You need to be careful when buying these type of properties. Someone bought an old fire station and the city came in and said zoning laws didn't allow for the sale of the property for residential purposes. I've seen other instances of this as well.
This is one hundred percent true... it's gonna be a money pit if they do it right, especially if its heritage listed which they will have to check before just getting stuck in as you could rack up some big fines unknowingly, there's usually a reason why these places get abandoned
I'm patient why urwyebd I'm not I left long ago I'm not watching lies a fake movie fake experience fake distractions with fake children who don't exist yet but one
Please don’t just rip out all the bushes! They are worth a fortune and add value to your property. Just have someone (if you can’t do it yourself) trim and shape them. It will be interesting to watch as you renovate this beautiful property!
Yeah, definitely see if your city has an urban Forester on staff and have them maybe stop out to assess the trees. You can also look up the number to your county extension office and ask for help and see if you have anything on site that is rare and worth protection. From what I can see the only thing that actively needs to be removed is the English ivy which will eventually try and overgrow everything if unchecked. It's fine if you plan on maintaining its boundaries. Lovely building. You have a lot of work ahead of you and I wish you luck!
Don’t pull out all of the bushes. You will really regret doing that. If your property is in an area that gets a lot of rainfall you will need those bushes and trees. From seeing how much vegetation and moss around your property suggests that you do live in an era that does get lots of rainfall. If you remove them when heavy rains come you will have flooding problems. It’s amazing how much water the roots of the bushes and trees soak up the water helping to prevent erosion destroying your landscape grass and from getting into homes and buildings. I had a new neighbor than bought a house behind mine. She was young and had recently graduated from college. She decided she didn’t want to bother with the bushes that the previous owners had planted all around the house. She had them taken out and after the first big rainstorm it was a disaster for her yard and house. The bushes were not there for their roots to taken into the ground all that water and the water made its way into her house and flooded the lower level.
Please don't cut down ALL the trees and shrubs, just the ones that are damaging the foundations or completely blocking the windows. Please be careful. Once they're gone, that's it. Don't know what those pink flowering trees were, but they're beautiful. ❤
Those are Cherokee chief pink dogwoods. They take years to grow that big. Very sturdy trees. I had one that a gopher ate the root system and killed it.. :(
Awesome purchase, very interested to see your progress on this very large project. I have worked most of my life in construction management. My suggestion to people on large projects like this is always start with your roof and getting your gutters and downspouts 100% working. That damage to the back door was caused by the gutters and downspouts not working correctly. Those downspouts are connected to underground drains, make sure the work before you spend any money on the rest of this project. Trust me, if your building is not dry nothing else matters. Who knows you might read this and you might not. Once you know you're going to keep the building dry it will be easier to plan the next steps. I would love to see an inspection report on this property, I kind of geek out on coming up with solutions and priority list for homes and buildings. Take care!
I read every comment!! And yes that is the priority! This video was actually made over two weeks because of exactly that! There was a huge rainstorm and I paused filming so i could go up scoop all the gutters out and inspect the roof! Thanks for the support and the helpful insights I appreciate it!!!
Since it was a residency school or orphanage, sinks in bedrooms usually indicate either nurses or nurseries. The two small kitchens lead into that assumption also to accommodate babies, infants, toddlers. Wonderful property! Thanks for the tour.
Wonder if it was one of those schools for unwed teens from the 50's through 70's because of the small toilets in the bathrooms. My Mom told me about rich people sending their daughters to them to finish high school and bond with their babies without embarrassing the family.
Congratulations! You need to research the history of your new place so you can find out the original layout and uses of each room. I assume it was a grand mansion that was later turned into a school. For example, those rooms off the kitchen were probably butler’s pantries. The upper floor may have been servant quarters. Discovering its history will be fun.
😂 I was so excited to see the butler’s pantry! Sometimes similar types of of rooms have different names. For ex, you mentioned an enclosed porch being a sunroom; the other corner with stone flooring might’ve also been an enclosed porch renovated into a conservatory (lots of plants, that’s what makes it different from a sunroom, and typically has stone floors- is there a drain in the floor?). Sunroom types would’ve been used as art or music rooms because of the lighting. You want good lighting for painting or embroidery. The darker living room may have been a den, which tends to be darker and more likely used for evening activities that don’t need as much light (listening to teacher do morality or religious readings or knitting). The lighter living room could’ve been a “sitting room” which is often used for afternoon tea and receiving guests- think mansions where kids aren’t allowed to sit in the sitting room unless there are guests. I know some have a sitting/receiving room for guests and a family/living room for causal day-to-day activities. I might call some of the “library” type rooms to be “studies”, used for quietly reading and writing, because the space for books is limited.
@@watchere Your video was on our homepage of youtube last night when my husband and I sat down at the computer after work. I said, "Let's watch this." He agreed and we so loved it. I was excited to see that you just started your journey of posting about the process on youtube. Please don't stop sharing on here. We are excited to be following along from our home in Florida. Can I ask what state this property is located? It looks like somewhere in the northeast. You have such a great opportunity with this property. So excited for you. You may want to talk with the owners of the youtube channel Turning an old school into our house! Anyway, we wish you all the best. Keep track of costs as that would make a great video that you can do more than once to update viewers. Blessings to you!
@@watchere Yes unfortunately some people don't understand how much damage the roots of trees and shrubs can do. They are beautiful to have on a property but can cause so much damage to the structure/foundation and the plumbing system. You have to do what you have to do.
I will watch until - or if - he starts "modernizing it" beyond description. He's awfully young, and we don't yet know what his aesthetic values are. We'll wait and see!!
I'll try i'm new at this so have no clue how to have a steady hand. Bought a gimble years ago but for some reason its really shaky too! I'll watch some videos on how to get a steadier shot! Thanks for watching!
I totally agree. The walkthrough was way too fast. It's hard for the human eyes to adjust that fast. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to see what you do. It looks like a fun project
@@watchereit is not the shaking as that is level …it is more the speed you are panning the camera around as you walk through. If you slow the scanning motion you will be great. . The eye does not focus as fast as the camera does. Looks a fabulous project.
I've always wondered why people don't buy the huge abandoned buildings of businesses or schools and convert them to homes. This one in particular already LOOKS more like a home than a modern day school so you're already ahead! Can't wait to see what the plans are for this place. There is so much potential here especially for things like landscaping and just overall size. Congratulations on your new home!
