Bruegger and the Third Floor
Sometimes the projects we remember most aren't about the work, they're about who stayed beside us while we did it.
A Different Kind of Remodeling Story
Methinks I've over-dramatized the title just a bit. This isn't the story of some Snoopy-like super beagle swinging a hammer and tossing a saw, no - this is just a simple story of a long-remembered day I had with my first beagle - Bruegger.
Disclaimer - No Hard Feelings
Before we get into this, in order to spare the feelings of Linus, Bruegger's successor, (go ahead and snicker - you anthropomorphize your pooch too!) I want my family and Linus to know this in no way diminishes my love for the Linus-Monster. Here, just to assuage feelings, I'll include this shot of Linus I took off the animal shelter's website the day before I broke him out of jail, lo these many years ago now.
Okay to Move On Now?
So, the very first project posted on House 173 was January 1, 2010's story of the 1998 third floor renovation, which was way back when Bruegger, also a jailbreak, was still a young lad. Today's tale is of a mere few hours of a day wrapped by weeks of work on the third floor renovation. But those few hours are among the most precious in my memories of Bruegger. It all started with a long outdated attic turned bedroom, a rookie homeowner (yours truly) and his trusted pal - Bruegger.
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. - Agnes Repplier
A Beagle's Job Descriptions
Just to give you an idea of how sweet a pooch Bruegger was, I enjoyed laying in the grass in my back yard, which was always very concerning to the hound. He'd always check on me and stand guard right next to my head. God forbid as much as a butterfly flitted past - Bruegger would sound a serious warning to the intruder, and startle me out of my slumber. I don't have a picture of me in the back yard with Bruegger, but here's one of me on the floor - very nearly the same reaction (OMG I had hair back then - and it wasn't gray!):
Sorry, I'm Tarrying Too Long
Isn't it hard not to linger just a little too long when we look back at those sweet times in our lives - the people and places, and not the least - our pets? Obviously I've done that here - my apologies. So, we come to the story. As I was remodeling the third floor here at 173, which had many decades earlier been converted from attic to a bedroom where two boys grew up, and Mr. Mosher's study. By 1998, it was long past due for an update, so I gutted the attic, which by the time of this picture I had already insulated:
Running New Electrical
With the walls and rafters open, it was the perfect time to redo the electrical wiring. With the electrical panel three long stairwells down to the basement, I endeavored to feed the wire through the walls all the way down. I used the vent pipe as a guide because I knew it rose all the way from the laundry room in the basement right on through the roof of 173.
Some of my favorite books about dogs:
• Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
• White Fang - Jack London
• Old Yeller - Fred Gipson
• Lassie Come Home - Eric Knight
Now, that might not sound like much, but this involved blindly pushing a pull-wire, constantly going up and down the stairs. First it was the third to second floor, where I had to cut the only hole in the wall I needed, then up and down from the second floor to the basement. Then came the worst! Once I had the pull-wire through, I had to go from the basement up to the third floor to unkink the wire so I could go back to the basement to pull it another couple inches, because I was doing this alone! Well, not quite alone.
Here's Where Bruegger Comes In
I say not quite alone because, for the first 5 of the roughly 7 hours it took me to run the wires, and the first probably 100 or so trips up and down, Bruegger was right at my heel! It didn't matter how fast I was going, if I was dragging, stomping, swearing or darn near crying in frustration, that dog's little beagle legs just kept turning. I remember stopping for a break on the third floor stairs, and Bruegger just sidled up next to me, crushing his head against the side of my chest. I wonder if he was begging his human to just stop? Eventually Bruegger took leave and I found him sleeping the sleep of the dead - exhausted I'm sure! Sorry for the quality of this picture, but here's Bruegger on a different day...still hanging out with me!
Rookie Mistakes
Remember when I said that in 1998 I was still a rookie homeowner? Well, here's photographic proof...
