here on TH-cam. Great entertainment! Best wishes to you for 2018 and beyond.
It always makes me happy to see historic buildings saved from demolition by people who are passionate about preserving them. I grew up in a house built in 1850 and was lived in by my family for over a century and it is the reason for my love of old homes. No modern building that I've ever lived in compared to the craftsmanship of that house. I currently own an 80 year old farmhouse, and while not as old as this, I still like the character of it and the craftsmanship that went into building it. I'd take a well built old house any day over the cheap particle board things they throw up today.
...to me, spirituality is also about respect for those who've gone before us and paying attention to what we all have in common...beautiful attention to detail but most of all props to all the respect y'all have shown to the original craftspeople ...well done...
That fireplace is gorgeous! Such craftsmanship. I'm happy you rescued it. I love to imagine what life was like a couple hundred years ago too. Good job!
100 years from now people will see YOUR efforts to preserve late 1700’s life. Truly a CT and US treasure. New England has a historic flavor all it’s own - you have enhanced that flavor in near perpetuity.
It makes me so happy when people restore old houses and save them from demolition. I think with the extreme care you took to personally replicate the building techniques of the time, you were the absolute best person to take on this lovely house.
Lovely restoration. Restored a1780 cape in Maine. The old houses were constructed to look balanced from the outside, elegant and graceful. I loved the feeling of many generations nestled in that lovely old, safe place. Love that they faced a house south, the door yard as they called it. Loved looking for and finding the bits to finish the house. There are some nice examples of early stenciling and that is something I did carefully and with love and research was fun. The pins were still in the four fireplaces, three were Rumford style so they threw good heat. Found wonderful fireplace cranes in eastern Connecticut, loved cooking and using the kitchen fireplace all through the year. I love that you saved this fine old place.
Boy, now that I read these comments I see how profoundly touched we All are by this. The spirit of like-minded thinkers must carry on. Wonderful wonderful.
I have to admit that I actually started crying when you showed the pictures of the restoration project... It takes a very special human to recognize, and want to preserve the integrity of ancient architecture ... You have done a magnificent, and obviously painstakingly, beautiful job... It will definitely be well worth every cent spent to preserve this turn of the century farmhouse,...
@@sergeybebenin It would be nice, but by whom? There are tons of similar hones throughout the Northeast. The federal and state governments don't have the funds to buy and preserve all these places. Even when individuals spend the money to do this themselves, it can be impossible to recoup their losses. People don't necessarily want to buy these places if they're not economical or comfortable. For instance, the colonial home I grew up in was expensive to heat, only had one bathroom (and no room for more) and had zero closets. The fireplaces were lovely but the heat went right up the chimneys And you can't really force owners to spend their own money to restore every old house they own. Unless the place is especially historic or architecturally unique, there's not much that can be done to preserve it. Private property rights are still pretty much private. And that's probably a good thing most of the time.
Amazing restoration! Thank you for sharing with us! The kitchen is perfect! Thank you so much for not putting a custom manufactured high gloss chef grade sterile kitchen in! For incorporating the walk in fireplace and making it the focal point! ?( the oven!! Swoon!) The barn getting insulated was genius! ❤️❤️❤️
You did a fine job restoring those buildings and as an owner of a 110 year old home I can appreciate the work and passion you put into it. I can't imagine tearing down and throwing away historically significant buildings. Good for you.
This reminds me of a beautiful two story house I lived in over in PA from the 1750's. Living on the west coast I miss seeing historical buildings like your property, it seems they tear things down here if it's over 20 years old. This is a wonderful video of your restoration. Thanks for posting it.
I love and share your aesthetic. You're a real HERO in an age of compromise and philistinism. I suggest you plant some trees to block the blight of those McMansions and preserve your sight lines.
Thanks, Steve I appreciate that. I should take your advice and plant some trees. I've already put up a fence to partially block those ticky tack monuments to philistinism!
Absolutely amazing!!!! My sister and brother-in- law live In 1760 farm house as well. They would be blown away by the way you lovingly restore your farm house. Great job!!!
Stunning! Full marks for having respected the original house and not turning it into something to be found in "suburbia" but leaving all the period details and adhering as much to the original as possible.
Beautiful job. I love fireplace cooking, so I really appreciated how you melded it back to the kitchen. I have absolutely no use for developers who don't appreciate history. Your farm will outlast the all of the cardboard boxes that guy built! I always wanted an old house. Our family farm only goes back to early 1840's, but we did the same with our siding that you did with the barn. Natural weathering, although we need to replace a few pieces now. So they'll really stick out, I'm afraid.