Don't arbitrarily rip out all that mature shrubbery! Be selective. Some of it can just be trimmed. Once you have dealt with the gutter and roof issues you can see what local zoning and building codes will permit you to do. Both the main house and the annex have the potential for several apartments. There are two stairways to each level, the electrical system may not need many upgrades, and you have lots of plumbing already in place. As you do your planning, I hope you will show us floor plans for each area.
What a great building. It reminds me of a children's home I used to live in back in the 60's. It was originally a mansion. One side was for young girls and the other side was for older girls, and they were mirrors of each other. Each side had their own house mother who had their own private suite of rooms on the 2nd floor because they lived there 24/7 with us. They had their own living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. The house mother was in charge of the kids on their side of the house. The kids' bedrooms on the 2nd floor held 3 or 4 beds each. There were also two big bathrooms on the 2nd floor. Each side also had their own playroom where we spent most of our awake time. There were also storage closets for supplies. The ground floor had shared spaces for the building as a whole. There was the main kitchen, dining room, formal living room for special occasions, study, chapel, bathrooms, and infirmary. We did not have school rooms as the elementary school was just a few blocks away. It was a beautiful building but there was a lot of sadness from being away from our families. I look forward to following your renovation journey.
I used to be a school secretary. I retired after 29 years. Loved watching you walking through the building and IDing the rooms. It looks like it must have been a residential school, maybe a private or religious school, at one time. No room was identified as a Clinic, I am sure they had one. Also, there might have been a Music room, a Parent Conference or meeting room. The Tampon machine was probably for the Staff. One thing about schools, they use what they have, so some of those rooms may have started out as one thing and morphed into something else. You need a for real professional Landscape person to come out and give you a consultation. No doubt some of the bushes need to be removed but some are in good shape and add value. A professional Landscaper would be able to tell you which ones are which. Hope you are starting with the roof. So many don't and then regret it. It is a beautiful old place. Really lovely and has so much potential. Just subscribed and looking forward to watching the magic unfold.
Id get a gardener in to trim up all the hedges and bushes. They can all be cut back hard to get back to a lower level, but It hink once they are all cleaned up and maintained you will really enjoy them.
That's a lifetime project, if I had the time and money, I would love to restore an abandoned mansion or castle to live in, that sure would keep my tinkering mind busy till old age 😅
Agreed and it's all about respecting nature. There is NO reason to remove those bushes ect. I'd RESPECT the trees ect have them apart of the property 😇
I hope you're appreciating what a diamond in the rough you've got there. Those green and pink tiles and sinks and other bathroom fixtures are worth a lot. If you don't like them, you can sell them. They are collectors items and people will pay a lot for them in the right places, assuming you can get them to places where people want them. Hopefully you like them though. All of the windows and just everything is really amazing. It's going to be absolutely stunning when you fix it up. The roof is number one and you're right the gutters. After that you can peck away at things. It would be nice if you would introduce yourself a little bit and tell us why you like this place, what you're planning to do with it and so forth, it would inform the tour a little bit and give us more of a feel for what's going on here. How many people plan to live in it etc etc. And also what part of the country is it in. Finally, I used to be a theater teacher and so I can't help but give you one other little piece of advice. When you speak, each of your sentences ends with an upward inflection, almost like you're asking a question. If you listen to actors you will see that they don't do that, and maybe you can work on that a little bit. Good luck on your endeavors. You're really on to something great!
The bushes provide privacy, the area with the industrial fridge is a butlers pantry. I hope restore her back to her original glory. I hate when they take these historic homes and make schools or office spaces. Rip down those partitions, and get this beautiful room back to their huge glory! I can't wait to see what u do with this beauty 😍
I hate when people buy these beautiful buildings and cluelessly rip out everything that made the property charming. If you can't afford to or won't do a thoughtful update, leave the house alone and go and buy an ugly pile on some blasted sub-division.
Ditto others who've exclaimed, "Please don't rip out all the bushes!!!". Everything against the house (plantings) have taken years to become the size they need to be for such a grand house, particularly the arborvitae & other evergreens. Even the tall grasses are interesting in the parking area. Certainly a landscape designer...not just a garden center person, would be a great place to start your grounds rehab. Oh boy, how I'd love to bring the splendor back to the outside! It will be pure pleasure for whom ever gets to do the job. Meanwhile, you might think about not tearing stuff out until you've owned it for a bit. The property is stunning...building & grounds. You've got a handful of exciting work ahead of you! Enjoy the journey!
It’s gorgeous and has a ln amazing vintage look. The quality fit out is very sought after. Perhaps dedicate a wing to future children. It’s too inice to rip out, particularly if there’s multiple restrooms.
Ngl, that is an artist's dream house with many art studios they could choose from. Very nice property indeed, just hope nothing creepy or bad juju inhabits it.
I don't want to be a part of fake history we lied about with a selfish asshole who lied about everything raie cheating repeats it's over its kues human never existed 16 children are dead the dr dead im doing something else privately in Jesus name amen
For future videos, please slow down, some of us like to look and I get dizzy with all the fast movement. I would love to watch your videos, but I won't be able to if you don't slow your camera movements down. Awesome place though! I would love to see what you do with it!
Agreed. Trim, prune, remove overgrowth, clean gutters, implement general maintenance first. Solve water drainage issues next, to prevent further damage. Make small part safe from mold etc and livable and live with it for awhile before you start tearing things apart. Plan, think, revise plan, get advice, do research on history of property, you may find some interesting history worth preserving. I’m subscribing so I can be part of your journey. Thanks for sharing, good luck.
Ambitious project. You will have lots of blood sweat and tears ahead but the reward will be so worth it. I am working on my 100 year old house and just spent 3 months scraping down the basement wall and floor. If you ever feel like quitting just take a couple days off. I wanted to document my journey but I didn’t have the energy. I am looking forward to following yours. Hello from Central New York.
I see why you fell in love with this building. It's so large that I would envision separate apartments. Each unit would be so charming if you retain the original windows and floors. Lots of potential. Wishing you good luck in renovations and lots of joy when the project is completed.
That’s really nice. I’d totally live on one side and make it a huge house just for me and then the other side I’d make it into apartments and rent them out and let it help pay for itself. I can’t wait to see what you do with it. I love the cabinets in the butlers kitchen. That closet with the door that opens up top and a separate one on the bottom is a laundry collection closet. You can put your laundry hamper in there and then take it out of the bottom on laundry day.
