Welcome

7/10/2020

Hi there, I'm Betsy. Welcome to my website/blog/portfolio/dog photo album. I started this blog because I bought a house. A big, old, falling apart house. And it seems like if you're going to buy a big, old, falling apart house that will nearly bankrupt you, you should chronicle it for the masses in the hopes of becoming a #lowespartner.

So how did I get here? Well, for as long as I can remember, I've loved old things. One of the greatest motivations in my adolescent life was simply to go beyond the velvet rope and see the upstairs of every museum. This fascination with the unseen parts of old buildings eventually led to my degrees in Anthropology, Art History, and Historic Preservation. I've been fortunate enough to work with Main Streets, History and Landmark Foundations, and one very impactful position at James Madison's Montpelier. In 2018, I decided to change pace, and relocate to Wheeling, WV.

Wheeling is a major character in this blog, because it is where, as Director of Heritage Programming for the Wheeling National Heritage Area, I am able to combine my love of technical preservation and cultural heritage interpretation. Seriously, it's a dream job. Wheeling is a small city with big amenities, undergoing a revitalization that I'm thrilled to be a part of. It is also where I've purchased the aforementioned big, old, falling apart house. Said house (second only perhaps to my perfect dog Marshall) will be getting a lot of air time on this platform.

But I hope this platform becomes more than just an old house blog. My intention is to create a space for those interested to read my thoughts and experiences in community development, and place-making, and heritage studies AND rehabbing a big, old, falling apart house. And also dogs and yoga and food and flowers. A lifestyle blog if you will, written by someone that hates lifestyle blogs.

So if that sounds like fun, come on in. I promise I'll never ask you to take your shoes off.

53 Comments

Suzi Thomas link

7/28/2020 04:43:47 pm

I am so happy for you and excited to be a part of your journey. Thank you for sharing. Wish I lived closer, I love a good project !
Suzi

Ava

7/28/2020 05:02:28 pm

Congrats on your beautiful house and this incredible new project, Betsy! So unbelievably excited for you. Can’t wait to see what you get up to.

Nuno Babo

7/28/2020 05:15:07 pm

I love old things too, and i'm excited to watch the transformation in your "new house" :-) thanks for sharing and... Good luck!!!

Marina

7/28/2020 05:25:20 pm

Congrats lady!

Jenny W.

7/28/2020 06:11:16 pm

so cool! Check out Woodward Throwbacks on instagram. They bought an old house in Detroit and are rehabbing it. They reclaim wood and fixtures from buildings for re-use.

Debbie

7/28/2020 08:14:05 pm

Betsy...I can't wait to see what you do with this magnificent home. I loved seeing it in its present state and can definitely see the possibilities through your trained eye! Best of luck to you!

Karol

7/29/2020 04:10:44 am

Thanks for taking us on this journey with you!

Elizabeth Vdovjak

7/29/2020 05:37:31 am

This stairwell looks just like the one in my house. I’m down in Centre Market in one of the merchant homes (retail area downstairs, apartment upstairs). I love this old house but the renovations go on for ever. Lol. It was always my dream to have a home like this but only became affordable for us here in Wheeling. Hope to actually open the retail part sometime after the pandemic subsides. That is the dream:) Im looking forward to reading about your renovation!

Tamir Reagan

7/29/2020 09:10:48 am

Congratulations! Thank you for allowing us to go along with you on your great home preserving adventure.

Gina link

7/30/2020 07:07:55 am

Congratulations on your new adventure! I look forward to following along!

Amanda

8/9/2020 05:59:29 pm

We need pictures of the house! Give us the befores so we can get excited about the journey you're about to take.

Hilary Spiegelman

8/10/2020 07:24:26 am

Hi Betsy. I’m a TV producer. I am currently in the early development stages of a renovation project for a large media company. If you’re interested in sharing your story, please email me back. I would love to hear from you. Thanks so much, Hilary Spiegelman

Maddie

8/11/2020 01:13:56 pm

You are living my very greatest dream. How on EARTH did you do this? do I just need some courage? I'm dying to join you. Your home is beautiful - congratulations.

Roberto link

8/28/2020 11:10:34 am

This is dope! Looking forward for this house to be decked out.

Annie Golden

9/6/2020 06:56:55 pm

This is so exciting. My childhood neighborhood in Chicago was/is filled with Victorian buildings. Loved living in them. My parents former home is well over 100 yrs.old. Hate how it was rehabbed into something modern and overdone. Looking forward to your journey bringing back this 'fine lady' back to life.

Mike Fry

9/7/2020 09:45:22 am

We saw your reno interview on Monica Church's YouTube channel. Congrats on your acquisition! My kids are doing the same in Rockford, IL with a $10,000.00 3-story home. One year is a very ambitious goal, but we are certain you will achieve it. We're looking forward to following your project. I love the top floor spaces. And wouldn't it be amazing to make a hidden entrance to the back stairwell and your special room at the bottom of the stairs?

