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 The
home is located at 1017 Tremont Street and was a restoration project
for the HFH. The home had been abandoned years ago and was on the
short list of homes where the city would be forced to take actions
such as demolition. However, this house has received a second
chance, according the HFH Board President Jane Ryan, thanks to a
collaborative effort between the Lincoln City Council and HFH.
On Saturday afternoon in front of a large crowd, Ryan welcomed
everyone and thanked them for coming to the celebration of the
completion of the 26th HFH home in Logan County.
She explained briefly how the transaction with the city had
permitted the HFH to purchase the abandoned property for a very
small amount of money. Then the work had begun at the front door,
with mold and trash and a lot of internal issues in the home, she
said that the work involved in getting the home to this live in,
nearly new condition had been tremendous. Ryan thanked all the
businesses in Lincoln and Logan County who had helped with material
costs and all the volunteers who had come day after day to work on
the project. She said that there were many others who had been
involved in other ways such as providing meals and snacks for the
workers.
Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch was asked to speak. He said that he was
truly amazed by how the home had turned out. He said that since
being involved in Lincoln city government he had seen the need to
take action on homes that were abandoned and neglected. Welch noted
that after becoming Mayor, he had sat down with Habitat and heard
from them that they do have families needing homes, and the HFH
needs houses. The idea of restoring abandoned homes was very
attractive to the city as an alternative to demolition.
Welch said he had been happy and blessed to work with
the HFH who shared with him a common mission to make lives better
and restore what is restorable to make homes for those who deserve
them.
The home on Tremont rests within the third ward of the city.
Attending the house blessing were both ward three aldermen, Kevin
Bateman and Wanda Lee Rohlfs.
Rohlfs was the next person to speak saying first that the home was
now quite beautiful and that there are many people would be
delighted to have such a home. She commented on the 30 years of
service to the community by HFH and noted those involved have a
passion for and a commitment to improving the lives of deserving
families in the community.
Bateman also spoke saying that it was truly amazing to see how the
home had turned out. He said he knew and appreciated the amount of
work that had gone into the home. He added that he hoped Habitat and
the city would have future opportunities to work together.
Ryan spoke briefly about the terrible condition of the home when the
HFH took it over. She said she had stepped into the building and
within minutes had to go back out do to the mold and mess in the
building. She said the see the transformation and be a part of it
was amazing.
Ryan went on to say that when children have a stable home, they do
better in school. The family becomes a stronger unit, and the
community becomes stronger. It was noted that the home had been an
eye-sore and now it was an asset to the community.
Laura Sandrollini is the Secretary of the HFHLC Board and chosen to
lead the Litany of Dedication. Before doing the reading, she
commented on her personal experience in the house, saying she had
come to help with interior demolition and clean out and knew first
hand the amount of work that had been done. She brought a chuckle
from the guests when she said the leads on the project had permitted
her to help with deconstruction, but when it came time to rebuild,
she said she was going to step aside, and no one discouraged her
from leaving.
Spud Newhouse was the lead of the construction crew and came forward
to speak. He began by acknowledging the many people who had helped
including his right had team of Joe Funk and Bob Chamberlain.
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He added that he had thought the project would take
three or four months to complete but the amount of work to be done
kept the project going for a solid seven months. But he said, what
the Long family is getting is for all practical purposes a new home.
Board Member Carrie Osborn presented the family with the Habitat
story book, Grandpa’s Hammer. Long’s youngest, Zoee was excited to
see a story book in mom’s hand and decided at that moment, to join
her mother for the remainder of the blessing ceremony. Meanwhile her
three older brothers were busy upstairs enjoying the freedom of
their new space and sharing their bedroom spaces with other children
in attendance.
Reverend Glenn Shelton offered the Long a family Bible and
challenged her to stay in God’s walk by staying in God’s word. He
told her that there were many times in life that one doesn’t know
what to do or how to proceed through a certain situation, but he
said the Bible is his guide through though times, he turns to Jesus
and the Word of God to help him find his way.
Shelton also delivered three times of prayer during the ceremony
including an opening prayer, a prayer of blessing on the home and
family and a closing benediction.
Long spoke to the group saying she was so grateful
for all the hard work that had gone into the home. She said there
were many people to thank, most of all those at Habitat who chose
her and her family as home recipients.
The presentation of keys was done with Newhouse
turning over the home keys to its new owner, after which Ryan led
the group in the recital of the Helen Taylor poem, Bless this House.
The home on Tremont is a two story with the upstairs dedicated to
bedrooms for the four children. On the ground floor there is a
semi-open floor plan with designated family room, dining area and
kitchen. Also on the main floor is a large bath and another bedroom.
During the event, Ryan also mentioned that there is a second home
under construction in Lincoln. Home 27 is a new construction home on
Fourth Street that is being built in collaboration with the
Lincolnland Technical Education Center Building and Trades Class.
That home will be completed by the end of the school year.
Nila Smith
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