Coming up with a plan

So I get a lot of people asking, “What are you gonna do with that place? How long will it take? How much is it going to cost you?” Let’s dive into those questions.

First, this is a long term project. We are talking 10+ years, realistically speaking. I’m still working through all the details and finding all the right people. I’ve found some amazing people so far, so I know that we can accomplish our goals. It’s just gonna take some time.

Second, this stands a strong chance of being pretty expensive. I’m just a rural family doc in West by God Virginia, so it’s not like I’m sitting on a small family fortune to fund this. So far, I’m footing a mortgage payment for the property and when we need cash to get stuff done, I just take whatever extra I’ve saved up and make an investment in the future. Through some of the contacts I’ve made thus far, we are finding help for certain aspects of the project. I anticipate that I’ll keep making new friends and reaching out to groups to find the support we need to keep moving forward. As this project will take a full renovation of the property and then finding the right people to work with me, I anticipate the financial need to be in the tens of millions. I plan to apply for grants. I plan to take out business loans. I plan to find appropriately minded financial sponsors. We are already in the process of setting up a 501(c)(3), so you’ll be able to help out soon, too!

For the meat of this post, what the heck am I going to do? I’m going to do what I’ve been doing all along, dream.

When I was in residency at WVU SOM/WVUH in Morgantown, we helped take care of the residents at Sundale Nursing Home. It was an amazing experience for me. Granted, the o’dark thirty pages with normal lab values and simple coughs weren’t always the most pleasant, but the residents opened my mind to the future of elder care. I dreamt of nursing homes with open floor plans and green space. I dreamt of raising food and actively involving residents with digging in the dirt and eating fresh veggies straight out of the garden. I envisioned having animals on property and the smiles that chicks, ducklings, piglets, and calves bring. My dream for a better model of elder care was born.

Fast forward to 2024, and an opportunity presented itself. To be honest, I really didn’t imagine I’d win the bid. If you read my prior story, you know that it was a bit of an “oh sh!t” moment for me. However, I took the message that it was time for me to act on my dreams.

Step 1: find a location. We got that! Big home, 3 stories, 50,000+ sq ft of usable space, 15 acres of woods and a pond. The Odd Fellows still own some of the other property around the site and I’m hopeful they will help build this dream with me. There’s an additional 15 acre farm down in the flood plain, there’s a 2.5 acre orchard, there’s a 1 acre vineyard, and there’s the ~8 acre property across the street with the barn and caretaker’s house. The Randolph County Development Commission owns the 90+ acres of farmland across the street, so perhaps they’ll be nice in the future, too…. wink wink.

Step 2: establish historic status. We’re working on that! I have a wonderful team of folks who have pointed me in the right direction and now I have a Preservationist Consultant on my side. I’m not sure how long it will take, but historic status will open a ton of doors for opportunity. This will also help with establishing a reputable historic architect to come up with the details of the long term renovation. I already have a lead on that, stay tuned.

Step 3: establish a nonprofit organization. Also another thing we’re working on! Mike Bell & Associates has been hired to help us through the process. Some initial paperwork has been filed. We are building the board of directors. Once we have our nonprofit status, more doors will be opened for opportunity.

Step 4: environmental cleanup. As with all old buildings, there’s going to be unsavory things found on site. Our biggest one is asbestos. We’ve already contacted the WV DEP and have some contractors lined up. We’re getting estimates on costs. It’s not ridiculous, but it also isn’t cheap. We’re working with the Brownfields Group to help align a better plan to get this accomplished. Stay tuned!

Step 5: the start of true renovation. Once we get a full architectural plan and break out all the fine details, then we can start acting on those details. Much of the inside is quite old, so there will be a lot of demolition work as we remove the old plaster and lath. We will be doing our best to reclaim as much of the original woodwork and tin in the building, so we can maintain the original look. The entire home will need to be rewired for electric and internet, new plumbing, sprinkler systems, etc. We will likely need to invest in a new elevator. Since the home is over 100 years old, we’re going to apply for REAP grants to help with windows, insulation, and anything else to assist with energy efficiency. To add to that, we can also think about other efficiency items and renewable energy, like geothermal heating and cooling, solar power generation, wind turbine power generation, etc. The overarching theme is to maintain its original character while bringing it up to current standards and prepare for the future. This will be the lengthiest and costliest part of the whole project.

