Let the Renovations Begin!

Finally it's time to start the work!  The first step in the huge project is to correct the foundation problems.  Jim Eby and his crew from Foundation Repair Services in Muskogee got to work right away.  I'm not sure all the details behind the work, but basically the back half of the house has a serious problem.  It is sloped significantly and we can't do any more work until it that has been fixed.

Remember the way it looked down in the basement...

 Yep, we were shocked too!!  But it all had to be done.  The floors were basically useless since they were sitting on dirt.  We did save a few beams that were pulled out because the wood was great and we might be able to use it later in a fun furniture project or something.  The wall that was removed will be returned exactly as it was along with the "pantry" that was in the original kitchen.

And don't worry, we did get in there and poke around looking for treasures!  We know that this earth probably hasn't been seen since the late 1800's and will probably never be seen again after we pour the foundation.  Unfortunately we didn't find any treasures but we had a good time looking!  I must also put to rest the legend that we have been told about from several different people regarding the tunnel that was supposedly from the basement to the field in the back yard.  I'm sorry to report that there is no tunnel or any signs of one that was closed up.  The floors, obviously, were dug very deep to prepare for the foundation and there was nothing there.