@@rutheparker9006 me too! I would love to have a big budget and just restore everything and make the kid bathrooms into community adult bathrooms and just rent out the rooms and let the cash flow and let it pay for itself while I live in the other half of it and making it a big house pretty much for my family. It’s beautiful! ❤️
If the school was originally built as a house, the "weird-door-safe-thing" could have been a fur vault. If the inner walls are lined with cedar, that would have been its intended use.
It could also have been used to lock up medications or hold important confidential documents (ie adoption records)🌻if it was an orphanage or a home for unwed mothers.
Fur makes sense to me, since that would’ve been the main type of winter coat, plus hats and muffs. Maybe locking up valuables, like the pearls that a girl is supposed to wear on Sundays? I agree with someone else’s idea of a girls boarding school- girls would have specific accessories that would be valuable or need special care, as part of the etiquette/finishing types of classes.
Holy Sheiks ! This feels like those dreams I used to have where I was in a big beautiful house, but it was so big, I kept getting lost!! Can't wait to follow along.
It is charming, haven't seen the inside yet. But just have the bushes pruned and the small repairs in sidewalks and clean the rock or brick wall. Very nice.
Sweet! finally someone is actually doing something with a school instead of tearing it down. Just make sure to get an inspector in there so that you'll know how much damage there is that can't be seen. Also, what rooms do you plan to make into what? Maybe could keep the natural look of the fireplaces and just convert them to electric or gas. Also, if that big fridge still works should keep it then you won't have to get a new fridge.
The bedrooms with the sinks at the back of the house were most likely the servants quarters. That would also be why there were those doors to close between the front and back. I think this was a very grand house in its day with sitting rooms beside the major bedrooms. It would be good to do some historical research into the building. All the original woodwork downstairs in the kitchen and the butler’s pantry are beautiful. The closets upstairs are equally wonderful.
@@d.e.little5387 the school addition was built in 1950. The original house is much older. There were people who had servants that they hired like maids, cooks, butler, etc. There still are on some huge estates.
It would be neat to see you decorate with historical photos of the place, if you find any, maybe in the hallway or one of the office spaces. Now I want one of the library rooms to be filled with leather bound books embossed with gold leaf. 😂
And can have a B&B since it was a school your in a zoned already so that’s something to look into especially summers when hotels are booked out 🥰 especially for the holidays
@@WastedTalent- Not always true. You can waive inspection especially if you are buying it without a mortgage. A-lot of foreclosures require you to waive inspection as well, because they are sold as is.
6:27 - I think the bathroom beside the offices was dual purpose for faculty since the toilet room is separate from the kitchen area. Looks like a small fridge was in there at one point too with the microwave. 🙃 Loving the video!! ❤
I would say it definitely has asbestos, however being a boarding school for young children I think they would have done lots of work to make sure it wasnt a problem. But we wont know until its checked! Thanks for the comment!
OMGosh! I am here for it And can't wait to follow along. I wish I had patron cash or superchat funds. The best I can do is watch ALL your monetized vids and ads all the way through as often as possible to help offset your costs. This building needs to be saved. I am so happy for you and your family! That suite of rooms on the top floor, I think would have been the headmasters quarters, hench the first kitchen. Then the smaller rooms were likely either teachers or maids rooms and they shared the second kitchen. What great spaces! Sad to think you'll likely lose the crunch basket weave tile in the top floor bath, but if you can as much of the mosaic bathroom tile on the lower levels as possible, that would be so awesome!
My suggestion, go to the local library and see what yearbooks are available at this school. It would give you a better idea of how each space was used.
I suggest a condo conversion. You and your family can live in part. You call sell others condos and carry the notes for income if you like. Do not remove the shrubbery. Just cut it down low til you have decided on the landscaping. I suggest you contact a landscape program like the one at UCLA. Present the students with a contest to submit plans to you. Just some ideas. Good luck looks like a great project.
Looks like a great project! Congrats on the purchase. A few things I think most people would like to know though are what was the purchase price and what do you anticipate your renovation costs will be in this period of high inflation? Also, what city in Pennsylvania is that property located in? It appears to be a very large building for just a single person to be living in so is your plan to split the building into several units or just one very large home? Get your roof repaired, gutters cleaned and repaired and your windows sealed. Before you do anything make sure every square foot of the building is watertight. I look forward to following your project!
First, please don’t listen to the criticisms. If you were to ask they would never take on a job that size. I commend you and can’t wait to watch your progress and be on this journey with you. Hang in there. Your videos are just fine
Wow, how fantastic!! The plants and greenery are absolutely beautiful, the windows are amazing, the bathrooms and all that wonderful colored tile is so cute and unique. I am so excited to watch your journey, thank you so much for posting this!!
I worked in a converted nunnery, sinks in the bedrooms was for live in staff, it freeed up the bathroom for large numbers of people living in one place.
I’m so excited to have found your channel at the start of this journey. I agree with many commenters about slowing down and I can’t wait to see how your filming and editing improves as you go along. Even now, you are doing much better than I ever could 🤣 I’m looking forward to many more videos!
Thanks for the support! Im going to definitely slow down more and work on the camera stability! Also dont be so critical of yourself! "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" You got this!
I always wanted to buy an old school and make it into a home, with lots of guestrooms for family and friends to visit...or maybe lots room for my cats to play in haha
You're so blessed to be able to do this! Many rooms to figure out. I'm for losing the bushes, tough. You may be able to find someone to gently dig them up & take them. The walkway needs some sort of cobblestones, or concrete "walk maker" paths with less bushes and more flowering plants. If it was mine, I'd dedicate a large area to an indoor pool, with some sort of conservatory / aviary / greenhouse vibe. Also a bright, sunny, simple gym. The kitchen, I swear I could smell middle school pizza day. Oh, and all of those colored tiles & toilets can be sold to an architectular salvage yard. Let them bid on price if they remove it. Same with old woodwork, trim, fireplaces, etc. (Look up Black Dog Salvage. They used to have a t.v. show). Best wishes
This building has so much potential! I don't know if I missed what the future plans were but this would make a great venue space with kitchen for catering(!!!) (the old school section), with a B&B (the dorms?) attached for people who are having a gathering with people coming in from out of town! I'm thinking weddings or reunions! but would be great for lots of occasions. The yard looks enclosed or close to it making it safe for pets and children to play in. The potential is limitless and I look forward to watching!
