Transitional Victorian House Renovations: Part 1

Words cannot begin to explain how poorly this house was overall maintained and built. Part one because having to take breaks in between being an adult and work is a thing- well, we are taking down the ridiculous structure that was our “5th bedroom” and “second laundry room” built on top of the “old garage”… it was very poorly put together to say the least and we are turning it back into a garage. It had water damage it had mold, this house had been slapped with a bandaid each and every time someone tried to “fix” or “add on” to it before our purchase in late ‘23. What the prior maintainers and builders were doing to this house was quite lazy work. It feels so disrespectful to a profoundly old house like this one… It was built the same year Montana became a state and the “Montana Territorial Prison” transitioned into the Montana State Prison in 1889. It is now called “Old Montana State Prison” because the “New Montana State Prison” was rebuilt further out of town in 1979. This house being in the same town and just a few blocks away from the original Prison and being built the same year says something about how it was occupied by many different individuals throughout the years who helped occupy and grow this small town and beautiful state. This home is described as “transitional Victorian”. Built the same year Montana became the 41st state, it blends the tidy, simple layout of a Folk Victorian with the romantic, decorative details of a Queen Anne. There is a lot of work to be done still but we have already made much progress in the living room and bathroom. This is the first section of the house where we decided to start documenting. I’m excited to look back once we are finished and see the progress that’s been made. Renovating this house feels like yes with how neglected it was. Also we are stuck with it so why not fix it? LOL. Shout out to Todd for being so skilled and knowledgeable in different trades and working on this house while simultaneously working extensive hours as a lineman apprentice. You make it to where it saves us money doing it ourselves! Thanks and Enjoy! #house #building #construction #old