Updated as of February 26, 2026
The HighCraft crew continues to make good progress on this farmhouse remodel, and we’re on track to complete the renovation by the end of November.
In Part 1 of this blog series, we learned a little about the farm’s history, talked about the home’s unique challenges and solutions, and shared some exterior photos.
Today, in Part 2, we share some of the family’s immigration story, and give you a peek inside the renovation.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
In the late 1800s, the owner’s great-great-grandparents and their children lived in a German settlement in the Volga River Valley of Russia. In June of 1906, the family emigrated to the United States.
The Feit family made its way to Northern Colorado, where other Volga Germans were thriving in Weld and Larimer County farming communities. According to The Hidden History of Colorado’s Germans from Russia, “The sugar boom couldn’t have happened without workers willing to work long, hard hours in the beet fields, and the original migrant laborers who met this need were the Germans from Russia.”
Within a generation, several members of the Feit family would become some of the top sugar beet growers for industry giant Great Western Sugar Company.
For its current owner, the farmhouse is full of fond memories of her grandmother, and the grandfather she affectionately called Papa. But more than that, the home and the land represent her family’s fierce determination to work hard, honor their heritage, and live the American Dream.
INTERIOR PROGRESS
It was important to our clients to protect and fortify the tired farmhouse structure, which was beginning to fail. Strong framing and drywall now define the new floorplan and support the crumbling brick of the old home.
“Papa’s Corner” in the great room has new windows to capture more light. This was, and will continue to be, a favorite sunny spot to nap in a comfortable chair.
This view into the kitchen shows the large structural steel beam that supports the ceiling joists, making the large, open layout possible. The original cross beams have been sistered with new lumber to strengthen the joists as they run the long span of the kitchen, dining room and great room.
Today, the drywall is up and new sliding glass doors, and larger south-facing windows, brighten the future reading nook and dining room.
What a difference! This view from the hallway toward the dining room and reading nook show the spaces taking shape.
FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE REMODEL SO FAR
“I think the windows. The light in here is huge,” one of the homeowners says. “Because with all the big trees around it, even on a sunny day, it wasn’t very bright in the house. All that natural light is going to be incredible.”
“I like seeing the trees [through the windows], too,” the great-granddaughter adds. “The trees are like family. My mom planted that one right after she married my dad,” she says, identifying a tree on the north side of the house.
“And my grandpa planted that one,” she adds with a smile, pointing to a large cottonwood where she hung a tire swing. “I used to climb it when I was little.”
Artisan tiles and wide-plank hardwood flooring are going in. The next post in this blog series will feature more interior progress photos, finish selections, and the inspiration behind those choices.
Special thanks to the Feit family for sharing more of their history, to the Fort Collins History Connection for its wonderful online photo collection, and to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s local history archive.
If you or someone you know is thinking about remodeling an existing home, or perhaps building new, contact HighCraft for a free consultation.
