Rupert Home
PHOTOS - We take dozens of photos throughout each build. We don't have the bandwidth to put them all our website. We have established an account with Shutterfly. If you click on this link, it will take you to the account. You need to insert bennhabitat@yahoo.com as the email address and the password is habitat. Select Rupert Home, then select view, and then select the month - Rupert Home - May, Rupert Home - June or Rupert Home - July. Then select slide show, you will see more photos and larger images. You can also order them directly from Shutterfly at a very reasonable cost. Photos will be added throughout the build.
September 26 and 29
Lots of small jobs that take time were accomplished.
On Wednesday Andrea washed windows, weeded the garden, and spread small stones next to the south side of the home. Carl H. applied the varnish to the woodwork. Barth and John painted.
On Saturday, Fred and Carl M. put the nosing on the stair tread. Cliff and Fred installed the vanities in the bathrooms. Dick and Carl painted the basement walls and bathroom. Kelli organized her kitchen. Savannah made lunch, and we ate the first meal ever at the dining room table!
September 19th
We are doing a lot of little jobs that need to be accomplished before we can get a certificate of occupancy. Today we set up the kitchen, painted the downstairs walls, swept all the floors in the house, used touch up paint where needed.
The boiler has been installed - the kitchen looks great! The boile was donated by the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association.
September 8th
We were fortunate to have a visit from Raja Babu and his daughter-in-law, Sarah Joy. Raja works with Habitat in his region and currently has over 70 homes under construction. He visited us in 2004 and since then we have given half of our tithe (10% of the unrestricted gifts) to India. It costs $2,000 to build a Habitat home in his region in India. Raja is pictured below with Kelli and George Lewis (bottom left) and speaking with volunteers. Homeowners in his region earn $100 a year. The homes are 350 square feet and often house as many as seven family members.
Lauren painted primer to the walls and ceiling in the cellar bathroom.
George continued to work on the hallway and livingroom floor. Fred brought a special saw blade that enabled us to cut the slate for the front walk. Noble and Fred finished the stair tread going from the basement to the first floor.
September 5th
We continued to work on the floor - with Savannah's room finished. Fred and Noble cut the baseboard for along the stairway, others worked on the front walk. Everything at this stage takes time and patience to get it right.
Carl applying varish to the baseboard. Master bedroom closet floor.
Floor in Savannah's room. George and Larry started the floor in the master bedroom.
August 22nd
We had visitors from Costa Rica work on the house. They did a great job and plan to work with Habitat when they get home.
Ann put the clear finish on the windows - Noble made the stair railing.
Noble and George sanded the railing - Kelli, Marian, and Bob worked on the front walk and started laying the slate on a bed of sand.
August 18th
We worked from 8 to 2:00 and then enjoyed the dedication, lots of food, and good company. The weather was perfect - a great day of celebration.
Photo - Savannah and Tyler and Kelli and Geroge. They are seated in chairs that were made by Burr and Burton students as a present and as a part of their service learning project.
We also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the founding of our affiliate. It took 18 months to do all the work to be accepted by Habitat. Some membes of the original board and other members of the board that have served since the founding joined us for the celebration.
Joining in the celebration were Habitat homeowners - left to right - Geroge and Kelli Lewis, Cindy Drake, Marti Clark, Ruth Banghard, and Christine Jenks.
Fred Hilliard presented George and Kelli with a birdhouse that he made with the Habitat logo. Above right - foreground - Mary Beth Hutchinson, Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Rupert leading us in the dedication.
Above right - Kelli Lewis with Diane Mach, family support partner. They worked closely together on the public relations committee and to plan the introduction to the community.
The Hudson family painted the ceiling. Carl at work sanding the joint compound.
August 15th
We sanded the plastic wood filler, Cliff worked on the sheetrock around the stairs, Nancy, John, and Jim painted the bedrooms, and Carl, Fred and Carl installed the kitchen cabinets.
August 8th
It won't be long before the grass will have to be mowed!
John and Jim - above left - Nancy above right - and Carl - left - put the primer on the walls and did more sanding of the joint compound. Helmer and Noble built a wall and inserted the door leading up the basement steps. Carl and Fred insulated the basement bathroom walls and put up sheetrock. Larry filled nail holes with plactic wood - and sanded the trim. Cliff applied more joint compound.
August 4th - Many of our voluteers worked at the Hildene Craftfair on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to raise money. A skelatal crew was joined by Nicki from Seattle, who was visiting friends in Dorset. Nicki has worked on 60 homes in the Seattle area. Her affiliate completes as many as 15 homes a year.