I actually live near you and I've always wondered after the new houses were built next door how the old house remained I've always thought it looked funny and now I know why thanks for uploading
I was born in Bridgeport and raised in Fairfield. I have been living in Manhattan for the past 34 years. You did a phenomenal job restoring the house and property. I wish I had one-eighth of your building talent!
You are an incredible person to restore this beauty with integrity back to it's glory. May you have a long and blessed life in this gem. Thank you for saving this historical treasure!
Gorgeous results with your restoration work... I'm sure it was a lot of work to get all of that done, but I am so glad you were able to protect this house and to restore it to its original glory. I agree with your assessment of the quality of this home versus most modern homes; your restored home is incomparably superior in quality and aesthetics.
Wow, you did such an awesome job! Thank you for saving this treasure! Your work is absolutely beautiful. So much nicer than all the modern homes being built today.
Wow! What a gorgeous home/property!! To think this home was almost destroyed. 😥 Thank you Mike, for rescuing this incredible treasure and restoring it with such great care and attention to detail and its history.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication! My folks moved to the US in 1771, it was just a frontier then and still have the original farm, a century farm in Wisconsin.🏡 💕
Good for you! I've spent a lifetime restoring our 18th century Virginia home, and I know what it takes. But, even with all the frustrations, hard work and money, it is worth every penny and drop of sweat. If there were more people like you, so much of what is left of our heritage could be saved. Thanks!
Thank you for your time and patience to restore some of Connecticuts history. I lived in Old Lyme as did my family before me, starting in the early 1700's. I appreciate all the beautiful architecture and the history behind it. I can see the love of the house in your loving restoration.
Thank you for having that rare spirit of keeping the past alive. You now have a gem to carry on with. Houses today are mostly built to sell, not to live in. Your house will still be standing when others are sinking, leaning, and disintegrating cause of poor craftsmanship. Sleep well sir!!
Thanks for saving this house and being sensitive to its history. Our house in Vermont was completed in 1808. We're almost finished bringing it back to its former glory. A lot of work but great fun . Good for you!
You did an amazing job. So happy to see that restored to as close as original as possible. So many people buy these old places then change them to the point that they are nothing like they once were.
Those that lived here and built this are looking down and have giant grins on their faces. Man, what a treasure. Thank you for saving it and restoring it to all its glory. The way you designed the kitchen only enhances the house. A lot of thought must have went into this.
I grew up in a house built in 1720. So many architectural features were lost over the years, but it was a great little home. The cellar had walls that were 5 1/2 feet thick, and the curved stairs going from the cellar to the attic were worn as you would expect them to be. The stone work was amazingly well done, and I'm glad that it survived, albeit without some important period features. Kudos to you for keeping that adorable house alive!
If you really put in some time and effort, homes with good strong bones and history still exist, in just about every city and town. The key is to envision the possibilities and potential and not to expect it to be visually perfect from the start... But, yes, if people want move in ready, without adding vision or individual personality, there is no shortage of generic homes, condos and apartments. Beige and gray boxes, void of character and just carbon copies of one another.... Thank God we still have choices. 👍🏼 😊
No they won't lol. Everyone of you are so dang uneducated, including the guy who posted the video. Our techniques are borne of years of innovation and experience. We don't build houses like we did in the 1700s because we have INNOVATED.
@@nathanweisser you keep telling yourself that. I grew up in a 180 year old house that was built quite solid. No modern house that I've ever lived in came close to comparing to the craftsmanship of that house. I currently own an 80 old house that is also quite well built. How can anyone call the cheap chipboard and drywall houses that they built today innovative
Just so you know as you were telling the story i was picturing life in the 1700s as well. Thank you for what you did, and for sharing your house with the world.
Well done, I am so glad you had the vision to restore the house. Wonderful and to hear the elderly gentleman talk of his times growing up in the house. History is important and historic buildings. I live in England 🏴 so we do have some historic buildings. God bless your endeavours. I agree with you, your house is so much better to look upon than those modern buildings, it’s stunning.
I come from Savannah Ga. Savannah is loaded with historical homes that have been kept up and others that have been restored. My father was a carpenter who loved to do restoration work. I guess a lot of his love for this type of work rubbed off on me. I also love to restore homes and furniture back to it's original time period. You have done an exceptional job on your new/historic home restoration. I know it took a lot of time and money to do this. I thank you and so should the state of Connecticut.
Great job! I love guys like you who put houses back the way they were meant to be and sad to think of all the old farm houses that have been torn down.
I live in the U.K the house I'm in was built in 1760 it is grade 3 listed, I CANNOT believe they were going to tear your house down, no wonder America has NO history, I think you are amazing for saving this lovely house and for the beautiful labour of love you have turned it into.
idaslpdhr I agree, America is a tear down country. They always think newer and bigger is better! This 1760 house will be here long after those new houses are gone.
