The pandemic brought on a host of uncertainties and changes for many people. Last Summer my husband and I were still a few months away from welcoming our baby girl into the world. Tom was furloughed from his job and I was working from home amidst statewide “stay at home” orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were doing our best to make our 750 sq. ft. home in Accident, MD work for our family.
For a couple of years leading up to the pandemic I had been drawing (and redrawing) our house plans, attempting to find enough space and storage in our home to be able to add on to our family. We were convinced we could stay until the end of 2021, maybe even the summer of 2022. However, the pandemic brought a plethora of unforeseen challenges, and something we hadn’t considered was the additional people we would need in our home to help take care of our daughter while I worked...all within the same space. By the time Amelia was a few months old, we realized 750 sq. ft. just wasn’t enough space for 3-4 adults wearing masks all day, an infant, a 70 lb chocolate lab, and all of our mental health needs. We caved.
Tom was able to find a new job and by the end of 2020 we were on the hunt again for a new home. Timing, interest rates, and one of the best friends a girl could ask for as a real estate agent, were all on our side. We quickly sold our Accident house in March 2021 and closed on our new home in Grantsville a few weeks later.
The ONLY picture of our little family we have at our new house.
Originally built in 1836, the home has been added on to at least twice, and we believe the original front porch has been closed in as well. From what we discovered, much of the structure of the original home still remains, but there have been a lot of electrical and plumbing updates.
While tackling this renovation we agreed to address large systems first, like the HVAC and foundation structure. The kitchen is a priority, but it's also tied into the HVAC system. Aesthetics, fixtures, and finishes are lower down on the list for now.
We cannot wait to dig our hands into this house. It is a large project that we realize we will be tackling for years to come. With few original details remaining, it's hard to know the original style, but it was likely a cape cod with one and a half stories under roof in a simple rectangular shape. We’ve had neighbors stop by and share what they know about the home and previous owners, and we are looking forward to making new (to us) discoveries about the home's history. There are plenty of resources around for us to tap into to learn more. We’re calling it our 1836 Farmhouse as we build up our own little homestead.