Dianne Ashworth

9/21/2020 08:31:36 am

I'm here from the video, too. Oh my goodness, your house is stunning! I'm amazed that so much of the house is still intact. What a ride it's going to be. ;)

Emme

9/7/2020 01:51:48 pm

Just found this blog through a YouTube idea and your instagram. Looking forward to following along and living vicariously.

Mark

9/7/2020 08:35:28 pm

Retired City of Wheeling Firefighter, looking forward to following your big old falling apart house rehab. The bones are good and solid now get the meat back on them.

Helena

9/7/2020 09:21:45 pm

Love that you are reviving of our”Grand Dams” in downtown Wheeling! This is something I dream of doing one day when I retire! Living in Wilmington, NC now, but dream of coming home when I retire!

Elaine

9/8/2020 09:56:14 am

Hello Betsy and welcome to Wheeling, WV. I was born and raised in Wheeling and I remain. Wheeling is a cute little quaint city with lots of amenities and deep history.
I recently joined the Friends of Wheeling so hopefully we can tour your home and learn about its background.
Thank you for choosing Wheeling and I will be following your progress. I love old houses too! Good luck!

Carolyn Mox

9/8/2020 12:31:28 pm

I would love to talk to you. I lived in this house and have many pictures. I thought you might be interested to see them or make copies. Thanks

Betsy Sweeny

9/13/2020 05:31:17 pm

Hi Carolyn,

I would love to talk to you!! Please send me an email at sweeny.betsy@gmail.com

Thank you!!!

Ana K Gomez

9/10/2020 10:08:15 am

I am super excited to see how your home will turn out. I hope you can make videos of the updates and I wish you many blessings in all of your future endeavors. It is fascinating to watch someone turn something old into something new. Best of luck!

Nancy

9/10/2020 12:00:38 pm

You should really make a YouTube vlog of your house renovation

Jenny Davis

9/11/2020 11:52:38 am

I saw a link to your blog on a You Tube video. What a wonderful journey on which you are about to embark! Can't wait to follow along.

tina

9/12/2020 02:29:32 pm

I have just discovered the story of your house and this blog and I love what you are doing , I'll start following your news. Discovered you from a youtube video (monica church channel) keep going and live your dream !

Katarina

9/12/2020 03:54:55 pm

Hey, I saw a vidio of your house on Monica Church's YouTube channle and I loved it so much. Can't wait to see what you do with it. You shold think about starting your own YouTube channle, you would be great and I would love to see more of your house.

Alexandra Spatz

9/13/2020 02:40:23 pm

I am here for this!! Absolutely love your mindset and ambition towards tackling this dream. I can’t wait to see it all unfold. I hope younger people start to give small towns a chance. My fiancé and I just moved to a small town in SC. Because the life we want which isn’t extravagant at all but will still be too much to ask of us in Miami, FL. So here we are just trying to rethink and reimagine what life could be in SC. Good luck and keep us posted!!

Fred

9/14/2020 04:36:21 pm

Just saw your house tour on YouTube. I can’t wait to see your progress.

Phethia

9/16/2020 10:10:19 am

So excited to see you embark on this new journey thank you for sharing with us

Marcy Fonseca

9/16/2020 02:44:12 pm

Hi, I just saw the clip on the house on YouTube. I am very excited for you and can't wait to see your beautiful finished home.

Geraldine Nagy link

9/17/2020 08:40:41 am

I had my weeding pictures taking on that beautiful staircase, that was my Aunt and Uncles home on 14 st. I'd love to see what you have done to this one time beautiful house. Call me 7406351/27, thank you so much.

MJ Cespedes

9/17/2020 08:21:06 pm

Hi Betsy! I just came across a YouTube video from Monica’s channel and it was perfect!! So perfect that I was upset when it ended and I thought it was an old video, so I was eagerly going to look for an update until I saw the date and realized it was recent... so you can imagine how super duper ultra mega excited I am to see the process and follow you along this journey! I’m a sucker for historical places and much like you I’ve always been curious about the unseen spots of old buildings; I’m from Costa Rica and in our capital city San Jose, we still have beautiful original buildings from the 1800s when France was our biggest influencer, so the architecture is beautiful. And as I grew up I fell in love with every building I stepped foot in and learning the history of every place was a dream. Fun fact: San Jose was the 3rd city in the world with electricity. Anywho, I hope one day in the future we can sit and have a chat while we drink tea... or coffee if you’re that type of gal, I would love to hear your stories! Xoxo take care :)

Charmaine Cooper

9/19/2020 04:39:16 pm

Hi Betsy, hello from Australia! We have old towns with gorgeous buildings that need some love too. Activating a place and bringing new people to the town is so important.. And with many realising they can work from home it sounds like it won't be long before you're joined by more enthusiastic, likeminded people. Will be following your progress with interest and hope one day to visit Wheeling. Best wishes!