Please try and keep the mature trees. They are beautiful and will provide you with shade in the hot summer. Also the bushes. Please think about just trimming them back.
Subscribed! Cannot wait to see this astounding property meet its potential as a grand residence. The potential is giving me chills. The grounds are not too overwhelming, and allow the building to have significant presence. At the same time, it seems the surroundings place your future home at the heart of what looks like a lovely community. The sunroom is stunning. Imagine a library!! Certainly requires some considerable thought regarding your floorplan-I’m curious if your background is within architectural design or around property development. My enthusiasm is hopefully going to fuel your efforts, and I cannot wait to receive notifications to watch it unfold. Best of luck to you. 😊
I'm Excited to see it unfold. I'm so glad you are going to share it on TH-cam! Thank you. 😊 I don't think you need fancy equipment or technique; just panning a bit slower would be perfect. Trying to get the whole building tour into this first video probably made you go a bit faster. Your voice is soothing. 🙂
I don't think you made a mistake. If you have the money and hopefully no foundation problems then it will be a beautiful conversation back to a residence. Older homes had winter and summer kitchens for temperature control of the home. You could convert the property into two large apartments or a vacation rental in the future with that second kitchen if they will give you a permit.
I made a new tour video with less shaky footage here:
th-cam.com/video/aHYh20gqQm8/w-d-xo.html
Wow...fascinating! How did you find this building?
I'm coming to spend the night 🌃
You need to be careful when buying these type of properties. Someone bought an old fire station and the city came in and said zoning laws didn't allow for the sale of the property for residential purposes. I've seen other instances of this as well.
This looks like a private school. I wish I could do this. I'd love to live in old buildings.
Congratulations! May your pockets be deep and your patience plentiful.
This is one hundred percent true... it's gonna be a money pit if they do it right, especially if its heritage listed which they will have to check before just getting stuck in as you could rack up some big fines unknowingly, there's usually a reason why these places get abandoned
Judging by the cars in the driveway, the pockets are suitably deep.
I'm patient why urwyebd I'm not I left long ago I'm not watching lies a fake movie fake experience fake distractions with fake children who don't exist yet but one
In Jesus name amen
Ur very selfish I can't marry u josh ur selfish
The potential is off the charts. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Totally agree
Please don’t just rip out all the bushes! They are worth a fortune and add value to your property. Just have someone (if you can’t do it yourself) trim and shape them. It will be interesting to watch as you renovate this beautiful property!
I'll try to keep as many as i can! Thanks for the suggestion!
Yeah, definitely see if your city has an urban Forester on staff and have them maybe stop out to assess the trees. You can also look up the number to your county extension office and ask for help and see if you have anything on site that is rare and worth protection.
From what I can see the only thing that actively needs to be removed is the English ivy which will eventually try and overgrow everything if unchecked.
It's fine if you plan on maintaining its boundaries.
Lovely building. You have a lot of work ahead of you and I wish you luck!
Yeah, some of those bushes will cost $100+ a pop to replace. A hedge trimmer would be a cheaper investment.
Don’t pull out all of the bushes. You will really regret doing that. If your property is in an area that gets a lot of rainfall you will need those bushes and trees. From seeing how much vegetation and moss around your property suggests that you do live in an era that does get lots of rainfall. If you remove them when heavy rains come you will have flooding problems. It’s amazing how much water the roots of the bushes and trees soak up the water helping to prevent erosion destroying your landscape grass and from getting into homes and buildings. I had a new neighbor than bought a house behind mine. She was young and had recently graduated from college. She decided she didn’t want to bother with the bushes that the previous owners had planted all around the house. She had them taken out and after the first big rainstorm it was a disaster for her yard and house. The bushes were not there for their roots to taken into the ground all that water and the water made its way into her house and flooded the lower level.
The bushes also = PRIVACY for your family/property!
You can totally turn the compound into beds & breakfast with your home attached.
Yes, it could be a big money maker for sure.
What a good idea !
Or apartments. It depends how much work they want to do from day to day. There is a greater need for long-term housing than for B&B's
IMPAIRED WAITER! Just because they are an INANIMATE OBJECT does not make them Stupid!😎
Great place for a multigenerational family. Heck, even brothers, sisters and their kids too.
Please don't cut down ALL the trees and shrubs, just the ones that are damaging the foundations or completely blocking the windows. Please be careful. Once they're gone, that's it. Don't know what those pink flowering trees were, but they're beautiful. ❤
Those are Cherokee chief pink dogwoods. They take years to grow that big. Very sturdy trees. I had one that a gopher ate the root system and killed it.. :(
They just need a good gardener/ landscaper to do a nice cleanup and cut them way back correctly. They add value and beauty to the house. Beautiful.
Awesome purchase, very interested to see your progress on this very large project. I have worked most of my life in construction management. My suggestion to people on large projects like this is always start with your roof and getting your gutters and downspouts 100% working. That damage to the back door was caused by the gutters and downspouts not working correctly. Those downspouts are connected to underground drains, make sure the work before you spend any money on the rest of this project. Trust me, if your building is not dry nothing else matters. Who knows you might read this and you might not. Once you know you're going to keep the building dry it will be easier to plan the next steps. I would love to see an inspection report on this property, I kind of geek out on coming up with solutions and priority list for homes and buildings. Take care!
I read every comment!! And yes that is the priority! This video was actually made over two weeks because of exactly that! There was a huge rainstorm and I paused filming so i could go up scoop all the gutters out and inspect the roof! Thanks for the support and the helpful insights I appreciate it!!!
@@watchereremember to check those DRAINS...IF DRAINS ARE CLOGGED or SLOWED... Much damage is unseen.
I said same thing: roof roof roof & get rid of moisture inside. Interior Walls had peeling paint which means moisture & thats No Good.
@@watchere, I did look but couldn't find it: WHERE is this located, and WHAT was the name of the school? Please...
I agree with this comment about the roof. I used to work for a roofer and you can't do anything inside until the roof is done
Since it was a residency school or orphanage, sinks in bedrooms usually indicate either nurses or nurseries. The two small kitchens lead into that assumption also to accommodate babies, infants, toddlers. Wonderful property! Thanks for the tour.
