This Old House Hour Season 12 Episode 10 The Arlington Italianate | Old House Discoveries

In the twelfth season of This Old House Hour, the audience is taken on a journey where two iconic shows, This Old House and Ask This Old House, come together to explore some of the most amazing old houses around the U.S. In episode ten of this season, named "The Arlington Italianate | Old House Discoveries," they explore the enchanting Victorian Italianate mansion in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Throughout the episode, the team explores the beauty of this magnificent house, what it has to offer, and what kind of unique secrets it holds with its old design. Richard Trethewey starts off the episode with a tour of the basement, showing the century-old clay tiles and cracking concrete floor, revealing the dire need for repairs. They also find the original boiler that has been operational and functional since 1887. Richard is impressed with its condition and the team decides to keep it in service for the time being.

Tom Silva then meets up with the homeowners and presents his ideas for repairing the damaged front door of the house. He suggests that instead of replacing the door, they should retain and repair it as it maintains the original character of the house. This Old House's lead carpenter, Jeff Sweenor, is then shown exploring the intricate details of the fireplace mantels, which have beautiful carvings and have retained their original charm throughout the years. Jeff has to replicate some of the damaged pieces of the mantel to restore its glory.

The house also presented some unique challenges for the team. Kevin O'Connor meets up with mason Mark McCullough to explore the tower in the room, and how it is being used to store books that have been accumulating for over 30 years. The team discusses the need for a more stable yard to store books and gives a quick lesson on how to build masonry walls.

Lead electrician Heath Eastman and apprentice Adam Verdasco are shown upgrading the wiring and lighting, allowing the family to have more efficient lighting without having to compromise the historic charm of the house. They work on upgrading the antique chandelier in the foyer, rewiring and affixing it to the original mounting plate.

As the episode progresses, the team also uncovers some surprising secrets that include a bottle of bubble fluid from the 1939 World's Fair, a postcard from 1905 showing the house, and an old door-key that may have belonged to a previous homeowner. The discovery of an ancient window shutter hinge on the porch brings some excitement to the team. They discuss the design and the importance of restoring it to maintain a historical look.

This Old House Hour season 12 episode 10 titled "The Arlington Italianate | Old House Discoveries," is a fascinating show for anyone interested in architecture. The episode shows the skill, passion, and dedication of the Old House team towards restoring, rebuilding, and preserving century-old houses. It is an excellent series for those who want to learn about old house restoration, preservation, and history. The Arlington Italianate mansion is an excellent example of how restoration work can restore the charm and beauty of a historical house.