Long before House 173 became a blog, it was already being carefully documented one journal entry at a time
I've been completely transparent about this blog since the beginning - it's primarily a way to chronicle the developments of ol' 173, just to know when what was done. A side effect is that I get to share those developments to those who may be interested.
This isn't a fancy blog, and it sure isn't as polished as so many of the blogs I follow, but it's a fun little hobby in itself. Legacy Posts are a new addition.
The Journal That Started It All
They will be based on journal entries about projects that occurred in the years before I knew about blogging. I don't recall where I got this journal...
Before There Was a Blog
...but it was a fun way of tracking our progress. I guess it kind of shows my interest in chronicling the changes in 173 since the beginning!
Looking back, I realize I wasn't just keeping track of projects, I was quietly preserving the history of the house. Every receipt, sketch, photograph, and journal entry captured a little piece of 173 at a particular moment in time. None of it seemed especially important while I was writing it, but twenty-some years later those little notes have become some of my favorite possessions. They remind me that houses don't change all at once. They evolve one weekend, one project, and one memory at a time.
The first Legacy Post will be based on entries about the carport back in 2002. Of course there have been a couple posts about the carport over the years: July 3, 2011 and July 3, 2016. Holy cats! I never notices they were both done on the 3rd of July!
The Carport in 2002
Anyway, back in 2002 the carport looked like it had for decades:
As a matter-of-fact, here's a shot from the '70s:
Reading My Old Notes
Here's the entry from the journal:
Kinda fun looking back at these entries! And look at that - $45 for my reciprocating saw! That thing has been so useful! Here's what the carport ended up looking like in '02:
Look at that corner of the yard! Hard to believe it looked so bare!
Twenty Years Later
Here's a more recent picture, taken after the second remodel:
And there's the first Legacy Post! A nice little trip down memory lane!
______________________________
This post reminded me that history isn't only found in museums.
Sometimes it's tucked inside an old notebook sitting on a shelf.
The journal pages fascinated me more than the construction photos. Anyone can take a before-and-after picture, but very few people think to write down what happened while they're living it. Twenty years later, those notes become something far more valuable than a project log, they become a time machine.
I also enjoyed seeing the same corner of the property across multiple decades. The 1970s photograph, the 2002 remodel, and the present-day view quietly tell the story of a house that has been cared for continuously rather than renovated all at once. That's a much more authentic picture of homeownership than the television version where everything changes in a weekend.
What struck me most, though, was realizing that House 173 didn't actually begin when the blog did. It began much earlier, with someone who thought, "I'd better write this down so I don't forget." The blog simply gave those old journal entries a second life, allowing the rest of us to enjoy them too. It's a reminder that today's ordinary notes may become tomorrow's family history. - The Amateur Historian
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Legacy Projects on House 173?
Legacy Projects revisit renovations completed before the House 173 blog existed. Using old journals, photographs, receipts, and memories, these posts document the earlier chapters in the home's ongoing restoration.
Why keep a renovation journal?
A journal preserves details that photographs alone often can't capture, including project dates, costs, materials used, lessons learned, and personal reflections. Years later, it becomes both a practical reference and a historical record of the home's evolution.
Why document old projects years later?
Many of the most significant improvements to House 173 happened before blogging became common. Revisiting those projects helps complete the history of the house and shows how today's landscape and workshop grew from much simpler beginnings.
How has the carport changed over the years?
The carport has undergone multiple renovations since 2002. What began as a straightforward improvement eventually became part of a much larger transformation of the backyard, workshop, and surrounding landscape.
Do old journals really help with homeownership?
Absolutely. Beyond recording expenses and dates, they preserve the stories behind projects—the reasoning, challenges, and memories that would otherwise fade over time. They often become as valuable as the finished work itself.
Keywords
Legacy Project, carport remodel, renovation journal, House 173, home improvement history, old house restoration, DIY carport, home renovation timeline, before and after, homeowner journal