Well, after some careful examination, it’s become abundantly clear that the previous owner had indeed rewired the heat control circuitry in the furnace.
Could I set it right? I could, sure. Do I have all of the needed elements/parts to? No, I’d have to source, order, await delivery, etc.
How long would it take? A few months.
I simply haven’t the time we’d need.
I suppose that means rebuilding is out of the question. Which leaves us with obtaining a replacement. So, I’ll be shopping around as our limited time permits to source a replacement and we’ll install it.
I feel somewhat discouraged by the fact it’ll be new, installed, then removed or disposed in a year or two.
I wonder if I could make do over the winter with a reasonable supply of firewood for the wood stove and kerosene for the portable kerosene heaters.