Wonder if it was one of those schools for unwed teens from the 50's through 70's because of the small toilets in the bathrooms. My Mom told me about rich people sending their daughters to them to finish high school and bond with their babies without embarrassing the family.
Congratulations! You need to research the history of your new place so you can find out the original layout and uses of each room. I assume it was a grand mansion that was later turned into a school. For example, those rooms off the kitchen were probably butler’s pantries. The upper floor may have been servant quarters. Discovering its history will be fun.
I thought that too. It looked like an old home turned into a school with the fireplaces in the rooms.
I'd say it was a girl's boarding school. Classrooms and living quarters, students and teachers perhaps. The preponderance of "Pink" says Girls School.
@@stldesperado8184 Thank you because the bathtubs in a school were making scratch my head.
😂 I was so excited to see the butler’s pantry!
Sometimes similar types of of rooms have different names. For ex, you mentioned an enclosed porch being a sunroom; the other corner with stone flooring might’ve also been an enclosed porch renovated into a conservatory (lots of plants, that’s what makes it different from a sunroom, and typically has stone floors- is there a drain in the floor?). Sunroom types would’ve been used as art or music rooms because of the lighting. You want good lighting for painting or embroidery.
The darker living room may have been a den, which tends to be darker and more likely used for evening activities that don’t need as much light (listening to teacher do morality or religious readings or knitting). The lighter living room could’ve been a “sitting room” which is often used for afternoon tea and receiving guests- think mansions where kids aren’t allowed to sit in the sitting room unless there are guests. I know some have a sitting/receiving room for guests and a family/living room for causal day-to-day activities.
I might call some of the “library” type rooms to be “studies”, used for quietly reading and writing, because the space for books is limited.
With cinder block walls? Unlikely
This building has a lot of charm, I like the architecture
Please don't mow down all the beautiful 🙏 shrubs and trees. Trimming is all that is necessary. ❤
I'll try to keep as much as I can! Some are dying and some root systems are going into the building!
@@watchere Your video was on our homepage of youtube last night when my husband and I sat down at the computer after work. I said, "Let's watch this." He agreed and we so loved it. I was excited to see that you just started your journey of posting about the process on youtube. Please don't stop sharing on here. We are excited to be following along from our home in Florida. Can I ask what state this property is located? It looks like somewhere in the northeast. You have such a great opportunity with this property. So excited for you. You may want to talk with the owners of the youtube channel Turning an old school into our house! Anyway, we wish you all the best. Keep track of costs as that would make a great video that you can do more than once to update viewers. Blessings to you!
@@watchere Yes unfortunately some people don't understand how much damage the roots of trees and shrubs can do. They are beautiful to have on a property but can cause so much damage to the structure/foundation and the plumbing system. You have to do what you have to do.
OMG, what a dream! Amazing house! I hope You have 67 children to fill all of those bedrooms 💀
It would make a great orphanage.
So glad it wasn’t vandalised it looks like a mansion . Gonna be watching every video 👍👍👍
I will watch until - or if - he starts "modernizing it" beyond description. He's awfully young, and we don't yet know what his aesthetic values are. We'll wait and see!!
That doesn’t look like a school it looks like a mansion so pretty!!! The landscaping all of it!! Congratulations!!
I am excited to follow your journey. One suggestion I have, slow down when moving the camera around. It was making me dizzy.
I'll try i'm new at this so have no clue how to have a steady hand. Bought a gimble years ago but for some reason its really shaky too! I'll watch some videos on how to get a steadier shot! Thanks for watching!
I totally agree. The walkthrough was way too fast. It's hard for the human eyes to adjust that fast.
Otherwise, I'm looking forward to see what you do. It looks like a fun project
While he's learning cut speed to fifty and mute.
Great project. I can’t wait to follow your progress. I would suggest moving a little slower. 😊
@@watchereit is not the shaking as that is level …it is more the speed you are panning the camera around as you walk through. If you slow the scanning motion you will be great. . The eye does not focus as fast as the camera does. Looks a fabulous project.
I've always wondered why people don't buy the huge abandoned buildings of businesses or schools and convert them to homes. This one in particular already LOOKS more like a home than a modern day school so you're already ahead! Can't wait to see what the plans are for this place. There is so much potential here especially for things like landscaping and just overall size. Congratulations on your new home!
My thoughts exactly!
Don't arbitrarily rip out all that mature shrubbery! Be selective. Some of it can just be trimmed. Once you have dealt with the gutter and roof issues you can see what local zoning and building codes will permit you to do. Both the main house and the annex have the potential for several apartments. There are two stairways to each level, the electrical system may not need many upgrades, and you have lots of plumbing already in place. As you do your planning, I hope you will show us floor plans for each area.
I agree please be judicious in tree and shrub removal.
You make me dizzy! Slow down!
Once the plants are removed it can take years to replace your mistake.We learned the hard way.
What a great building. It reminds me of a children's home I used to live in back in the 60's. It was originally a mansion. One side was for young girls and the other side was for older girls, and they were mirrors of each other. Each side had their own house mother who had their own private suite of rooms on the 2nd floor because they lived there 24/7 with us. They had their own living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. The house mother was in charge of the kids on their side of the house. The kids' bedrooms on the 2nd floor held 3 or 4 beds each. There were also two big bathrooms on the 2nd floor. Each side also had their own playroom where we spent most of our awake time. There were also storage closets for supplies. The ground floor had shared spaces for the building as a whole. There was the main kitchen, dining room, formal living room for special occasions, study, chapel, bathrooms, and infirmary. We did not have school rooms as the elementary school was just a few blocks away. It was a beautiful building but there was a lot of sadness from being away from our families. I look forward to following your renovation journey.
Was that a boarding school for the rich kids.
A children’s home is more like a large foster situation, I think.
You own a castle. The inside is in good shape. Lots of possibilities.
What a grand house with so much potential. I will be interested to watch the progress as you restore it back to a private residence again.
Thanks for the support and me too! Hopefully it goes smoothly though I'm sure we are going to be in for some suprises!
I used to be a school secretary. I retired after 29 years. Loved watching you walking through the building and IDing the rooms. It looks like it must have been a residential school, maybe a private or religious school, at one time. No room was identified as a Clinic, I am sure they had one. Also, there might have been a Music room, a Parent Conference or meeting room. The Tampon machine was probably for the Staff. One thing about schools, they use what they have, so some of those rooms may have started out as one thing and morphed into something else.