America has NO history? What a moronic thing to say. Do you realize how many old buildings in England have been allowed to fall down or be torn down over the years? Do you have any idea how many LISTED buildings in England are currently rotting away? Or how many have such strict rules about what's allowed and not allowed that nobody can afford to or wants to make the enormous financial commitment to restore them, so these listed buildings continue to deteriorate too? Don't be an idiot. Obviously America has a history. Everywhere has a history. And despite the loss of many older homes and buildings in the US, we still possess a great representation of our highly varied architectural history. My county alone, which is not one of the most historic in the US, has more than 120 houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and that doesn't include other buildings and historic sites. But we have NO history? Brits need to stop this silly America bashing. You can make your point without always feeling the need to try to insult this country.
What an amazing home. I’m a retired Medic/Firefighter here in California, but I’ve owned and operated a custom woodworking business on the side for 20 years. I’d (almost) give my left arm to live in and restore such an incredible property. Your attention to detail, and appreciation for history has given these structures an excellent shot at another 200 years. This planet needs more folks like yourself. Its too bad about the cheap construction happening nearby.
We just bought a house built in 1865 here in Michigan. The sixth generation sold the farm. It was sold to be a tear down. We fell in love and I soon realised I had to be there. After this winter I will begin a slow and painstaking rehab. It has damage from bad rehabbing and foolish stupid wall removal and damage. Still, she is alive. I do not care for new homes either. I stumbled upon your video. I feel refreshed in my efforts to come.
Amazingly done, and with so much respect for our country’s heritage - as well as a testimony to our forefather’s history and culture. Thank you for posting!
My god the golden ratio the whole bit God bless you You really are mindful of historic preservation and integrity! It’s a pity the neighboring houses but whatever
Great job man. Always wondered who restored it. I did an old house in Shelton myself. Was alot of fun. Sold it and now in Trumbull. Would love to buy another someday. It's nice to see someone else imagining the history of their old house while enjoying it too!
Thank you for saving that wonderful old home, it would have been a sad shame had it been demolished people have no compassion for history! These old places are so much better than new construction so much character I just love and admire it, wonderful job you should be commended!
Thank you for saving that beautiful "older" home. That barn made an enviable workshop that any woodworker would love to have. Your approach to restoring the house was spot on in keeping it as original as possible. They have so much character with all the exposed wood.
Gorgeous! I know you are very proud of this wonderful achievement! And to think that they were planning to demolish/destroy it! I am so thrilled that you were able to buy it and restore it! Congratulations!
Wow!! This is so awesome, it's really inspirational. I don't want to restore a house, I plan on building a steel frame strawlight clay house. I hope 200 years later someone will be as passionate about my house :D
I live in Easton and know the house, it looks wonderful. I really enjoy your channel. Stop by Vazzy's Osteria on a Thursday night and ask for me. I'll buy you a beer.
Congratulations on the restoration of this beautiful old house. May God bless your efforts and I wish you many, many years full of happy memories there.
Listening to you, your not only knowledgeable, you a have passion for what you do. Respect towards the original builters and the interesting way you tell about history. New watcher, just subscribed.
This restoration is spectacular Mike! I briefly owned a 1791 Stone home in NJ that served as the ammunition forge for Washington's Army. I just loved it with its walk-in fireplace and 4' thick walls. Once you live in a historic house or cabin, the quality and craftsmanship and genuine materials really get to you. Everything is what looks like it is; no pretending like in modern homes. You can't live in anything else and be happy. Historic homes and cabins feel like home - they are filled with character and warmth and hug you like a warm blanket. You did good...REAL good.
It's lovely to see this restoration. In England I am surrounded by buildings which are 600-1000 years old: the walls to my Roman city are 2000 years old and so your 1760 house is a mere baby to us! Even so, it is so important to value and preserve the beautiful workmanship which is tangible in every square inch of these priceless constructions whichever country they were built in. I am shocked that a builder might have been able to tear your sweet house down - in the UK there would be a Graded Listing on that house. I hope your state will think again about making it illegal to destroy old buildings such as yours.
Heidi Quist I come from beautiful York. The city is Roman originally founded in 71AD and still full of medieval shops and houses. I live in Devon now. I regularly have tea in a cafe that was built in 1596 (when Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet). It's next to a pub where Sir Francis Drake used to drink. On the other side is cathedral built from c1080 onwards (on the site of a Roman bathhouse). I really appreciate it all.
