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DRESDEN – There’s likely not many residents living here who haven’t visited Arryn and Heather Blumberg’s home, but it was probably to see a dearly departed relative or friend.
Now, a lot more people will have a chance to see much of the $400,000 renovation the couple has done to their 38-room, 1,115-square-metre (12,000-square-foot) home when the first episode of We Bought A Funeral Home airs Saturday on the Discovery streaming service.
Arryn Blumberg said he saw an online article about the Dresden property in Narcity, an online publication, in the winter of 2020 after the couple had decided to leave Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But it wasn’t listed as a funeral home,” Heather Blumberg said.
After some “cyber stalking,” she said the couple learned about the expansive home’s former use.
Tom and Linda DeBurger had owned and operated Thomas L. DeBurger Funeral Home for more than four decades before retiring six years ago. The home, built in the 1880s, was first used as a funeral home in the early 1920s by Wilson Clark.
“We decided to buy it within the first 10 minutes,” Arryn Blumberg said. “(Its history) really didn’t bother us at all. … Generally, funerals are places where you come to celebrate something.”
Describing the rite as a celebration of love, Heather said, “That’s what the house exudes to us.”
After a followup article by Narcity about the Blumbergs’ purchase of the property, Heather was contacted by Heart Hat Entertainment to see if they would be interested in discussing the possibility of a TV show.
“The next thing I know we’re here and we’re filming a sizzle reel (short promotional demo) and, the next minute after that, a couple of different networks wanted it,” she said. “Before we knew it, we were signed up to do a TV show.”
Noting the family loves Halloween, Arryn said the new series “is a great way to play into” that holiday.
Heather said it took about 18 months to film the episodes, adding it was interesting to see how their children – son Rafferty, now 21,and daughter Noa, now 14 – grew during that span.
“It was a journey,” she said. “It was far more intense than I think we understood it was going to be.”
But, she added, they worked with a great crew who made the experience fun.
“It took a lot of learning,” Arryn said. “I think Episode 1 is going to be far clunkier than Episode 6. We’re hoping people stick with it for a bit, because we’re not TV people. We’re not actors.”
Promoted as part of the Discovery Ghostober lineup, We Bought A Funeral Home is described as “an eerie news series that will unearth an unconventional side of the home renovation realm.”
The promotion for the premiere episode states: “The Blumbergs will run into a string of spooky occurrences while settling into their new funeral home.”
Stating he is “not a believer,” Arryn said the home is still “100 per cent haunted.”
“Particularly, there’s a lady that shouts, ‘Hello,’” Heather said.
Both have heard her clearly, they added.
Arryn said there have been times he’s been home during the day and heard what he believes is someone shouting to him, so he shouts back.
Then, he texts Heather and learns she is not at home.
There also have been reports during the years of people seeing a lady in a blue dress standing on the main staircase. The Blumbergs said the story behind this reported apparition will be revealed in the series.
However, the family is not bothered by the unexplained noises they’ve heard in the home.
“There’s nothing threatening about it,” Heather said.
The series also will highlight the impressive renovation, led by Heather, an interior designer. However, the Blumbergs are under contract not to reveal any details, particularly images, until the series begins, which meant Postmedia could only take a photograph showing the outside of the home.
In fact, they have had to be careful of what’s seen in photos they post on social media.
Arryn said the family is proud of Heather’s design work.
“Getting it to feel like a home has taken a lot,” he said.
Heather said converting the viewing areas in the former funeral home took a lot of plumbing, HVAC and electrical work.
One former viewing area has been converted into a kitchen with a massive centre island. Another interesting feature of the home is a speakeasy room, complete with a coffin converted into a bar. Renovations to turn the former casket showroom into a home theatre, as well as the addition of a personal gym, also are underway.
Heather said since the release of the trailer for the series, she’s been receiving a lot of attention from the U.S., including inquiries from a design publication.
“We love this place and we hope people love it too and want to hear more,” she said.
Because there is such a community connection, Arryn said everything for their home renovation was sourced in th region.
Where possible, they also asked the production company to hire local people to be part of the film crew, Heather said.
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