You need a for real professional Landscape person to come out and give you a consultation. No doubt some of the bushes need to be removed but some are in good shape and add value. A professional Landscaper would be able to tell you which ones are which.
Hope you are starting with the roof. So many don't and then regret it. It is a beautiful old place. Really lovely and has so much potential. Just subscribed and looking forward to watching the magic unfold.
Id get a gardener in to trim up all the hedges and bushes. They can all be cut back hard to get back to a lower level, but It hink once they are all cleaned up and maintained you will really enjoy them.
That's a lifetime project, if I had the time and money, I would love to restore an abandoned mansion or castle to live in, that sure would keep my tinkering mind busy till old age 😅
Please keep the bushes. They add so much charm to the building. Just get them trimmed up and they will look great.
Agreed and it's all about respecting nature. There is NO reason to remove those bushes ect. I'd RESPECT the trees ect have them apart of the property 😇
You scored. The doors and the door knobs! Those transom windows. There is so much potential. This is very exciting, thanks for the video.
I hope you're appreciating what a diamond in the rough you've got there. Those green and pink tiles and sinks and other bathroom fixtures are worth a lot. If you don't like them, you can sell them. They are collectors items and people will pay a lot for them in the right places, assuming you can get them to places where people want them. Hopefully you like them though. All of the windows and just everything is really amazing. It's going to be absolutely stunning when you fix it up. The roof is number one and you're right the gutters. After that you can peck away at things. It would be nice if you would introduce yourself a little bit and tell us why you like this place, what you're planning to do with it and so forth, it would inform the tour a little bit and give us more of a feel for what's going on here. How many people plan to live in it etc etc. And also what part of the country is it in. Finally, I used to be a theater teacher and so I can't help but give you one other little piece of advice. When you speak, each of your sentences ends with an upward inflection, almost like you're asking a question. If you listen to actors you will see that they don't do that, and maybe you can work on that a little bit. Good luck on your endeavors. You're really on to something great!
I'm doing something else I don't do diamond in the rough u can im doing something else
@@ellevictory1339❓❓❓❓
The Beautiful Pink trees and green trees and Green bushes are very and the Purple trees are very Beautiful ❤❤
I slowed the video by 1/2 speed in order not to get dizzy. This is a lovely building, best luck to you on this project.
So right !
Agreed much better he was going to fast
People are interested in your plans, but we are also interested in the history of the building.
The bushes provide privacy, the area with the industrial fridge is a butlers pantry. I hope restore her back to her original glory. I hate when they take these historic homes and make schools or office spaces. Rip down those partitions, and get this beautiful room back to their huge glory! I can't wait to see what u do with this beauty 😍
I hate when people buy these beautiful buildings and cluelessly rip out everything that made the property charming. If you can't afford to or won't do a thoughtful update, leave the house alone and go and buy an ugly pile on some blasted sub-division.
This was a school previously
I don't think it's historical as built in 1955 .But it would be interesting to see if it was built as school or originally something else .
Ditto others who've exclaimed, "Please don't rip out all the bushes!!!". Everything against the house (plantings) have taken years to become the size they need to be for such a grand house, particularly the arborvitae & other evergreens. Even the tall grasses are interesting in the parking area. Certainly a landscape designer...not just a garden center person, would be a great place to start your grounds rehab. Oh boy, how I'd love to bring the splendor back to the outside! It will be pure pleasure for whom ever gets to do the job. Meanwhile, you might think about not tearing stuff out until you've owned it for a bit.
The property is stunning...building & grounds. You've got a handful of exciting work ahead of you! Enjoy the journey!
Keep the pink vintage bath for sure. You can’t find quality like that today. Even the tile was great.
I said the same thing out loud when watching with my husband last night. I would so keep that pink bathroom!
It’s gorgeous and has a ln amazing vintage look. The quality fit out is very sought after. Perhaps dedicate a wing to future children. It’s too inice to rip out, particularly if there’s multiple restrooms.
Ngl, that is an artist's dream house with many art studios they could choose from. Very nice property indeed, just hope nothing creepy or bad juju inhabits it.
Nothing bad has happened here as far as i know, no bad juju feelings yet!
Dude this is gonna be an monumental amount of work. Hope you have deep, deep pockets and or time or both.
I don't want to be a part of fake history we lied about with a selfish asshole who lied about everything raie cheating repeats it's over its kues human never existed 16 children are dead the dr dead im doing something else privately in Jesus name amen
Found this completely by accident but this is super cool man. That would be an awesome project, expensive but awesome
For future videos, please slow down, some of us like to look and I get dizzy with all the fast movement. I would love to watch your videos, but I won't be able to if you don't slow your camera movements down. Awesome place though! I would love to see what you do with it!
Thanks for the insight! I work on it! And thanks for the support!
No one exists yet it's all lies fake why do I have to be hypnotized 😵💫 to care fight tne last fake 4 years.
I’d like to see the bushes all trimmed up before removing them. After trimmed and shaped they might just be considered an asset instead of an eyesore.
I hope you don't remove all the bushes, consider investing in a landscape consultation.
Definately on the list!!! So many things to worry about first but the landscape definitely needs love!
It's worth asking someone who knows the local plants, which are worth saving, which should be removed, etc.
Agreed. Trim, prune, remove overgrowth, clean gutters, implement general maintenance first. Solve water drainage issues next, to prevent further damage. Make small part safe from mold etc and livable and live with it for awhile before you start tearing things apart. Plan, think, revise plan, get advice, do research on history of property, you may find some interesting history worth preserving. I’m subscribing so I can be part of your journey. Thanks for sharing, good luck.
That is so beautiful thank you for showing this 💜❤ the trees and the big Purple tree and bushes are very Beautiful they make the place
10:03 - "Here's a tampon dispenser... I don't know why..." LOL (spoken like a true man!) lol
Yeah haha men don't know why women need tampons! Lololol
I know right?? As a women I laughed out loud when he said that! 😄
This was in the main house, not the school so I understood his confusion.
@@teresayeates3437 lol
@@teresayeates3437 In addition its on a children's floor made for children 3-6 years old. It is also coin operated
Wow! This will be quite the project! Can’t wait to see how you renovate everything. Love all the fireplaces, all the rooms, and all the potential .
I agree, slow down your making us all dizzy.
Thank you! Will try to slow down in future videos!