Your intelligent appreciation of history and construction is to be admired. Your house will stand in all it’s glory when those junk boxes collapse next door. Well done!
Mike, I hope you are well. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate this video and the work you did. From everything you talked about: restoration, hand tools, golden ratio (golden rectangle), the window panes, the trim, the blacksmithing work, etc. I feel such a love for you and the work you did and continue to do. Be assured of my prayers to Christ for you. May God bless you and your family abundantly. Sincerely, Ian Roberts
I enjoyed your enthusiasm and I am so very glad to see you restored a small house that would have been destroyed with so much attention to detail, heart and historical information. Thanks for sharing.
Breaks my heart that people can be so ignorant and selfish to tear down or thoughtlessly renovate beautiful old homes. Thank you for saving this house.
Unbelievable how greedy developers erase our history and more importantly, that our cities and towns close blind eyes and let them do it. Where I live we just lost an 1820s Greek Revival House that was completely untouched and still had all of its original graining, mantels, windows, etc. No one even cared. It is an empty parking lot. You have done a magnificent restoration Mike. Thank God you came along in time to save it.
I was born an raised in Connecticut. The disregard of the state's amazing history is pathetic. Thank you for your care and amazing work. The state should reward you with property tax-free status for life.
Even with properties owned by the state or various historic groups, the benefits they offer to renovators are usually laughable. There was a historic house in New York state that was offered cheaply but the person who restored it ... and it required well over a million dollars in renovations ... would agree to live in the house for twenty years and then turn ownership back over to the state. And they actually thought someone would agree to this deal.
That’s why ct is broke.
@@snaavs Agreed. The idiots in Hartford are so busy trying to squeeze every last possible penny of revenue out of its citizens that they've lost all sight of common sense. I first came here in 1987 and was amazed at the destruction of CT's values & reputation since. "Land of steady habits", my foot ... at least not any more.
The footage of the framing is spectacular. I had the opportunity to live in a 1790 farmhouse for a few years; the original P&B construction was awe-inspiring, you could see the original adz marks and _almost_ see how they did mortise & tenons way back then. Getting to see it all stripped down was an amazing experience, shows what craftsmanship _used to_ be. *Thank you* for posting this.
Its not just Connecticut it is all over the United States, the structures are coming down in place of cookie cutter homes guaranteed to last only 20 years or so. The foundations are poured and the homes built before the foundations have a chance to cure out. The foundations crack within one year from being built......junk!
Born in Mystic, CT, raised in North Stonington in a restored home built in 1690. Live in NC now but really miss New England and the charming coastal Connecticut towns. Would move back if the tax rates and cost of living weren’t so high.
You did the world a favor by saving the house. 👍
Because of your passion for the 1760 house, the chestnut trees used as beams still in a sense continue to live, at least in spirit. The house was built with a craftsmanship that is unmatched today and it's so wonderful that you became the loving homeowner. So nice to see you decorated the house for Christmas. The 1760 house is a beautiful treasure.
What a beautiful job!! My family lived there for some time. 1983-1985 we rented it from the Canfield Family. We LOVED it. I was only about 13 years old. We played in barn. There was a pig pen and we used to ice skate on the pond. SO many memories. We used to pretend we lived in the 1800s. What a great restoration. LOVE it!!
Michele Daily Hello Michelle, I lived in Monroe the same time you did. :) Class of '86.
Sean O i live in monroe right now!! i am at Jockey Hollow and went to FH.
I am related to Canfields...I wonder If they were my relatives.? Small world.
emotional
Must have been amazing to live out there!
I'll probably never have the honor of seeing this house in person but I'm so very thankful that you were able to purchase it and love it !!! Just Wonderful ! Thank You for sharing!!!
I agree with you. To follow up with such a magnificent historical home is beautiful for me as a history Buff. My grandmother had an old farmhouse in NY from the 1800's. We loved going there to explore it and old barns and other farmhouses that were no longer standing. I always had hoped to live in the really old houses and was able to for a couple of years plus lived next to the very old log cabin that was the first home before they built the old house that I got to live in up in Montana. God Bless you for bringing it back to life and then sharing with us!!!!!!
My town demolished a 1740's house similar in character. I tried to get it saved, they said it was then demolished it. The same family owned it. husband and wife tree in front.
I want to congratulate you. Not on your house and your restoration. The beauty of your house and the quality of your work goes without saying, it's obvious. But I want to thank you for this great little documentary. Your recording of the project and the history behind it is an example of the amazing things the Internet is capable of. Thanks for sharing it with everyone here on TH-cam. Great entertainment! Best wishes to you for 2018 and beyond.
