A Grave Undertaking: Adventures in a Haunted Funeral Home
A Grave Undertaking: Adventures in a Haunted Funeral Home (Investigating the Haunted)
By Richard Estep
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
I had no idea who the Blumbergs were until I read this book. I’m not real up on reality TV or home renovation/DIY programs. I do have to say though if I were to ever renovate a house it would be similar in style to these folks. I myself would not be intimidated that the structure once housed a funeral parlor. In fact, it’s compelling to me. I’d jump at it! The first few chapters are getting to know the family and the house. There’s a little bit about the history of the place. As this is a small town of course all the locals have stories of their own. It’s actually kinda nice to have someone come in and breath new life into an old building like this. And from what I have seen the renovations that are completed are amazing. True that the style is not necessarily for everyone (these are people after my own heart but I understand) you have to at least appreciate the amazing outcome (even though it is not finished at the time this book was written). The description of the house from the tour that they go on is great. Richard just has a way with words.
Photo: Business Insider, "I turned a 150-year-old funeral home into a mansion for my family. We have 38 rooms, a casket bar, and sometimes we hear footsteps or doors opening." as told to Alyshia Hull
Click pic to read article
Photo: Business Insider, "I turned a 150-year-old funeral home into a mansion for my family. We have 38 rooms, a casket bar, and sometimes we hear footsteps or doors opening." as told to Alyshia Hull
Caption reads: The center of the house doesn’t have a lot of natural light, so I used that as an excuse to create an indoor enchanted forest. Heather Blumberg
Click pic to read article
Photo: Business Insider, "I turned a 150-year-old funeral home into a mansion for my family. We have 38 rooms, a casket bar, and sometimes we hear footsteps or doors opening." as told to Alyshia Hull
Click pic to read article
Caption Reads: We didn’t want to just trash the box, xo decided to frame the box as an artistic nod to the 100+ years the home was used for funerals. Heather Blumberg
Make it stand outPhoto: Business Insider, "I turned a 150-year-old funeral home into a mansion for my family. We have 38 rooms, a casket bar, and sometimes we hear footsteps or doors opening." as told to Alyshia Hull
Click pic to read article
Caption Reads: All the lighting, seating and glassware is sourced from auctions and online markets, keeping this a very budget friendly and unique space. Heather Blumberg
If you happen to be a fan of cocktails then the fact that there are cocktail recipes at the end of each chapter really cool. This format is not one that I have seen other than in cookbooks. It’s nice that Arryn Blumberg has chosen to share this with us. It seems that he is passionate about the field of mixology. Even though I am no longer able to indulge in in these delicious concoctions (the aging body has decided that it can no longer handle anything but minute amounts of alcohol at a time, I mean we are talking gastric pain my Ghoulies) they sound magical. Were I a younger Ghoul I would probably make them all (I enjoy the humor in the recipes as well).
Photo: Business Insider, "I turned a 150-year-old funeral home into a mansion for my family. We have 38 rooms, a casket bar, and sometimes we hear footsteps or doors opening." as told to Alyshia Hull
Click pic to read article
If more disposable income was part of my existence I would totally purchase an old funeral home and give it new life just like the Blumberg’s have. The house really is amazing. The investigative team do have some very interesting results. It seems that there are several entities that have made this place home. One of the more interesting things is that for the most part it’s a very comfortable environment to be in. There is not that oppressive heaviness that comes with exploring so many of these places. I’m not saying that there are not some creepily sinister moments during the investigation but intent is not something that is known so the sinister bit is more inference and feeling than certainty. I do enjoy that the family gets involved with the investigation. After all this is the first location where there were living occupants!
This is the speakeasy. You can see the cigar room in the back there with one of the barbershop chairs.
Photo: realtor.ca - "How a Canadian Family Turned a Funeral Home into a Stunning Mansion" by Meagan Kelly
Click pic to check out this article. There are many glorious pictures of the house including the incredible bathrooms! Totally go here if you want a good look inside!
Shout out to Pork, Beans, and Satan! I always seem to connect more to the critters than the humans.
Photo: "Heather And Arryn Blumberg On Their Renovation In We Bought A Funeral Home - Exclusive Interview" by Zachary McCarthy for House Digest
This pic was posted on Heather's Instagram. This looks like a picture I would take of one of my kids sleeping...actually my phone is full of this kind of thing.
Closing thoughts:
A well written book (which we have come to expect from Richard) about a location that is both haunted and home. Home to the living and the dead who seem to be living in harmony. Who says we all can’t just get along? If the living and the dead can put aside their differences and respect each other than we (the living and undead) can all respect and accept our individuality and differences for sure. It takes all kinds to create an interesting world. Oh yeah and you can stay there as they are currently renting it out as an Air B&B (work has taken them to other places but they are not giving up the house, I wouldn’t either).
Photo: Arryn and Heather Blumberg are seen in front of a former funeral home they bought in Dresden. Their renovation of the 38-room home will be the focus of a six-part series 'We Bought A Funeral Home' that debuts Saturday on discovery+. (Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News).
I like this picture because they are smiling. I imagine that this is the real them more so than the serious foreboding darkness that we see in many other pictures posed for effect. Not to say that darkness does not reside inside those smiles. I I know it does in mine.
"This Toronto Family Turned A $570K 'Haunted' Funeral Home Into Their Dream House (PHOTOS)" by Patrick John Gilson for Narcity
A regular family photo in my eyes - they all look pleasant but not awkwardly so (not forced). I think I have pictures of my own family looking somewhat similar to this. We all probably do.
The most important part of this particular musing is to extend my condolences to Richard and his family for the loss of Stig. My fuzzy kids are my children and my joy so I understand. Richard this quote is for you….
“Dogs (and cats, hamsters, horses and every beautiful thing in between) lives ARE TOO SHORT. You know the pain is coming, but there’s such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting, and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price”
Makes me tear up every time…
