Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Well {Restoring the Lefere Mansion}

This is the view of the back patio back in May, before we had won the bid.  Yes, we went out on a shakey, skinny limb, and bought a big ole' historical foreclosed home on an online auction.  Unless you know a lot about home renovations and old houses, I wouldn't advice doing such a thing.  We knew neither.  We do now! :) 


It was pretty dilapidated, but I wasn't sure if we were going to use it, repurpose it, do rain dances around it..........


After we got the keys, we needed some water.  Everything had been winterized, and the copper pipes cut and stripped.  I won't even go into how DESPICABLE OF A THING THAT IS!  Did you feel me spit when I pronounced the "P" in that word?  Anyways,  it's really hard to do anything in a house without water!  Hubby proved brave and climbed down in there to turn on the pump.  He's part spider man. 


Hey, Dad!  


Thank goodness for Droid lights


 Water!!!!  We've got WATER!!!!


The well became a storage area of sorts all summer.  It was the perfect place to lay trim to paint, pile up old lathe for the kids to take to the burn pile, and to prop old toilets up against.


But alas, I had to face the fact that it was a huge eye sore.  And also that the insurance company said, "That needs to go.  Now."


The demolition team set to work.


And now..... a bit of a hazard, wouldn't ya say?!


We happened to have a plastic cover that fit the space exactly (Imagine that!  Thank you for the little things, Lord!) and we rolled a huge stone on top to keep it in place.  And for good measure, set a patio table over it. :)

This "Before" (actually during) is a shot taken from an upstairs window.
Compare it with the next photo, which I took today!

BEFORE

 AFTER

Oh, and I'm thankful I grabbed some of the wooden shingles from off the side - they make
awesome signs! :)


How about a Christmas gift?  You can buy one in my Etsy Shop HERE. :)


Sharing here:
The Shabby Nest 

5 comments:

  1. I love watching you transform this house. I was born and raised in Parma (I actually graduated with Tim) and I love the fact you are making this historic house fabulous again.

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  2. Oh my gosh, those signs are the cutest-they would make an absolutely precious wedding gift for my fiance' and I, I may just have to direct my sisters or mom in your direction. :)

    xoxo, SS

    www.TheSouthernStylista.blogspot.com

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  3. Hi! I am new to youre blog:) You have some work out for you there on the house! I am sure it will look amazing:) Youre lucky to have such a big area for the kids to play in:) The picture of your husband in the well was funny though, haha...
    But I must admit I was sitting on the edge of my seat when reading and seing the pictures of the open and exposed hole in the ground! I am extremely afraid of hights (and of holes) and watching the kids around it... well, I would pass out:p haha

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  4. I'm so sorry you had to tear down the well, it was sooooo charming! I've never seen one so close to a house before. Could you just put an old-fashioned well pump over it if you wanted?

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  5. wow! You have been hard at work! Your new home is amazingly beautiful! I love seeing all the before and after pics you post.

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