It always makes me happy to see historic buildings saved from demolition by people who are passionate about preserving them. I grew up in a house built in 1850 and was lived in by my family for over a century and it is the reason for my love of old homes. No modern building that I've ever lived in compared to the craftsmanship of that house. I currently own an 80 year old farmhouse, and while not as old as this, I still like the character of it and the craftsmanship that went into building it. I'd take a well built old house any day over the cheap particle board things they throw up today.
You are definately part of this house's history. It was waiting for you to come restore it and you did a beautiful job. Very inspiring.
...to me, spirituality is also about respect for those who've gone before us and paying attention to what we all have in common...beautiful attention to detail but most of all props to all the respect y'all have shown to the original craftspeople ...well done...
That fireplace is gorgeous! Such craftsmanship. I'm happy you rescued it. I love to imagine what life was like a couple hundred years ago too. Good job!
100 years from now people will see YOUR efforts to preserve late 1700’s life. Truly a CT and US treasure. New England has a historic flavor all it’s own - you have enhanced that flavor in near perpetuity.
good on you! It is a crime to distroy such structure of historic value and true old world craftsmanship..CONGRATS!!!
Hi Mike .
It is always rewarding to see that a fine heritage home and barn are preserved under the gaurdianship of a master.
Thankyou
It makes me so happy when people restore old houses and save them from demolition. I think with the extreme care you took to personally replicate the building techniques of the time, you were the absolute best person to take on this lovely house.
I'm so glad you were able to save this house. People don't appreciate historical homes.
Lovely restoration. Restored a1780 cape in Maine. The old houses were constructed to look balanced from the outside, elegant and graceful. I loved the feeling of many generations nestled in that lovely old, safe place. Love that they faced a house south, the door yard as they called it. Loved looking for and finding the bits to finish the house. There are some nice examples of early stenciling and that is something I did carefully and with love and research was fun. The pins were still in the four fireplaces, three were Rumford style so they threw good heat. Found wonderful fireplace cranes in eastern Connecticut, loved cooking and using the kitchen fireplace all through the year. I love that you saved this fine old place.
Boy, now that I read these comments I see how profoundly touched we All are by this. The spirit of like-minded thinkers must carry on. Wonderful wonderful.
I have to admit that I actually started crying when you showed the pictures of the restoration project...
It takes a very special human to recognize, and want to preserve the integrity of ancient architecture ...
You have done a magnificent, and obviously painstakingly, beautiful job...
It will definitely be well worth every cent spent to preserve this turn of the century farmhouse,...
Thumbs up for your true passion about the history of your beautiful house!
@
Yea, such houses should be protected
@@sergeybebenin
It would be nice, but by whom? There are tons of similar hones throughout the Northeast. The federal and state governments don't have the funds to buy and preserve all these places. Even when individuals spend the money to do this themselves, it can be impossible to recoup their losses. People don't necessarily want to buy these places if they're not economical or comfortable. For instance, the colonial home I grew up in was expensive to heat, only had one bathroom (and no room for more) and had zero closets. The fireplaces were lovely but the heat went right up the chimneys And you can't really force owners to spend their own money to restore every old house they own. Unless the place is especially historic or architecturally unique, there's not much that can be done to preserve it. Private property rights are still pretty much private. And that's probably a good thing most of the time.
How fortunate that the house found you 😊 I love the history of old houses. You have now turned the house into a beautiful home, congratulations x
absolutely stunning - so rare to find those who appreciate and preserve such fine workmanship. Would love to live in something with such depth.
1760 pre-America, before the signing of the constitution. Just amazing, I am so happy you saved this beautiful house.
You're now an integral part of this home's history. Thank you so much for rescuing it, what a labor of love.
Absolutely beautiful, beautiful homestead! I cannot believe the developer was just gonna demolish such an incredible place. Thanks for saving it!
Amazing restoration! Thank you for sharing with us!
The kitchen is perfect! Thank you so much for not putting a custom manufactured high gloss chef grade sterile kitchen in! For incorporating the walk in fireplace and making it the focal point! ?( the oven!! Swoon!)
The barn getting insulated was genius! ❤️❤️❤️
You did a fine job restoring those buildings and as an owner of a 110 year old home I can appreciate the work and passion you put into it. I can't imagine tearing down and throwing away historically significant buildings. Good for you.
This reminds me of a beautiful two story house I lived in over in PA from the 1750's. Living on the west coast I miss seeing historical buildings like your property, it seems they tear things down here if it's over 20 years old. This is a wonderful video of your restoration. Thanks for posting it.
Awesome job! Now it's time to get a metal detector and see what has been left behind in the dirt after all these years!
