Houses with History is an HGTV show featuring three passionate preservationists looking to restore historic homes in New England. The historic home of Scituate High School alumni Sarah and Ellie Snow (Class of 2022) is featured this season. 

Built in 1750, the Snow’s antique Cape was due for renovations, but their mother, Kathy Fisher, didn’t want it to be done by just anyone. She wanted to find visionary renovators who could update the home while preserving its historic charm. This led Fisher to apply for the show Houses with History. After two months of casting interviews, the hosts of the show, Mike Lemieux, Rich Soares, and Jennifer MacDonald, gave them a date to begin the project.  

The home’s renovation lasted five months; therefore, the family lived with Fisher’s fiancé, Rick Welch. With five large bedrooms, two staircases, and five fireplaces throughout the home, this was no small project. However, Houses with History’s talented crew of specialists were certainly up to the task. History buff Mike Lemieux, carpenter Rich Soares, and designer Jen MacDonald made the perfect team for this project. The three completely renovated and expanded the kitchen, added a bathroom and walk-in closet to the primary bedroom, and updated the upstairs–all while maintaining the home’s historical elements. The kitchen’s wooden beams from old shipwrecks were beautifully preserved, and the antique flooring and grand central fireplace were maintained. The wood from the walls was even repurposed as the base for the kitchen island. The team certainly knew how to celebrate the history of this home.

Throughout the renovation, the team made several historical discoveries. As they knocked down walls in one of the upstairs bedrooms, they found a bonnet and a pair of children’s pants in the ceiling. After a specialist examined the items, the preservationists determined they belonged to a child about 200 years ago. 

According to Sarah and Ellie Snow, the family is pleased with the renovation results, as their expanded home is more functional but still as charming as before. 

The Houses with History episode highlights the extraordinary end product and features a beautiful success story for the homeowners. While the home was being renovated, Fisher and Welch were married, and the middle of the episode features clips from the ceremony. By the end of the episode, the newly married couple can’t wait to see their renovated historic home.

This episode is a beautiful story of history, love, and new beginnings. Season 2 Episode 2, “The One With All the Shipwrecks,” airs at 9:00 p.m. on April 22nd. You won’t want to miss it!