The couple, whose marriage has remained strong unlike many other HGTV partnerships, had long been eyeing the Dartmouth project. “This house has been here forever. It’s an important fabric of the community,” Lemieux shared with 10 WJAR. However, the restoration is no minor feat. Situated near a river, the house is susceptible to flooding, necessitating the elevation of the structure to install a FEMA-approved foundation. Macdonald elaborated on their approach, saying, “You have to work within the space, work within the crooked walls and crooked floors, and really you just go with it and try not to straighten things out and modernize it too much.”

The husband and wife — who, unlike other HGTV stars whose marriages ended in divorce, are still going strong — had their eyes on the project for quite a while. “This house has been here forever. It’s an important fabric of the community,” Lemieux told 10 WJAR. But it won’t be simple. Located near a river, the house is prone to flooding. Before renovation can begin, Lemieux and Macdonald need to raise the house so they can replace its old foundation with one that’s  FEMA-approved. “You have to work within the space, work within the crooked walls and crooked floors, and really you just go with it and try not to straighten things out and modernize it too much,” Macdonald said of her vision.

The sudden cancellation of “Houses with History” left fans puzzled and searching for answers. In May 2023, viewers expecting their usual fix were surprised to find a different show airing in its place. Missing episodes and no official announcements led some to reach out directly to the hosts. One persistent fan shared on Reddit that Jenny Macdonald responded directly via Instagram, assuring that the show had garnered 1 million viewers and hinting at a new time slot.

When it became evident that the show would not return, disappointed fans took to social media to voice their frustration. “This p*sses me off. The one show on the damn network that had originality, insight into history, comical and actual love of historic homes,” one Redditor vented. While other design stars have criticized HGTV under similar circumstances, Lemieux and Macdonald gracefully moved forward. Although they may not have been the network’s biggest names, their dedicated fanbase remains a testament to their impact.

That didn’t happen, though. HGTV stopped airing “Houses with History” around that time. Lemieux and Macdonald filmed three final episodes that were featured on HBO and Discovery+, and later shown on HGTV. If their situation sounds confusing, that’s because it was. “So I recorded the show on HGTV last night at 8pm. It was a repeat. After reading your announcement again do you mean that only discovery plus is showing the remainder of this season’s ‘Houses with History?’ Can you in-confuse me?” one user inquired on Instagram.

When it became clear that HGTV was done with “Houses with History,” fans took to social media to express their disappointment. “This p*sses me off. The one show on the damn network that had originality, insight into history, comical and actual love of historic homes,” one Reddit user complained. Plenty of design stars have turned on HGTV for similar situations, but Lemieux and Macdonald just moved on with their lives. While they weren’t among HGTV’s biggest stars, they sure had a loyal fanbase.