I love and share your aesthetic. You're a real HERO in an age of compromise and philistinism. I suggest you plant some trees to block the blight of those McMansions and preserve your sight lines.
Thanks, Steve I appreciate that. I should take your advice and plant some trees. I've already put up a fence to partially block those ticky tack monuments to philistinism!
Architecture AND history - my two favorite subjects :)
Absolutely amazing!!!! My sister and brother-in- law live In 1760 farm house as well. They would be blown away by the way you lovingly restore your farm house. Great job!!!
It’s so sweet to see the old man reminisce about his childhood! ❤️
Stunning! Full marks for having respected the original house and not turning it into something to be found in "suburbia" but leaving all the period details and adhering as much to the original as possible.
That is the most beautiful cooking fireplaces I've ever seen! I just LOVE you house. I wouldn't change a thing!
Beautiful job. I love fireplace cooking, so I really appreciated how you melded it back to the kitchen.
I have absolutely no use for developers who don't appreciate history. Your farm will outlast the all of the cardboard boxes that guy built!
I always wanted an old house. Our family farm only goes back to early 1840's, but we did the same with our siding that you did with the barn. Natural weathering, although we need to replace a few pieces now. So they'll really stick out, I'm afraid.
You did an amazing job. I feel the same way, these houses are our history and should be restored to the original. Beautiful! Thank you.
I actually live near you and I've always wondered after the new houses were built next door how the old house remained I've always thought it looked funny and now I know why thanks for uploading
I was born in Bridgeport and raised in Fairfield. I have been living in Manhattan for the past 34 years. You did a phenomenal job restoring the house and property. I wish I had one-eighth of your building talent!
Appreciate your work. That house is older than America itself. The construction of this house is amazing.
You are an incredible person to restore this beauty with integrity back to it's glory. May you have a long and blessed life in this gem. Thank you for saving this historical treasure!
Gorgeous results with your restoration work... I'm sure it was a lot of work to get all of that done, but I am so glad you were able to protect this house and to restore it to its original glory. I agree with your assessment of the quality of this home versus most modern homes; your restored home is incomparably superior in quality and aesthetics.
TVR Exploring u
I love when people like you preserve history. Beautiful!
Beautiful, sensitive, and masterful restoration Mike. We need more preservationists like you.
Wow, you did such an awesome job! Thank you for saving this treasure! Your work is absolutely beautiful. So much nicer than all the modern homes being built today.
Wow! What a gorgeous home/property!! To think this home was almost destroyed. 😥 Thank you Mike, for rescuing this incredible treasure and restoring it with such great care and attention to detail and its history.
What a beautiful job you did! So glad you saved that beauty of a house!
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication! My folks moved to the US in 1771, it was just a frontier then and still have the original farm, a century farm in Wisconsin.🏡 💕
Good for you! I've spent a lifetime restoring our 18th century Virginia home, and I know what it takes. But, even with all the frustrations, hard work and money, it is worth every penny and drop of sweat. If there were more people like you, so much of what is left of our heritage could be saved. Thanks!
Thank you for your time and patience to restore some of Connecticuts history. I lived in Old Lyme as did my family before me, starting in the early 1700's. I appreciate all the beautiful architecture and the history behind it. I can see the love of the house in your loving restoration.
Well done! Having growing up in the general area, I've seen this house many years ago. I'm glad it was not destroyed.
Newer is NOT always better.
Thank you for having that rare spirit of keeping the past alive. You now have a gem to carry on with. Houses today are mostly built to sell, not to live in. Your house will still be standing when others are sinking, leaning, and disintegrating cause of poor craftsmanship. Sleep well sir!!
Thanks for saving this house and being sensitive to its history. Our house in Vermont was completed in 1808. We're almost finished bringing it back to its former glory. A lot of work but great fun . Good for you!
You did an amazing job. So happy to see that restored to as close as original as possible. So many people buy these old places then change them to the point that they are nothing like they once were.
Those that lived here and built this are looking down and have giant grins on their faces. Man, what a treasure. Thank you for saving it and restoring it to all its glory. The way you designed the kitchen only enhances the house. A lot of thought must have went into this.
Such a beautiful house and i'm so glad you were able to save it! I hate seeing all these amazing pieces of history being torn down.
I grew up in a house built in 1720. So many architectural features were lost over the years, but it was a great little home. The cellar had walls that were 5 1/2 feet thick, and the curved stairs going from the cellar to the attic were worn as you would expect them to be. The stone work was amazingly well done, and I'm glad that it survived, albeit without some important period features. Kudos to you for keeping that adorable house alive!
Those McMansions will rot away and fall down in 30 years or so.
Unfortunately that is often our only options in our modern culture.
