Couple’s heartfelt determination breathes new life into family homestead

Renovation of old houses has made a notable comeback to a world they never actually left. Taking on the task of renovating an old family home can be a daunting task, especially when it’s been sitting empty and abandoned for 30 years.
But that’s exactly what local couple Stacy and Chris Towns  did in 2013 after purchasing the family homestead.
Southwest of Enders lay a property with an abandoned house which was initially built by Stacy Towns’ great-grandparents, James and Rose O’Brien, in 1904. Towns said the accuracy of the date is not absolute because the original records were lost in a courthouse fire, but she is sure it was around 1904.
“The decision to renovate the farmhouse and property was a sentimental one. I loved coming out to the farm as a kid when my grandparents, Phil and Emma O’Brien, lived here,” Towns said. “I just wanted to save it because I loved it—there has always been such a peaceful vibe here.”
She said Chris was on board to help take on the project, and despite the condition of the house, it had good bones and great memories.
“People thought we were nuts to do this, but we knew it was doable, and we were ready,” she added, laughing.
There was no electricity or water in the house, so for the next four years while they renovated, pay check by pay check, the couple, their daughter, Tegan, two dogs and two cats lived in a camper trailer on the property. During the winter when it was very cold, they brought all their farm animals inside the camper, too, Towns said with a chuckle.
“We hauled water in from a neighbor to use. We did our laundry by hand in an old-fashioned wringer wash tub and hung the clothes on the line,” she said.
For something special, Towns said they made a “Redneck hot tub” by setting a small stock tank filled with water on some stacked pavers over hot coals. By nighttime, the water was nice and warm to sit in, relax and listen to the coyotes. She put a pool noodle around the edge for comfort.
“Very high class,” she said. “We were just like Little House on the Prairie.”
Towns said people thought they were crazy, too, when they decided their first job on the to-do list was to paint the house. There weren’t any windows so no taping would be involved and the wood would be protected. There were giant holes in the roof, so it would be totally replaced as well.
They also had to “evict” all the current residents in the house—rattlesnakes, bullsnakes, racoons, bats, pack rats and turkey vultures.
“There was also something in the basement (besides the rattlesnake in the ceiling) that made a loud croaking noise at night. We couldn’t find it, but it didn’t sound like a frog. I decided I didn’t want to know what it was,” she said.
Once the critters were removed, demolition began. Tearing off the roof and putting on a new one was scary because it was so high and steep, she said.
“Demo was hard work. We had to pull down all the plaster walls which were reinforced with horse hair. It was dusty, stinky, and very hard keeping everything picked up to haul off. One of the most difficult and time-consuming jobs was keeping all the trim organized so it could be used again, not to mention the difficulty in making all the dimensions fit after replacing the plaster walls with sheetrock,” she added.
She wanted to reuse all the original trim and restore the floors, which were all oak. They all had to be sanded and stained.
“Even though it was hard, I loved doing the demo,” Towns continued, “I found all kinds of interesting things in the walls, floors and other hidden places.”
She talked about finding elementary school report cards for her aunt and uncle, an old wooden folding yardstick that was left behind in a wall probably by the original builders, plus there were names signed on wall frames by the workers who built the house.
“Among the items found, I found a pair of my grandpa Phil’s WWII binoculars, U.S. Army uniform buttons, some of grandma’s old aprons, a letter Grandpa Phil wrote to Grandma Emma while he was overseas during WWII and an engraved lighter belonging to my uncle,” said Towns.
There were many other items too numerous to name found in the house and out in the yard. Towns said she started finding all kinds of marbles in the yard, so she started collecting them and never missed a chance to pick them up to add to her collection jar. She said she really got a kick out of finding them. Every time it would rain, more treasures were exposed in the yard. Family history was always unfolding around them. She now has many items in shadow boxes and displayed on the walls or sitting on shelves.
“We had to replace all the tread on the stairs, and as with all things, patience was not always easy. We purchased supplies little by little with each paycheck and figured out what the next step would be as we went,” she said.
When Covid hit it slowed things downs some. Each time they were paid, she said they bought one oak board which was enough to replace three steps.
Apparently, the family members liked to hide things in the house down through the years. “While tearing out the stairs, our reward was a once-in-a-lifetime find under one of the steps—a note from my great grandparents inside a Prince Albert tobacco can hidden under one of the stairs. Inside was a long list of handwritten names of everyone in the house at that time and their ages. Grandpa Phil was nine years old,” she said.
“I was excited to find the list dated Sept. 30, 1923. That means this Sept. 30, that list will have been hidden there 100 years,” Towns said excitedly.
Sometime over the years, doors inside the house were retrimmed, and they must have installed trim right over two skeleton keys laying at the top. It was a surprising and curious find—and they still worked in the locks, she added.
“I found it hilarious finding all the old and unique paint colors in the house. It was so precious, I didn’t have the heart to remove the amazing colors from ‘back in the day,’ so I decided to keep the remnants of colors by just sanding down the loose paint and sealing it with clear coat,” said Towns. “It was a continuous work in progress and the coolest thing I have ever done.”
Four years later
and many Godwinks
A Godwink is an event or personal experience, often identified as coincidence, so astonishing that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention. It is like a message from God that you are not alone and everything is ok.
“There have been so many cool God moments—Godwinks—during this whole time,” Towns said.
In 2017, work inside and outside of the home was completed to the point the family could finally move in full time. The house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a half-finished basement, a deck, a lawn, fruit trees, a garden, bee hives, chickens and more.
The Towns did all the work themselves except the septic tank, the HVAC, putting up sheetrock and a few other things. She said they were blessed to have friends help them who had the knowledge needed.
They have furnished their home with items and other décor that has also seen the test of time. Their kitchen stove was a vintage find, rescued from an old house that was being torn down. Affectionately they named it Bertha.
“During the years that we worked on the house, every time we finished something, Chris and I would drive away, and then drive back to the house to see what it looked like. It was a special moment for us,” she said.
“We are beyond grateful. I thank God all the time we get to live here,” said Towns.
The old house serves as a symbol of stability and familiarity.
“Growing up, the family always gathered on Christmas Eve. Now after all these years, we have started that tradition again. I am so excited to have everyone gather together in our home,” she said.
“As for the camper, we sold it immediately, and we are never going camping again!” she added with emphasis.
“An old home is a reflection of years of love and life within its walls. Recognizing and respecting a home’s history is important—when you embark on renovating a historic home, there is a responsibility to do the work thoughtfully, with the mindset of leaving this home for the next steward. Remember—you’re just part of the story,” wrote Stacy Grinsfelder, a restoration and preservation expert for Blake Hill House Blog.
The Towns have posted on Facebook dozens of photos of their 4-year renovation project plus other photos of life on the farm. This was a monumental undertaking captured in pictures. To view, go online to “The Farmhouse | Imperial NE – Facebook.”