Below is a modest Ranch-style Home that was built in 1956 on former farmland that was repurposed into a dime a dozen subdivision in the Boston Suburb of Woburn, Massachusetts; and a Detached Garage that was built later-in the late 1960’s, that Bob Vila had taken on during his tenure of hosting the PBS Television program “This Old House”.

This Ranch-style Home, which had the same aesthetics as when it was built in 1956 by the time Bob Vila and the Production Crew of “This Old House” had encountered it; had an Oil Tank and an Oil-fueled Boiler for both this home’s Baseboard Heat and its Hot Water Heater, had circa late 1950’s-early 1960’s décor throughout most of the House, and 1970’s décor throughout some portions of the House; had one of the literal favorite attributes of Home Décor in some portions of the House-Wood Paneling, including the walls of the Semi-Finished Basement; and like many dime a dozen Mid-Century Ranch Style Homes built in the scores of subdivision that had popped up throughout North America following WWII, during the Korean War, and before and during the War in Vietnam; had ranged from 1,000-1,600 square feet, and had cramped an disadvantageous floorplans and layouts.

This Ranch-style Home, which had a value ranging anywhere from $50,000-$60,000 United States Dollars at time Bob Vila and the Production Crew of “This Old House” had encountered it in 1981. was recently purchased by young individuals as their very first home, and as a result; Bob Vila, Norm Abram, and the remainder of the “This Old House” Team had to keep the renovation and alterations as chary as possible.

The chary alterations included a modest renovation to the Kitchen, perform a deleterious act to the existing Top Freezer Refrigerator from the early-mid ’70’s by hiring an Auto Body Technician to change its color from the shade of Dark Brown that was popular during the 1970’s by repainting it White, in lieu of purchasing a new Refrigerator; the Detached Garage being converted into living space-leaving this House and property without any garage areas; building a combination enclosed Breezeway/Sunroom in between the Main House and the Detached Garage, relocation of the main Entry Area from where it was in the Main House to the newly-constructed and enclosed Breezeway/Sunroom, conversion of certain Rooms, an addition of another Bathroom, relocating many of the existing Windows in lieu of purchasing and installing new Windows in the newly-located Window allotments, installing Windows with Curtains located in between the panes of Glass in the combination enclosed Breezeway/Sunroom, and redecorating the portions of the House that were hardly altered.

Ever since Bob Vila and the “This Old House” Team had encountered this House, and performed the modest renovation and alterations; succeeding owners have since added a Front Deck to the enclosed Breezeway/Sunroom, and have converted this House from a single-story Ranch-style Home to a two-story Colonial-style Home; the combination Enclosed Breezeway/Sunroom has been left intact; and the semi-Detached Garage remains as living space. The Semi-Detached Garage has never been converted back into a Garage.

This House is located at 36 Robinson Road in the Boston suburb of Woburn, Massachusetts.

1982 – The Woburn House