If you really put in some time and effort, homes with good strong bones and history still exist, in just about every city and town. The key is to envision the possibilities and potential and not to expect it to be visually perfect from the start... But, yes, if people want move in ready, without adding vision or individual personality, there is no shortage of generic homes, condos and apartments. Beige and gray boxes, void of character and just carbon copies of one another.... Thank God we still have choices. 👍🏼 😊
They won't fall down in 30 years, but they will remain ugly and probably require more costly renovations than the old place will.
No they won't lol. Everyone of you are so dang uneducated, including the guy who posted the video. Our techniques are borne of years of innovation and experience. We don't build houses like we did in the 1700s because we have INNOVATED.
@@nathanweisser you keep telling yourself that. I grew up in a 180 year old house that was built quite solid. No modern house that I've ever lived in came close to comparing to the craftsmanship of that house. I currently own an 80 old house that is also quite well built. How can anyone call the cheap chipboard and drywall houses that they built today innovative
Born and raised in CT. I miss it. What a lovely story. Thank you for the telling
Just so you know as you were telling the story i was picturing life in the 1700s as well. Thank you for what you did, and for sharing your house with the world.
Well done, I am so glad you had the vision to restore the house. Wonderful and to hear the elderly gentleman talk of his times growing up in the house. History is important and historic buildings. I live in England 🏴 so we do have some historic buildings. God bless your endeavours. I agree with you, your house is so much better to look upon than those modern buildings, it’s stunning.
wow so cool that you were able to find someone who used to live in that house . Very cool history.
I come from Savannah Ga. Savannah is loaded with historical homes that have been kept up and others that have been restored. My father was a carpenter who loved to do restoration work. I guess a lot of his love for this type of work rubbed off on me. I also love to restore homes and furniture back to it's original time period. You have done an exceptional job on your new/historic home restoration. I know it took a lot of time and money to do this. I thank you and so should the state of Connecticut.
What an AMAZING home !!! Thank you for respecting the original work in the house and putting this beauty back to her original state.
Great job! I love guys like you who put houses back the way they were meant to be and sad to think of all the old farm houses that have been torn down.
I live in the U.K the house I'm in was built in 1760 it is grade 3 listed, I CANNOT believe they were going to tear your house down, no wonder America has NO history, I think you are amazing for saving this lovely house and for the beautiful labour of love you have turned it into.
idaslpdhr I agree, America is a tear down country. They always think newer and bigger is better! This 1760 house will be here long after those new houses are gone.
That's very true, that house would have had a preservation order slapped on it so fast, unbelieveable
America has NO history? What a moronic thing to say. Do you realize how many old buildings in England have been allowed to fall down or be torn down over the years? Do you have any idea how many LISTED buildings in England are currently rotting away? Or how many have such strict rules about what's allowed and not allowed that nobody can afford to or wants to make the enormous financial commitment to restore them, so these listed buildings continue to deteriorate too? Don't be an idiot.
Obviously America has a history. Everywhere has a history. And despite the loss of many older homes and buildings in the US, we still possess a great representation of our highly varied architectural history. My county alone, which is not one of the most historic in the US, has more than 120 houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and that doesn't include other buildings and historic sites. But we have NO history? Brits need to stop this silly America bashing. You can make your point without always feeling the need to try to insult this country.
What a treasure, both the 80 year old gentleman and the house are... Thank you for saving this house...
What an amazing home. I’m a retired Medic/Firefighter here in California, but I’ve owned and operated a custom woodworking business on the side for 20 years. I’d (almost) give my left arm to live in and restore such an incredible property. Your attention to detail, and appreciation for history has given these structures an excellent shot at another 200 years. This planet needs more folks like yourself. Its too bad about the cheap construction happening nearby.
We just bought a house built in 1865 here in Michigan. The sixth generation sold the farm. It was sold to be a tear down. We fell in love and I soon realised I had to be there. After this winter I will begin a slow and painstaking rehab. It has damage from bad rehabbing and foolish stupid wall removal and damage. Still, she is alive. I do not care for new homes either. I stumbled upon your video. I feel refreshed in my efforts to come.
It is so inspiring to see someone who has restored a lovley old house with such sensitivity and love. Thank you.
What a treasure, thank you for seeing and saving this treasure. Oh, thank you for getting the man that grew up there on tape. Pruff.😀
Amazingly done, and with so much respect for our country’s heritage - as well as a testimony to our forefather’s history and culture. Thank you for posting!
And it is WONDERFUL!!!! thank you for doing this video.
Very nice, you can imagine stepping back in time and enjoying the excitement of those first owners moving in. Thanks for all your splendid work.
