Written by Patsy Stoddard
It’s a project that has spanned more that a year and half for the Weber family, but the history of this restoration goes back to the 1890s. This historic pioneer property belonged to the Nelson family. It’s been in the family for generations. JR Nelson said he was going to use the old house as a shed, but Merlin and Melody Weber had different plans for the property.
Their vision was to turn the property into a short term rental. It’s going up on the Air bnb property rental site later today. The pioneer home of Nelson’s grandparents and great-grandparents is now a sight to behold. The house has been completely modernized and updated while still retaining the history and integrity of the home.
The roof was repaired and the native brick was cleaned and patched as needed. The entire home was updated with electricity and plumbing essentials. There are two modern bathrooms now. The kitchen is completely modern with new cupboards and appliances. There is a sitting room, dining room and a laundry room.
Merlin said they are still working on the yard and grounds but the house is ready.
A new wood floor has been added which is reminiscent of the original floor. The staircase has been maintained but the railings were raised because the railing was so short Melody said that someone could easily fall over the edge. The original railing was taken down and made into two benches for the back patio. A new railing was installed on the stairs which lead to the three upstairs bedrooms. Melody toldhow as she was sanding and finishing the sides of the stairs, she was covering up children’s drawings on the stairs. The Webers have also added stained glass above each of the doors.
The Weber’s daughter Britt will manage the property and do the listing and advertising. They have named the home the Millsite house. The project involved a lot of different contributors. When it came time to lay the sod a large group of volunteers showed up to help. Derek Beagley and his construction crew did the majority of the renovation to the home. The Webers did a lot of the painting and Britt installed the tile in the laundry room and the bathrooms.
The project has been a labor of love for the family as they hated to see a historic part of Ferron fall into ruin. The home has gingerbread trim around the front porch. Merlin said all those who worked on the home marveled at the craftsmanship of the home. The original home was very well built and the pioneer craftsmanship has stood the test of time. The structure was still strong although the interior had aged through the years.
If you would like to see this magical renovation yourself, the Webers are hosting an Open House on April 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.
The family also operates another short term rental property in Ferron which has done very well.
The Emery County Business Chamber welcomed the Millsite House to the Emery County business community with a ribbon cutting. Local Matters. Support this new Emery County business by recommending it to your friends and family who are visiting the area. Andy Urbanik the chamber president presented the Webers with a plaque and a gold dollar to signify earning their first dollar with the business. Good Luck with your new venture.