As of today, it’s been one year since we became stewards of ole Milton—and I’ve got to say, he’s been a bit of a grumpy old soul. In many ways, this past year has been one of the hardest of my life. So much has happened—twists, turns, setbacks, small victories—it’s sometimes hard to know which way is up.
We knew this would be challenging, but it’s proven even more demanding than we imagined. Milton has become the embodiment of our worst-case scenario—both in complexity and cost. In simple terms, the home above ground is good. It’s worth saving, and for a 140-year-old structure, it’s in “respectable”decent” condition. But the foundation has reached the end of its life, and given the home’s cost, prior renovations, and continuing needs, Milton’s survival now teeters at the edge.
By most practical measures—common sense, economics, and even emotion—the logical choice would be to tear it down, walk away, and move on. But I’m hoping we’ll find a way to save this old house for future generations.
With the garage construction challenges, time delays, and cost overruns, we’re reassessing our plans. Our focus will need to shift entirely to ensuring Milton’s structural integrity, setting aside many of the interior upgrades we’d hoped to complete. Maybe, over time, we’ll get there—or at least hand over a solid, well-grounded home to its next caretakers.
We’re still piecing together a realistic plan—how to fund it, what’s reasonable, and what compromises can be made. There’s so much to figure out, and so much work still ahead. But one baby step at a time, we’ll find a way forward.