Your home is AMAZING !!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Thank you for keeping the integrity of this old girl ♥️
My god the golden ratio the whole bit
God bless you
You really are mindful of historic preservation and integrity!
It’s a pity the neighboring houses but whatever
You are a genius restorer. Just fantastic. My dream home. Congratulations on your hard work and achieving your dream.
Great job man. Always wondered who restored it. I did an old house in Shelton myself. Was alot of fun. Sold it and now in Trumbull. Would love to buy another someday. It's nice to see someone else imagining the history of their old house while enjoying it too!
Thank you for saving that wonderful old home, it would have been a sad shame had it been demolished people have no compassion for history! These old places are so much better than new construction so much character I just love and admire it, wonderful job you should be commended!
Thank you for saving that beautiful "older" home. That barn made an enviable workshop that any woodworker would love to have. Your approach to restoring the house was spot on in keeping it as original as possible. They have so much character with all the exposed wood.
Gorgeous! I know you are very proud of this wonderful achievement! And to think that they were planning to demolish/destroy it! I am so thrilled that you were able to buy it and restore it! Congratulations!
Wow!! This is so awesome, it's really inspirational. I don't want to restore a house, I plan on building a steel frame strawlight clay house. I hope 200 years later someone will be as passionate about my house :D
Well done. I love the vision u brought to life in this video. Lovely home. We have move to far from using the golden mean in our structures.
I always think about the life of the people that built an old home, how they carved and formed each part of the home. Love this so much!
I live in Easton and know the house, it looks wonderful. I really enjoy your channel. Stop by Vazzy's Osteria on a Thursday night and ask for me. I'll buy you a beer.
Congratulations on the restoration of this beautiful old house. May God bless your efforts and I wish you many, many years full of happy memories there.
Dude, that's a true dream home. I salute your endeavor.
Bless you for keeping the history and integrity of this beautiful home.
Listening to you, your not only knowledgeable, you a have passion for what you do. Respect towards the original builters and the interesting way you tell about history. New watcher, just subscribed.
Love your history, ideas, and restorations. Blessings.. New subscriber from mid-California!
This restoration is spectacular Mike! I briefly owned a 1791 Stone home in NJ that served as the ammunition forge for Washington's Army. I just loved it with its walk-in fireplace and 4' thick walls. Once you live in a historic house or cabin, the quality and craftsmanship and genuine materials really get to you. Everything is what looks like it is; no pretending like in modern homes. You can't live in anything else and be happy. Historic homes and cabins feel like home - they are filled with character and warmth and hug you like a warm blanket. You did good...REAL good.
charming & just perfect...love these old houses with big fireplaces, absolutely love the outside of the house too, its a beautiful little home.
I have just watch you program and I want to tell you that you have done a amazing restoration well done xx
It's lovely to see this restoration. In England I am surrounded by buildings which are 600-1000 years old: the walls to my Roman city are 2000 years old and so your 1760 house is a mere baby to us! Even so, it is so important to value and preserve the beautiful workmanship which is tangible in every square inch of these priceless constructions whichever country they were built in. I am shocked that a builder might have been able to tear your sweet house down - in the UK there would be a Graded Listing on that house. I hope your state will think again about making it illegal to destroy old buildings such as yours.
Stephe G what town in UK?
Heidi Quist I come from beautiful York. The city is Roman originally founded in 71AD and still full of medieval shops and houses. I live in Devon now. I regularly have tea in a cafe that was built in 1596 (when Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet). It's next to a pub where Sir Francis Drake used to drink. On the other side is cathedral built from c1080 onwards (on the site of a Roman bathhouse). I really appreciate it all.
Stephe G my background is in anthropology, archaeology, history, preservation and museum studies. I truly envy you.
Your intelligent appreciation of history and construction is to be admired. Your house will stand in all it’s glory when those junk boxes collapse next door. Well done!
Mike,
I hope you are well. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate this video and the work you did. From everything you talked about: restoration, hand tools, golden ratio (golden rectangle), the window panes, the trim, the blacksmithing work, etc. I feel such a love for you and the work you did and continue to do. Be assured of my prayers to Christ for you. May God bless you and your family abundantly.
Sincerely,
Ian Roberts
Wonderful job to think about the soul of this house. We need to keep these jewels of the history of our country. Thank you Mike.
I love your passion and how you lovingly breathed life back into this old house. Amazing job....
I enjoyed your enthusiasm and I am so very glad to see you restored a small house that would have been destroyed with so much attention to detail, heart and historical information. Thanks for sharing.
Breaks my heart that people can be so ignorant and selfish to tear down or thoughtlessly renovate beautiful old homes. Thank you for saving this house.