We continued sanding the joint compound and Barth started to put primer on one of the bedroom walls and ceiling.
Nail holes were filled with plastic wood. We are at a point where lots of small projects take a good deal of time.
August 1st
We finished the railing on the deck and painted the front porch. We continued to work on the joint compound and trim for the doors and windows. Doors were installed on the bedrooms and upstairs bathroom.
Carl Hedman worked on the deck - Carl and Fred worked on the window trim.
Greg and his mom, Sam, came from Florida and spent three days working on the home. Greg cut the hole for the oil fil - and Sam painted the porch.
Cliff worked on the joint compound. Holly from JK. Adams helped with the painting.
July 25th
We did a variety of jobs. We raked the loam and got ready to seed the lawn. The Master Gardners, let by Phyils Jakabowski, planted some shrubs and perennials. Carl and Russ cut the baseboard, we continued to sand and apply new joint compound.
Master gardners at work - planting assorted perennials donated by the Clear Brook Farm, Mettowee Mill Nursery, and Hildene (100 year old peonies fron original plant stock). The garden was planned by master gardners, Phyllis Jakubowski and assisted by master gardner, Berta Williker. They were assisted by George (below) and Irene (above left).
July 18 th
Groups from JK Adams, Josiah Allen Real Estate and Manchester Advertising joined with our regular Wednesday volunteers. The rain hindered the landscaping, but lots more got done on the wallboard - more joint compound was applied and sanded.
Left - Josiah Allen Realtors - Right - Manchester Advertising
Sanding joint compound is a messy job!
July 12th, 13th and 14th, Days 31, 32, and 33
Members of the congregation from the Old First Church of Bennington worked on the home Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They accomplished a lot - worked on the sheetrock (taping and sanding), raking the rocks from the yard, and making the railing for the deck. On Saturday, others joined the group from the Old First Church. We had 24 people on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, and a lot got accomplished. Dan Nardi hooked up the wires, and we will soon have power in the house.
Top left - Mike Brigs. Top left - May Bigelow
Middle left - Dan Nardi and George Lewis - hooking up the power.
Middle right - the group from the Old First Church made sure the deck posts were level.
Bottom left - Members of the Old First Chuch - did a great job sanding the joint compound on the walls.
July 11th - Day 30
A group from J.K. Adams and the Old First Congregational Church of Bennington joined with many of the Wednesday regulars, and despite the heat and humidity, a lot got accomplished.
Top left - group from J.K. Adams, Top right - group from OldFirst Congregational Church.
Many rocks were removed from the front of the house. More coats of joint compound were applied. We started to put up the sheetrock on the basement walls to cover the foam insulation. Geola came and measured the walls for the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. George fixed some of the siding.
July 7th - Day 29
Kathy, Steven, Fred, Barth, Noble, and Sid worked on the joint compound on the walls and closets. Chris and Dick finished the siding! Cliff, Tom, Dave, Pidge, Larry and John attached the deck to the back of the house.
Tom Wilson helped to swing the deck into placel (photo on left)
Larry, worked with a group from r.k. Miles that included Steven, and his father, Pidge Bovey, John LaVecchia, and Chris Dussault.
Chris finished the siding.
The siding is finally finished!
July 4th - Day 28
A small group celebrated Independence Day by working on the home. John, George, Jim, and Dick worked on the siding around the front steps, Nancy and Kathy put joint compound on the walls, Cliff worked on the display boards for the auction.
John - right and Nancy - left
Jim, measured twice - cut once! -
These studs will always be part of the home - a Habitat tradition and a reminder of the many people who helped build the home.
June 27 and 30 - Days 26 and 27
Almost all the sheetrock for the interior walls was put up on Wednesday and Saturday. The front porch was completed on Wednesday. Sid finished the stucco. Kathy, Jack and Marion organized the front of our trailer making it easier to find the right nail.
Jack, Kathy and Marion organized our nail collection into new bins and rearranged our shelves. Their work will make it much easier to find the right tools and nails.
June 26 and 26 - Days 24 and 25
Employees from Vermont Foam Insulation Inc. put in Icynene foam insulation throughout the home. We are now ready to put up the sheetrock on the walls. They did a great job, and we know that this home will be well insulated and well prepared for Vermont's winters! We thank all the employees who helped make this possible.