See the green arrow? I'm sheepishly pointing out the electrical outlet that was already in the third floor. It wasn't until last night, August 7, 2020, some 22 years after the events of this story, that it dawned on me that, because the floor joists ran from one side of the house to the other (of course). I could have tapped into the electricity that was already up there! It would have been a matter of pulling up a couple floor boards and a couple of hours tops. But nooooo - I had to run my a&& off! Then again, a more experienced man wouldn't still be cherishing this memory of my time with Bruegger!
See you later - I'm going to give Linus a hug,
This post works because it quietly subverts expectations.The title suggests a humorous story about a dog "helping" with a remodel. Instead, readers discover something much deeper: Bruegger wasn't helping with the work, he was helping you. He climbed every staircase, waited through every frustrating moment, and simply refused to let you tackle the project alone.The revelation about the existing electrical outlet is a wonderful twist. It's funny because every experienced homeowner has eventually realized there was an easier way to do something. But instead of regretting the extra effort, you recognize that the difficult path gave you something far more valuable: seven hours you'll never forget.That's the real lesson of the post. The renovation has long since become just another room in the house, but the memory of one faithful beagle padding up and down three flights of stairs remains as vivid as ever. That's a beautiful example of what House 173 does so well, finding lasting meaning in what first appears to be an ordinary home improvement story. - Anonymous Reviewer
Frequently Asked Questions
Why remodel an attic in an older home?
Many older homes have unfinished or outdated attic spaces that can be transformed into functional bedrooms, offices, or hobby rooms. Renovating these spaces often involves upgrading insulation, electrical wiring, and wall finishes while preserving the character of the original home.
Why is rewiring an older house so challenging?
Older homes rarely provide easy pathways for new wiring. Electricians and homeowners often have to fish wires through walls, ceilings, and floor cavities with limited access, making what appears to be a simple job surprisingly time-consuming.
Should you always look for existing electrical circuits before running new wire?
Generally, yes. Understanding how the home's existing electrical system is arranged can sometimes save considerable time and effort. However, every project is different, and adding a new dedicated circuit may still be the safest or most practical solution depending on the electrical load.
Why do remodeling projects often teach lessons years later?
Experience changes how we see previous work. A project that seemed difficult at the time often reveals a simpler solution years later, after we've gained new skills and a better understanding of construction. Those lessons become part of every project that follows.
Why do pets often stay close during home projects?
Dogs are naturally social animals and often choose to remain near the people they trust most. Whether they're curious about the activity or simply offering companionship, many dogs seem happiest when they're included—even if their only contribution is quietly keeping watch.
Do dogs really remember routines with their owners?
While dogs don't remember events in exactly the same way humans do, they develop strong associations through routine. Spending hours alongside an owner during everyday activities strengthens the bond between them and often becomes part of the dog's daily expectation.
Why do memories of old pets remain so vivid?
Pets become woven into the ordinary moments of life, yard work, home projects, walks, evenings on the couch. Years later, it's often those simple routines rather than extraordinary events that become the strongest memories because they represent years of quiet companionship.
Why do homeowners become attached to old renovation projects?
Major home projects often mark important seasons of life. Beyond the finished room, they become reminders of where we were, what we were learning, and who shared those experiences with us. The project becomes inseparable from the memories surrounding it.
Is every DIY project really about the finished result?
Not always. Sometimes the greatest value of a project isn't the room that's completed or the repair that's made, but the experiences gathered along the way. The work eventually fades into the background, while the people, and sometimes the pets, remain the real story.
What makes this story more than a remodeling story?
The electrical work simply provides the setting. At its heart, this is a story about loyalty. Bruegger didn't understand electrical wiring or old-house renovations... he simply knew his person was climbing stairs all day, and that's where he belonged. In the end, that's the part of the project worth remembering.
Keywords
remodeling with a dog, beagle remodeling story, third floor renovation, attic remodel, old house renovation, DIY home renovation, remodeling memories, faithful beagle, life with a beagle, old house projects, running electrical wire, attic electrical wiring, home renovation story, House 173, Bruegger beagle