This Old House® Turns 35: Groundbreaking Series Celebrates its Roots with an All-American Anniversary Season

CONCORD, Mass., July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the first home improvement reality series in the history of television, THIS OLD HOUSE began its broadcast in 1979 featuring expert home renovation for national audiences. Thirty-five years later, its beloved cast of experts' hosts a historical homecoming to the Boston area, showcasing classic deep-dive how-to renovation projects in celebration of the shows longstanding commitment to teaching first class, authentic craftsmanship. The cast includes general contractor Tom Silva, master carpenter Norm Abram, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and host Kevin O'Connor.

The 35^th anniversary season of THIS OLD HOUSE features the renovation of an 1850 Greek Revival Rowhouse in Charlestown, MA and a 1966 Colonial Revival in Lexington, MA – the youngest renovation project in THIS OLD HOUSE^® history - while following a new build for a wounded Iraqi War Veteran with Homes For Our Troops in Hopkinton, NH. The Emmy^® Award-winning home improvement series premieres the new episodes this October 2, 2014 on PBS (check local listings).

"Since its premiere in 1979, THIS OLD HOUSE has never strayed from its mission of demystifying home improvement while showcasing quality craftsmanship and new technology," says Master Carpenter, Norm Abram.  "This focus has kept us on the air and in the homes of our fans for 35 years."

- Charlestown, MA -
Located in Charlestown, MA – Boston's oldest neighborhood - the opening project for the 35^th season features the renovation of an 1850 Greek Revival Rowhouse. Just down the hill from the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument, the modest red brick rowhouse needs extensive masonry and structural reinforcement. An enlarged dormer out front and a small bump out in the back will make room for new living spaces that will preserve the old-house feel while adding amenities for modern living. Crumbling retaining walls, a 1980s kitchen, a broken down and leaking master shower, inefficient windows, and old heating system and failing roof will all be upgraded as part of this eight-episode story arc.  

- Lexington, MA -
Lexington, MA is the birthplace of American Liberty and home to dozens of authentic Colonial homes from the 1700s. In the second project of the new season, THIS OLD HOUSE, explores why the Colonial style home is still popular in America over 300 years later as they take on the renovation and addition to a 1966 Colonial Revival – the youngest project in THIS OLD HOUSE history. The humble center-entrance Colonial has a 40-year old kitchen and some 1980s-era additions that call for upgrades and integration with a new addition over the garage designed to make space for the family's three young daughters. A major kitchen renovation will also allow for a new mudroom, powder room, and butler's pantry. Outside, a new farmer's porch and some thoughtful landscaping will lend much needed charm and curb appeal to this "newer" old house.

-Homes For Our Troops-
Since September 11^th 2001, over 1,700 US Military Veterans have returned home from the frontlines with life-threatening injuries, missing limbs, varying levels of paralysis and traumatic brain injury. National non-profit Homes for Our Troops has been building accessible homes – mortgage-free – for these deserving veterans since 2004. This season, THIS OLD HOUSE, highlights the important work of Taunton, Massachusetts-based Homes For Our Troops as they build a new home for SSG Matthew DeWitt and his family in Hopkinton, NH. On his first deployment to Iraq in 2003, DeWitt sustained devastating injuries in an RPG attack that resulted in the partial amputation of both of his arms. Today, his family looks forward to their new home where keyless entry, raised countertops, accessible storage, touchless faucets and raised garden beds will make life easier for Matt as he and partner Cat raise their two sons and pursue shared passions for cycling and gardening. Tom, Norm, Richard, Roger and Kevin will participate by providing advice and consultation in adapting standard building products for this Veteran's specific needs, and participating in key building and landscaping projects. 

"From historic Charlestown to patriotic Lexington, to the mission of providing housing for returning war veterans - it is truly an All-American season at THIS OLD HOUSE," says Executive Producer, Deborah Hood.  "We hope these projects will enlighten, entertain and inspire our viewers." 

Featuring 26 brand-new episodes (Charlestown, MA, 8 episodes, Lexington, MA, 15 episodes and Home For Our Troops, 3 episodes), the 35^th anniversary season of THIS OLD HOUSE will premiere nationally on PBS on October 2, 2014 (check www.thisoldhouse.com/tvschedule or your local listings).

In the months leading up to premiere, visitors to www.thisoldhouse.com can access exclusive behind-the-scenes special features, such as a photo gallery, project overview, and products and services information on www.thisoldhouse.com. Viewers can become fans of THIS OLD HOUSE on Facebook or follow the show on Twitter and can continue the conversation about these projects using #TOHTV on Twitter.

THIS OLD HOUSE is produced by THIS OLD HOUSE Productions, Inc., for THIS OLD HOUSE Ventures, Inc., and is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.  Executive Producer is Deborah Hood. Director is Thomas Draudt. Producer is Jo Sagar. Series creator is Russell Morash. THIS OLD HOUSE is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine and an information-driven Web site. THIS OLD HOUSE Ventures, Inc., is owned by Time Inc.

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer—PBS's leading source of content for television and the Web (prime-time, children's, and lifestyle programs) and a major supplier of programs heard nationally on public radio and online. For more information, visit www.wgbh.org.

SOURCE WGBH-TV/This Old House