Ambitious project. You will have lots of blood sweat and tears ahead but the reward will be so worth it.
I am working on my 100 year old house and just spent 3 months scraping down the basement wall and floor.
If you ever feel like quitting just take a couple days off. I wanted to document my journey but I didn’t have the energy. I am looking forward to following yours. Hello from Central New York.
Wow! I'm gonna need a map! Best of luck. It'll be interesting to learn your story as we go along.
I'll post a floor layout when I figure it out myself haha!
@@watchere Great idea!
I see why you fell in love with this building. It's so large that I would envision separate apartments. Each unit would be so charming if you retain the original windows and floors. Lots of potential. Wishing you good luck in renovations and lots of joy when the project is completed.
im in north central WV. if youre in the pitt area youre pretty close. about 2 1/2 hours. im so jealous. its lovely. glad youre saving the old girl.
Thanks! We are not far at all!!
Seems tagged Pennsylvania
That’s really nice. I’d totally live on one side and make it a huge house just for me and then the other side I’d make it into apartments and rent them out and let it help pay for itself. I can’t wait to see what you do with it. I love the cabinets in the butlers kitchen. That closet with the door that opens up top and a separate one on the bottom is a laundry collection closet. You can put your laundry hamper in there and then take it out of the bottom on laundry day.
I love all the tile floors!
@@rutheparker9006 me too! I would love to have a big budget and just restore everything and make the kid bathrooms into community adult bathrooms and just rent out the rooms and let the cash flow and let it pay for itself while I live in the other half of it and making it a big house pretty much for my family. It’s beautiful! ❤️
The house is beautiful. This reno will be so much fun to watch
Thanks for the support!
This is absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to see what you do with it
Thank you! 😊
If the school was originally built as a house, the "weird-door-safe-thing" could have been a fur vault. If the inner walls are lined with cedar, that would have been its intended use.
It could also have been used to lock up medications or hold important confidential documents (ie adoption records)🌻if it was an orphanage or a home for unwed mothers.
@@rhondaloveloveloves9551 Umm but why would it be on the Kids housing side of the property 🤨in the hallway of the living quarters
Fur makes sense to me, since that would’ve been the main type of winter coat, plus hats and muffs. Maybe locking up valuables, like the pearls that a girl is supposed to wear on Sundays? I agree with someone else’s idea of a girls boarding school- girls would have specific accessories that would be valuable or need special care, as part of the etiquette/finishing types of classes.
Holy Sheiks ! This feels like those dreams I used to have where I was in a big beautiful house, but it was so big, I kept getting lost!! Can't wait to follow along.
Oh, I can't wait to see how this project turns out. Excited to watch the journey because there is so much potential here!
Thanks for the support! Me too! I think once the building is back to its former glory will have to decide what to do with all the rooms!
Rent them out, maybe office space?
The property is gorgeous including all the trees and shrubbery. ❤❤
This should be interesting. Please post regularly, and feel free to share EVERYTHING. 🤓
It is charming, haven't seen the inside yet. But just have the bushes pruned and the small repairs in sidewalks and clean the rock or brick wall. Very nice.
Idk how this place hasn't been vandalized to hell and back in the two years its been abandoned.
It's in a good neighborhood?
Sweet! finally someone is actually doing something with a school instead of tearing it down. Just make sure to get an inspector in there so that you'll know how much damage there is that can't be seen. Also, what rooms do you plan to make into what? Maybe could keep the natural look of the fireplaces and just convert them to electric or gas. Also, if that big fridge still works should keep it then you won't have to get a new fridge.
The bedrooms with the sinks at the back of the house were most likely the servants quarters. That would also be why there were those doors to close between the front and back. I think this was a very grand house in its day with sitting rooms beside the major bedrooms. It would be good to do some historical research into the building. All the original woodwork downstairs in the kitchen and the butler’s pantry are beautiful. The closets upstairs are equally wonderful.
That makes sense! I will do an episode on the history!
Look up the history of the property, you may find many old photos of how it looked back then. Also are you going to restore or renovate?
He said built in 1950... Doubt if there were SERVANT quarters...
@@d.e.little5387 the school addition was built in 1950. The original house is much older. There were people who had servants that they hired like maids, cooks, butler, etc. There still are on some huge estates.
It would be neat to see you decorate with historical photos of the place, if you find any, maybe in the hallway or one of the office spaces.
Now I want one of the library rooms to be filled with leather bound books embossed with gold leaf. 😂
And can have a B&B since it was a school your in a zoned already so that’s something to look into especially summers when hotels are booked out 🥰 especially for the holidays
Be careful! Test for asbestos and lead paint.
I came here to see if anyone said this. PLEASE test for this before you start working.
That's usually done before closing.
@@WastedTalent- you gonna just trust your life in the hands of someone who definitely couldn’t give one fuck about you? lol
@@WastedTalent- Not always true. You can waive inspection especially if you are buying it without a mortgage. A-lot of foreclosures require you to waive inspection as well, because they are sold as is.
My goodness.....its so freaking big. Good thing you're young! But what a fun thing to save this place. Good for you.
I can't imagine what you'll do with all this space! Can't wait to see all the changes. Good luck!
What a beautiful property, with so much potential!! Can't wait to watch you transform it!! Best of luck on this wonderful adventure!!
Looking forward to watching your restore journey!
6:27 - I think the bathroom beside the offices was dual purpose for faculty since the toilet room is separate from the kitchen area. Looks like a small fridge was in there at one point too with the microwave. 🙃 Loving the video!! ❤
This is really cool if something is built before the 1990s you need to have it checked for asbestos
I would say it definitely has asbestos, however being a boarding school for young children I think they would have done lots of work to make sure it wasnt a problem. But we wont know until its checked! Thanks for the comment!
@@watchere definitely do not assume at any point that anyone did 'the right thing' for a commercial location
Keep the bushes! Hire a landscaping crew and they'll fix them up for ya, those are wayyy over grown but will look beautiful trimmed
commenting for the algorithm, subbed for the journey. the finished project will be insane
Thanks DrAndyDOesMagic
I am in agreement with you on this!
I know you will love it! My house was built in 1950, it has a charm that newer houses just don't have.
OMGosh! I am here for it And can't wait to follow along. I wish I had patron cash or superchat funds. The best I can do is watch ALL your monetized vids and ads all the way through as often as possible to help offset your costs.
