Deadwood writes off $388K from HP revolving loan program - Black Hills Pioneer: Deadwood

Here's an article about how Deadwood handled the loans we had taken out to help restore our historic home...It's too bad it had to come to this...

Deadwood writes off $388K from HP revolving loan program - Black Hills Pioneer: Deadwood

Giving up!

Here are pictures of the Bennett House finally with new siding!  Unfortunately, we never recovered after the major setback we had in 2011 (failed retaining wall) and are over our heads in debt.  Therefore, we have declared bankruptcy and eventually will be leaving this house.  Hopefully, the new owners will finish it to its original glory!

General Dawson Room

This room is ready for guests!

Something new in the Bennett House!

Protecting Your Family During Home Renovations

submitted by Brian Turner, health and safety blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/brian/

As America’s housing market continues to suffer, home renovations are gaining momentum. Rather than putting their house up for sale, more people are choosing to renovate, remodel and re-purpose their homes. Homeowners are tearing down walls and gutting old homes to create modern, contemporary living spaces.

If you are one of the many homeowners who are tackling a home renovation, take heed: your house may be harboring toxic chemicals and building materials. No matter the scope or scale of your project, it can potentially expose you and your family to serious health dangers. Some hazards are obvious: pesticides, battery fluid or glue. Others are hidden in your home’s paint, insulation, pipes and thermostats.

Exposure to these toxic substances can cause serious, long-term health problems for you and your family. Extended or repeated exposure only increases your risks. If you are embarking on a do-it-yourself project to improve the livability of your home, not to mention its resale value, remember to protect yourself and others from potential health threats.

Insulation Dangers

Insulation may be the most dangerous material you can encounter during a home renovation, especially if you live in an older home. Houses that were built before the 1980s usually contain asbestos material for the insulation. A fibrous mineral substance, asbestos is durable, heat-resistant and flame-retardant. It is also a known carcinogen.

Asbestos exposure often leads to respiratory diseases. Among them are lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the lining of your body’s internal organs. Neither lung cancer nor mesothelioma carries a good prognosis. Most people who are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers have short life expectancies.

If you think your home was insulated with asbestos material, contact a professional removal company. Solid, intact asbestos is generally not a health hazard but damaged asbestos must be repaired or removed by licensed contractors who are trained to handle the toxin.

House Paint Dangers

Lead and mercury are two known toxins in old house paint. The lead particles and mercury fumes in paint chips or dust can cause serious respiratory problems. They can also cause developmental and neurological disorders.

Mercury and lead are considered hazardous household waste, and you should use extreme caution when working with materials that contain these substances. Plastic sheeting can help contain these substances to your work area and keep them away from the rest of your house. Cleaning paint dust and chips with a damp rag can help prevent the disbursement of toxic particles into the air.

Chemical Dangers

The household products you need during a renovation can also pose health risks. From household bleach to cleansers and removal products, your house is home to numerous toxic chemicals. Each bottle or container poses a risk of spillage, and chemical interactions can harm you and your family members.

Old, under-the-sink chemical products, old furniture, renovation scraps and other clutter are items that require removal during a renovation. Call your city or county offices for instructions on proper disposal. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) lists hundreds of dangerous chemicals on its website. Knowledge and awareness of these various toxins can keep your family safe during a home renovation.

Kitchen appliances and vinyl flooring

This project WILL be finished in 2013!!

First day of fall 2012

We still have a lot of work to do before winter sets in!

Help finish/furnish the new Bennett House B&B in Deadwood!

Help finish/furnish the new Bennett House B&B in Deadwood!: The restoration is almost complete, but we need help furnishing guest rooms for the brand new Bennett House B&B before the Deadwood Jam in September!

Kitchen cabinets

We hope to move in around the middle of June!!

Walls, steps, and patio are almost done!

This rock was placed by Sam Bell of Signature Masonry,

(970) 988-0514, on Valentine's Day 2012.  Sweet!

This gives you an idea how tall the back wall is! 

We're looking forward to grilling/relaxing on our new patio.

They're putting the old railings back on!

We will put a wooden stairway between this wall and the new garage. 

It will go to a pathway to the back door into the kitchen.

I like the rockwork on the sides of the steps, too.

New stuff

You know move-in day is getting close when you put in a toilet with running water!

Retaining wall progress

Dry wall progress

Article in Black Hills Pioneer

Bennett House Restoration way beyond a labor of love - Black Hills Pioneer: Local News: DEADWOOD — Fixing up the family home in Deadwood sounded like a
good idea to Jim Fletcher since he and his wife, Donna, stayed there
on weekends during the summer and on occasion the rest of the year.... (click the link above to read the rest of the story).

Rebuilding the Retaining Walls

Do you want to make a guess as to when it will be completed?

Sam Bell, Sr., 3rd-generation mason, of Signature Masonry (970) 988-0514.