Let the Demolition Begin!

It's now the summer of 2013, and we felt like we had a handle (sort of) on our plans for the house, and how to deal with the unusual construction style, so it was time to get started.

We had also finally sold the home that we had owned for the past seven years which had taken all of Ben's energy to remodel and get ready to sell! Phew--it was a successful sale! Now we can focus on this project:)

Note the "Vulture Shack" on the right side of the houseThe home had attached to it a small building we called the "Vulture Shack."

It was full of varmints (I have to use that word at least once!) and vultures were regularly spotted perched on top. At first we thought maybe we could move it across the driveway and use it as a workshop or small barn. That is, until Ben's dad took a look at it and started laughing at the idea. He was right, the vertical timbers were rotted through, there was no foundation, and no possible way it would survive a move. It wasn't possible to salvage much of it at all.

So, we dove in to the demolition. All the while, wondering what this building had been used for... migrant farm labor was my guess. However, as Ben and his dad began to tear into it, they began to wonder if in fact it was the original house! They were right. Once they pulled the structure down, they could see where the main house had actually been added on to this shack (See photo). The rotten "foundation" was made of original hand-hewn timbers laid flat on the ground.

We saved what we could and stood in awe of the people who put it all together...

The logs laying out front were the original foundation.
Hoping to use them for furniture or a mantel or something:)

This awesome Frigidaire was inside!

My dad came up with his truck and trailer to help us get the Frigidaire
loaded up. We've had the old paint removed and it looks great!