P. S. Plant some trees in your garden asap. They'll grow and give you joy as you focus on the house but also be established when you're ready to create that secret garden. A lesson I learnt with our home.

Louisa Flores

9/20/2020 04:15:55 am

Would you consider reaching out to this old house for assistance and a collaboration?

Jacob Tracy

9/21/2020 06:35:19 pm

love love love! Maybe you can give me some pointers on getting a construction loan, I'm roughly the same age, and I'm working on a 1925 Craftsman in Kansas. Like you said about say, DC, I can't afford to do this kind of thing in my native Colorado, so once I get the basics in the house, or maybe a camper to live in while I renovate??? I'm off to Kansas! house is bought, might as well finish it right?

Jazmon

9/22/2020 07:20:33 pm

Here from Monica's channel also! Can't wait to see how the house turns out! Maybe she can come back after it's done for a reveal video!

Penelope Lloyd

9/23/2020 10:34:21 am

Exciting project. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress from Cape Town in South Africa.

Brenda Borenstein link

9/23/2020 04:29:12 pm

The project looks amazing, you must be a top notch problem solver and project manager. Excite to watch your journey. Best if luck.

Lorraine Christie

9/24/2020 03:54:23 pm

Just saw your house tour on YouTube. Good luck!

Aly

9/24/2020 07:42:12 pm

Your renovating your beautiful home reminds me of Ally McBeal! I can’t wait for you to be done your going to love it and that’s so exciting! I’ve always loved historical buildings!

David Lohrey

9/25/2020 04:36:46 am

Looks great. Envy you. Love working on houses. Congratulations and best wishes.

Theresa Boedeker link

9/26/2020 12:24:52 pm

I saw you on Monica Church's Youtube channel. Wow! Great house and what a fun project.

Linda Em

9/26/2020 08:51:16 pm

Over 40 years ago I admired the rickety old brownstones in Long Island City New York and dreamed about what it would take to restore on. Never did and now, of course, couldn't touch it for the cost. Always was fascinated with old little houses. At my age don't think it will happen but I will enjoy seeing what your do with this place. Tempted to pack it all in and come out. your way and get a house with a cafe downstairs so people can meet by the river. That's my dream.

Wendy Hoechstetter link

10/9/2020 06:09:37 pm

I also just found you through Monica Church’s YouTube video, and love the house!

As others have suggested, I think a YouTube channel would be great, but I would also like to follow the blog. I don’t see a subscription option, though; perhaps you could add one?

I also didn’t know that Wheeling is revitalizing. I live in Pittsburgh, and am in need of less expensive housing, as well as dream of doing rehabs like this, but prices have gotten pretty high here. I might just mosey on down there one of these days and take a look around.

I’d be very worried about finding work, though; it’s hard enough up here. Your job does sound like a dream. I’m an interior designer with a strong interest in preservation, among other things.

Cindy Schulte

9/27/2020 10:38:53 am

Love your house. Can't wait to ses the finished project! Congrats!

Anita Peralta

10/3/2020 07:58:04 am

Hi, I just saw stumbled onto your video on YouTube. I visited Sistersville WV 22 years ago. I love the charm and architecture of the small towns in WV. I can't wait to see what you do with your house in Wheeling!

Danielle M Rathjens

10/18/2020 02:22:10 pm

Hi Betsy!
Your house is going to be amazing! I can't wait to see what the old girl will look like when you're done renovating!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees great potential in these small river towns. Most people think I'm crazy when I tell them I want to move out there.

I live in Las Vegas which is basically cookie cutter hell. Everything here is fake and we implode anything old. We are kinda crazy/adventurous too. We started looking on zillow a year ago in the rust belt. The hubby and I love the buildings and the low prices. We flew into Pittsburgh in August and got to see a couple of old homes in Carrollton, Oh. I hope one day I can convince our family that it's a good ideal to leave and raise our children in the country.

Mulvenea

11/5/2020 06:56:23 am

Would love to know the history of this fine house. Hoping that can be included in your blog/vlog.

Sree

11/11/2020 08:45:01 am

Congrats on your home ! I think you need a YouTube channel . Will be worth to see the videos and you can recover the costs you spent on this home very quickly . ROI at least 25% will be a great deal

Marillien M Hannen

3/5/2021 11:54:18 am

I would like to get in touch with you about a historic home in Wellsburg WV, only about 40 minutes from wheeling WV. If you could please email me thank you

Patti Hores

5/7/2021 07:34:05 pm

I grew up at 175 14th St from 1952 till 1966. My parents, Iolanda Knez Bruce & John Bruce knew the Antonucci's and their in-laws, at 173 14th Street, Rosa and Romeo Collinvitti. They were my sister, Melinda's , godparents. We all attended the Cathedral Catholic Church. I wholeheartedly admire the work you are doing. East Wheeling was a wonderful place to live. Thank you for caring. Patti Bruce Hores

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