Okay! We are live. Eek. First things first – I am not a writer. I am sure that is already quite clear. Secondly, I am also not usually very public. So this is a new, somewhat intimidating place to be. But this will be fun. Or funny. Probably funny for you, and mildly terrifying for me. But fun! Anyway, moving on…
We were finally able to call this special place “ours” just a few days before Christmas…although, people close to us know this adventure really began all the way back in May. I’ll save all that for another day. Suffice to say, we are so excited to bring life, literally and figuratively, back into the Porter-Bradstreet Homestead, which has been unoccupied for a couple years. It was during this time that it was almost torn down (I know! Crazy but true, you can google all that). Before then, it was the Clark School. This is how local people may recognize it. And before then, it was home to many interesting people and it played many different roles over the course of its 350 years. Witch trials, Underground Railroad, Revolutionary War…it has had a part in all of it. Since it is such an old, unique property (and in need of so much work which will definitely make for good stories), I’ve been telling friends we would probably create a blog so that anyone interested could follow along with our progress. So, here we go…
Side note – I am about as tech-savvy as I am handy so this ought to be a fun ride!
Congratulations on your new OLD (very old!) home! The Williamson family will be adding more wonderful stories to the history of this special house. PS. I think you are an excellent writer!
xoxoxo Thanks mom 🙂
Congrats! You are a natural and the house is already so beautiful can’t wait to see and read more!
Thanks lovie, can’t wait until you and the boys can come play 🙂
I am soooo excited for you Jessica! And a little jealous because if I was to buy another home, it would look just like this. Can’t wait to watch the progress. Best of luck to you and your family as you begin this journey. You are right, it will be amazing, scary, stressful, crazy, but all so very worthwhile when you are sitting on your porch watching your children running around the yard. All the best!
Thank you so much Judi! I have a feeling that visual is going to see me through some stressful times ha! But you are right – it will all be so worth it and, truly, the journey itself is already so much fun 🙂
Very excited for you, Jess. HGTV should follow you around with a camera team! And I still remember you as a great writer!! 🙂 Have fun — what an awesome adventure!!
Ha! It would certainly make for interesting subject matter! Thanks Kaarin 🙂
Cannot wait to follow you as you make your new house a home. Best wishes!!
Thank you so much Cindy!
I cannot wait to watch and be a part of the transformation! Thank you for letting us into your world and beautiful home:) So happy for you all!! Xo
Thanks Lau 🙂 We are lucky to have such wonderful friends to share it with xoxo
Congratulations! This is so amazing! What a wonderful home and “project”. I cannot wait to see all the updates and read your blog. All the best to you guys!
Thanks Jill! Can’t wait until we can actually host a family gathering, might be a while though ha!
I have never followed a “Blog” before… I feel so modern! The place looks amazing guys can’t wait to see more and Im sure it will look incredible when it’s finished ☺
Ross! Thank you so much. I applaud not only your ability to follow along thus far, but to also comment! It is more than I could do when I started all this haha…You will need to come see us when you are in the States again (we can put you to work – if not in the construction aspect then definitely the wine-pouring, late night music chats department)
Ahhhhh!!!!! Beautiful home for a beautiful family, can’t wait to follow your adventure!
Thanks love! I can’t wait for you guys to visit. All our kiddos will have plenty of space to run around while we chat haha xoxo
Ok I thought I left a message but I don’t think it went through! So I’ll try avian lol
Hi jess! Congrats on your new home. It’s beautiful. I love that you decided to do a blog on this. I can’t wait to read more 🙂
Thanks Jessica! So weird to be “blogging” but there really is no better way. It will be fun! 🙂
So excited for this ride!!! You will be adding your own mark on history ?
Thanks Chris! Especially for your loving support – particularly while we were homeless there for a bit haha!
Hi Jess and Nick,, I am so happy to hear you bought this property and are going forward to restore it!! Our first house on Hyde St was a tiny antique colonial and we didn’t quite restore it, but updated it. I love old houses with the charm and history that goes along with them. This will be an adventure for you, but sooo worthwhile. And the girls will be so proud of their parents. I’m loving the blog already and your prose. Looking forward to the updates!
Aw thank you so much Janis! Any tips about updating an antique house…or living in an antique house…and/or living with each other while updating an antique house… are always welcome haha! I also love old houses but never dreamed I would get to live in one quite like this. So happy to have you along for the ride with us xoxo
Jesus, the blog is a wonderful idea. Thanks for doing it. I love driving on to the property. It feels so serine and peaceful.
Jess, the blog is a wonderful idea. Thanks for doing it. I love driving on to the property. It feels so serine and peaceful.
I love you Jess but I didn’t mean to call you Jesus. My kindle has a mind of its own.
Hahahaha there may have been some occasions when I have been described as “a saint”, but even then I could hardly take credit so maybe Jesus is a stretch ha! 🙂 This will be so much fun!
So pleased that you will chronicle this adventure. Please post lots of photos. Thank you for preserving this glorious home.
Thank you Kathy! Once I get more time-efficient in creating the posts, I will certainly be including more pictures. I’ve taken a ton, but they are mostly cell-phone shots, so I’m also hoping to get more “real camera” pictures up soon!
So happy for all of you … congratulations !!!! It will be so exciting to follow your progress. The house and property look beautiful.
Jessica you are a wonderful writer I am looking forward to your journey. Call me when it’s time to go shopping!! So excited for you!!
Thanks Susan 🙂 I CANNOT WAIT to furnish/decorate this house! It is a huge exercise in patience for me right now. It’s already trickling in a bit…Nick is all pragmatic and construction-y, and I am all “recessed lighting will just not fit with my vision for this space Nicholas…” Ok maybe not that bad, but I definitely see “vintage-ambience” and he definitely sees “expen$ive $conce” haha…
Let the journey begin….
couldn’t think of a better family to continue the history of a beautiful home…
Thanks George! We are really excited to have you join us at some point – we will need all the help we can get haha…