Unusual Discoveries During a Historic Home Renovation
Every renovation or rebuild story has its quirks, but the tale of Whitney's historic house transformation in Spruce Lake, Canada, is especially unusual. This wasn't just a routine house fix: it was a dive into the past, leading to a series of bizarre and fascinating discoveries that changed the course of the project.
Rewiring and Hidden Dangers
One of the most critical discoveries came early in the process, when the authors decided to hire a contractor friend for a thorough inspection before making any offers. The inspection revealed that the electrical wiring was installed incorrectly and held together with electrical tape, placing the house in imminent danger of a fire.
The authors negotiated a discount on the purchase price, which in retrospect was a fortunate decision. According to Whitney, the original builder had taken shortcuts to complete the work faster, but these shortcuts nearly cost the family their home and safety. The electrical issues were severe, and with minor adjustments, the house could have burst into flames. The contractor's eagle-eyed observation saved them from a disaster.
Buropean and Colonial Artifacts
The renovation of the 1882-built house led to some incredible discoveries. When removing the walls, the authors found that urea-formaldehyde insulation was pumped into the walls. This prompted a thorough and painstaking cleanup, which involved wearing a respirator. During the process, a rat mummified by the chemicals was discovered and removed. Underneath the roll of linoleum, an ancient silver dollar was found, and the walls revealed several newspapers, with comic strips suggesting that a barber in Montreal, Canada, needed a good shaver.
Historical Insights and Interestingly Factual Details
The renovation was not just a physical process but also an archaeological one. Eleven layers of wallpaper were painstakingly removed, leading to a history of the home being revealed. One particularly vivid layer was a colorful felted wallpaper in deep royal purple and burgundy. Another detailed layer was hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs, each in their respective colors with additional backgrounds. The elder townsfolk revealed that the home had previously served as a bawdyhouse and casino.
Isolated incidents captured moments of the past, such as a heartbreaking story of a young boy choking on a black olive that was inadvertently narrated by a doctor's witness to the event. Another historical note was a measles outbreak in Alberta/Saskatchewan that claimed 3,000 Indigenous lives. The discovery of these artifacts became a curious mix of historical and personal interests.
Unexpected Challenges and Lessons Learned
The renovation took an unexpected turn when the authors decided to split the downstairs and rent out the other half of the home. New tenants moved in on 1 January 2006, but unfortunately, they caused a tragic incident. The tenants, who had a no-smoking lease, set the house ablaze on 27 January. The fire destroyed the entire downstairs.
The authors reflect on the property value of 73K, acknowledging that this figure seems insignificant in comparison to the memories and discoveries unearthed in the walls. This chapter of the renovation serves as a reminder that renovations don't just involve physical labour but also significant emotional and historical efforts.