This building needs to be saved. I am so happy for you and your family!
That suite of rooms on the top floor, I think would have been the headmasters quarters, hench the first kitchen. Then the smaller rooms were likely either teachers or maids rooms and they shared the second kitchen.
What great spaces!
Sad to think you'll likely lose the crunch basket weave tile in the top floor bath, but if you can as much of the mosaic bathroom tile on the lower levels as possible, that would be so awesome!
My suggestion, go to the local library and see what yearbooks are available at this school. It would give you a better idea of how each space was used.
great idea!
I suggest a condo conversion. You and your family can live in part. You call sell others condos and carry the notes for income if you like. Do not remove the shrubbery. Just cut it down low til you have decided on the landscaping. I suggest you contact a landscape program like the one at UCLA. Present the students with a contest to submit plans to you. Just some ideas. Good luck looks like a great project.
Leaving my comment here, subbing and following your journey! The building isnt too damage and still have lots of structured potential!!!!
Awesome, thank you!
Looks like a great project! Congrats on the purchase. A few things I think most people would like to know though are what was the purchase price and what do you anticipate your renovation costs will be in this period of high inflation? Also, what city in Pennsylvania is that property located in? It appears to be a very large building for just a single person to be living in so is your plan to split the building into several units or just one very large home? Get your roof repaired, gutters cleaned and repaired and your windows sealed. Before you do anything make sure every square foot of the building is watertight. I look forward to following your project!
Beautiful and timeless design. I’ve seen new houses built in that style for millions of dollars. Best of luck with the renovation.
First, please don’t listen to the criticisms. If you were to ask they would never take on a job that size. I commend you and can’t wait to watch your progress and be on this journey with you. Hang in there. Your videos are just fine
Wow, how fantastic!! The plants and greenery are absolutely beautiful, the windows are amazing, the bathrooms and all that wonderful colored tile is so cute and unique. I am so excited to watch your journey, thank you so much for posting this!!
Dude you have an incredible find there, so much beauty and potential!! Will be watching!!!
Thanks a ton!
I worked in a converted nunnery, sinks in the bedrooms was for live in staff, it freeed up the bathroom for large numbers of people living in one place.
I’m so excited to have found your channel at the start of this journey. I agree with many commenters about slowing down and I can’t wait to see how your filming and editing improves as you go along. Even now, you are doing much better than I ever could 🤣 I’m looking forward to many more videos!
Thanks for the support! Im going to definitely slow down more and work on the camera stability! Also dont be so critical of yourself! "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" You got this!
Reminds me of Kennedy School (McMenamins) - Portland, OR. But, yes the potential - WOW! It will be a great deal of work, but boy what a cool buy!
This place has some real potential. I look forward to seeing what you guys do with it.
You are living my dream. I've always wanted to buy an old school and live in it. 2 thumps up!
Thanks for the support! And you can do it!!!
@@watchere I'm a disabled vet surviving off of 18k a year. I have to decide between utilities and food every month.
I always wanted to buy an old school and make it into a home, with lots of guestrooms for family and friends to visit...or maybe lots room for my cats to play in haha
Who is doing the cleaning 🧹
You're so blessed to be able to do this! Many rooms to figure out. I'm for losing the bushes, tough. You may be able to find someone to gently dig them up & take them. The walkway needs some sort of cobblestones, or concrete "walk maker" paths with less bushes and more flowering plants. If it was mine, I'd dedicate a large area to an indoor pool, with some sort of conservatory / aviary / greenhouse vibe. Also a bright, sunny, simple gym. The kitchen, I swear I could smell middle school pizza day. Oh, and all of those colored tiles & toilets can be sold to an architectular salvage yard. Let them bid on price if they remove it. Same with old woodwork, trim, fireplaces, etc. (Look up Black Dog Salvage. They used to have a t.v. show).
Best wishes
AGREE DO NOT Take OUT any BUSHES!!! Find a gifted Gardner to trim and help you with the landscape!
This building has so much potential! I don't know if I missed what the future plans were but this would make a great venue space with kitchen for catering(!!!) (the old school section), with a B&B (the dorms?) attached for people who are having a gathering with people coming in from out of town! I'm thinking weddings or reunions! but would be great for lots of occasions. The yard looks enclosed or close to it making it safe for pets and children to play in. The potential is limitless and I look forward to watching!
What a STUNNING OPPORTUNITY ❤
Please try and keep the mature trees. They are beautiful and will provide you with shade in the hot summer. Also the bushes. Please think about just trimming them back.
This is going to be a fun channel to watch. There is so much potential to return this building to a grand home. Best of luck
Thanks for the support! I am definately going to need a lot of luck hahaa thank you!
Subscribed!
Cannot wait to see this astounding property meet its potential as a grand residence.
The potential is giving me chills.
The grounds are not too overwhelming, and allow the building to have significant presence. At the same time, it seems the surroundings place your future home at the heart of what looks like a lovely community. The sunroom is stunning. Imagine a library!!
Certainly requires some considerable thought regarding your floorplan-I’m curious if your background is within architectural design or around property development.
My enthusiasm is hopefully going to fuel your efforts, and I cannot wait to receive notifications to watch it unfold.
Best of luck to you. 😊
It's a beautiful building. Apartments would be lovely.
Thanks! I'm not sure what to do with it yet but nothing is out of the questions! Thanks again!
@@watcherehousing for displaced?
I myself can imagine this as a building for people being rehoused. Especially now a day's with soo many people having issues with drugs etc.❤❤❤❤
I'm Excited to see it unfold. I'm so glad you are going to share it on TH-cam! Thank you. 😊 I don't think you need fancy equipment or technique; just panning a bit slower would be perfect. Trying to get the whole building tour into this first video probably made you go a bit faster. Your voice is soothing. 🙂
Thanks for the support! I will definitely try to slow down more in the future and take more bite sized chunks! Thank you for the advice!
I don't think you made a mistake. If you have the money and hopefully no foundation problems then it will be a beautiful conversation back to a residence. Older homes had winter and summer kitchens for temperature control of the home. You could convert the property into two large apartments or a vacation rental in the future with that second kitchen if they will give you a permit.
I lived in a 100 year elementary school that were turned into apartments. They were very nice.
That's very cool!
Definitely a great multigenerational home!!! U wouldn’t even have to bother each other!!!
That is a HUGE amount of money and work to fix that place up!