Step 6: the start of our first residents. I’m anticipating independent living and assisted living. The rigors of a true nursing home status are a bit more that what I believe the property can manage. I’m leaving the option open, but I’m going to stick with something that I know will work. The goal is to have a mixed living situation that allows everyone a safe and happy environment, while offering all the amenities of a modern homestead. We also plan to house as much of their medical care in house that we can, from counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, speech therapy, massage therapy, case management, etc. With a farm/garden on property, we will also be looking into botanicals, herbals, and other natural remedies. This will be when we start looking to the community to hire staff and find the right individuals to join the team. We’ll be looking for people with a variety of skills because this isn’t just elder care, it’s cooking and canning food, it’s gardening, it’s taking care of animals, it’s so much more.

Step 7: doesn’t have to wait, it’s the start of our farm. Granted, we have to get the farm grounds, the orchard, the vineyard, and hopefully the barn, but we can start as soon as the land is available. This is where we start prepping our land for growing the food we will need. I imagine a mix of rotating pastures for grazing animals, greenhouses, fruit trees, berry bushes, raised beds, flowers, and a plethora of other things. If we start before there are residents, we can feed our community through community supported agriculture and farmer’s markets. We can experiment with growing practices: no till growing, regenerative agriculture, etc. We can build an orchard with fruit trees and berry bushes and flowers (can take 5+ years to mature). We can build our trelises for the vineyard (3+ years to maturity for new vines). We can start raising some of our animals and building our herd/flock. The agriculture side of the project can remain separate but intimately involved with everything else that is going on.

Throughout this whole project, the mission of the property will be growing and actively involving the community. We don’t need functional living space to teach about regenerative farming, permaculture orchards, woodworking, metal working, sewing, canning, and other aspects of self sufficiency. We will also share the robust history of the IOOF and the home, and its impact on our community in the early and mid 1900’s. We plan to grow this program in parallel with the renovations and development of the property. Education is at the core of our outreach. We wish to touch the lives of as many people in our community and abroad as we can.

So, as you can see, I’m a dreamer. This project is still in its infancy, but it can grow to be so much more. I hope you all stick around with me to see where this will go.

Stay tuned!

It all begins with a bid

It all started on a bit of a whim. In June of 2024, I saw a property go up for auction on all the social media sites. “Buy a piece of history” they said. “The possibilities are endless!” When I clicked through, it was a building/property that was about a mile or so from my home. 99 bedrooms. 21+ baths. 50,000+ sq ft of space on about 15 acres of woodlands. I asked my wife what she thought. She told me, “You’ll never win, but what does it hurt to put in a bid in?” So I did.

I dreamed a little. I checked in periodically to see if my bid was still the highest. As the final date of July 11th approached, I anticipated I would be outbid any day.

Oddly enough, I was on night shift that week. I had debated waking up early and going over to the final auction. However, I chose not to. I slept to my normal time of about 4pm. I woke up. I started my normal evening routine to get ready for work. Then, shortly after 5pm, my phone rang. “Unknown Caller” on the screen. I never pick those up. 30 seconds later, I get the ding of a new voicemail. As I listened, the voice came through good and clear “Hey, is this Garrett Butler? This is Joe Pyle from Joe Pyle Auctions and you’ve just won an auction! Give us a call back because we need you to sign some papers.”

The first thought through my head was “oh, sh!t”. I called my parents and told them to meet me over there. I tossed on my work clothes and packed my things. Then, I took that fateful drive that started this whole adventure. I signed all the papers. I met all the people. Shook all the hands. Sweating bullets the entire time. “What the heck did I get myself into?”

And so the story has continued to grow since then and will continue to grow. I’ve had an outpouring of support from the community. Friends and family are genuinely excited for this project and the future that it will bring. I have so many ideas. I want to do so much with this. Stick around. It’s gonna get a lot more fun around here.