ouroldfarmhouse.com - Restoring a Historic Farmhouse

Washed Out: When Rain Derails a Build

Sometimes words just can’t capture the rollercoaster of building something new. Just a couple of weeks ago, it finally felt like we were gaining traction on the garage project: foundation…

Phil Atkinson July 25, 2025

History

Proctor House Driving Tour

I've just found that our old farmhouse is included in the driving tour for Boone County and was designated a Boone County Historic Site back in 2009. That designation is…

Phil Atkinson July 21, 2025

Progress Update

Garage Progress

Progress at last... It's been a long road, but progress with the garage/shop is finally picking up steam. Just this week several things have been accomplished: Foundation was dug, inspected,…

Phil Atkinson July 11, 2025

History

Unearthing the Legacy of Senator Proctor

The relentless rain may have put construction projects on hold, but it’s opened a window into the history of our home and the family who built it. As I sift…

Phil Atkinson June 20, 2025

History

Meeting J M Proctor

It took some doing, but I finally found an old photo of our home's builder/owner. I'm not sure of the date, but likely somewhere between 1870 and 1895. It was…

Phil Atkinson June 14, 2025

History

J.M. Proctor and the Legacy of our Midwest Farmhouse

Within the History of Boone County, Missouri 1882, partially credited to Col. William F. Switzler and others, there are several references to J.M. Proctor that provide a bit more color…

Phil Atkinson June 10, 2025

History

Builder, Businessman, and Statesman: James Milton Proctor

I ran across this historic tidbit the other day on James Milton Proctor, the man who built our old farmhouse. I’m reposting it here just in case, but also linking…

Phil Atkinson June 9, 2025

Progress Update

Breaking Ground: Progress on the Garage

A little progress last week on the garage... The ground in this part of the country is really soft, so a bit of excavation and some rock to provide a…

Phil Atkinson June 2, 2025

Demo Progress Update

Expert Care, Neatly Done: Our Tree Removal Experience

For nearly two weeks, we've had a couple of tree experts working diligently to clean up our property, removing dead and diseased trees. When we came home yesterday, it looked…

Phil Atkinson May 29, 2025

Money Pit Moments Progress Update

Leaky Roofs and Mouse Hunting: Updates from Our Ongoing Home Renovation

Another month has zipped by, and while it sometimes feels like we’re spinning our wheels, there’s actually been plenty happening behind the scenes. After a long stretch of living with…

Phil Atkinson May 27, 2025