June 23 - Day 23
Members of the Dorset Church made good progress on the siding. Barth, Noble, Fred, Carl and Helmer worked on the front porch. Sid finished the stucco. We cleaned the interior in preparation for the insulation. It was a beautiful day - and we got a lot accomplished.
South side done - Jim Gray working on the siding.
Working on the front porch - Barth, Helmer, Noble, Fred, and Carl.
Members of the Dorset Church.
June 20 - Day 22
We continued to work on the siding and began to build the front porch.
North side done - south side almost done.
Savannah Lewis - painting a storm window - Larry taping the sides of the windows.
Left - a group from J.K. Adams (Jeff, Candi, and Peggy Lee.. Right - Noble, Helmer and Barth worked on the porch.
June 13 and 16 - days 20 and 21
Groups from The Gap and JK Adams came on Wednesday and from Factory Point Bank on Saturday. The work continued on the siding on both days. The initial coat of joint ompound on the ceiling was sanded. The windows were delivered on Saturday and we installed most of them.
Malcolm Cooper and colleagues from J. K. Adams.
Left to right - Sarah top - Marge bottom - Craig middle - Velma top right, and Maria bottom right. Sarah on the ladder.
Carl and Fred installing a window - Dave working on the siding.
June 9 - Day 19 - 1,507 volunteer hours to date on site!
A group from Citizens Bank (Brennyn, Mary Ellen, and Michelle) joined by other volunteers, including Jane, David, Cliff, Linda, John and Marion worked on the siding. Stu started to work on the stucco. Tom Wilson and his sons filled in the septic lines.
Volunteers from Citizens Bank - left
Sid (left) Tom Wilson (right)
Dave
June 8 - Day 18
This was the last day for the Global Village Team. Vicki, JD, Michael, Merinda, Jeff, Dawn, and Cliff attacked the garage roof! They removed all the old shingles, repaired the plywood, and then put on new felt and shingles. The rest of the group continued to work on the fascia and siding and went as far as time and our materials would allow. That evening we had a farewell feast at the fire house! A highlight of the day was when Marie Lewis brought the sugar house and served maple cotton candy and maple sugar shakes!
June 7 - Day 17
We made great progress with the ceilings. The sheet rock was delivered and we finished all but the bathroom and closets. We started with the siding and almost finished with the fascia. The exterior insulation is taped - the posts for the from steps and deck were poured.
June 6 - Day 16
We did more work on the insulation - finished it - taped it - and sealed the cracks. Jeff, JD, and Micheal dug post holes - and discovered that Vermont grows rocks that don't quit! Neither did they.
Julie and Jamie Hand
Installing the front door - Michael at work on the hole.
Victorious at last! The Zion Church brought us a feast for lunch.
June 5 - Day 15
Once again, the rain held off and the global Village team was able to make more progress with insulating the exterior walls. Dan Nardi and Terry Tyler made great progress with the wiring. John Butler started work on the chimney.
The team at work. John Butler (right) building the chimney.
Dan Nardi of Hetic Electric and Terry Tyler of Tyler Electric- wiring the home.
June 4 - Day 14
The rain held off until early afternoon. We managed to finish the stapping of the ceiling, we made the downstairs bathroom wall, a lot more insulation was put on the exterior walls, the stair railing was completed, the metal for the roof was bent, and Mrs. Lewis treated us to a great lunch at her home! A lot was accomplished.
Laura and Jeff (left) and Laura (right)
Barry (left) and Tom and Nicole (right)
Vicki and Jeff
June 3 - Day 13
Members of the Rupert Fire Department spend their Sunday morning putting on the shingles. They started at 7:05 and were done by 11:00!
Many thanks are due to Rick Thompson, Tim Mackey, Merrit Morey, John McKeighan, Robert Seese, Bob Bain, Travis Lewis, Bill and Sue Wood, Jimmy Joe and Kelly Lewis, George Fisher, Gorman Smith, and Skipper (Jaye) Wilson (who brought the tractor that loaded the shingles onto the roof).
Rick Thomspson - left and Jimmy Joe Lewis on the right.
Later that day, Rupert rolled out the red carpet and hosted a welcome dinner for the Global Village team at the Rupert Firehouse.
Over 70 people came to welcome the team - the team with George (red shirt)
June 2 - Day 12
The showers held off and a lot was accomplished. A group from the Vermont Country Store started to put the insulation on the exterior walls. Others lined the interior walls between the ceiling joists with insulation. Noble and John worked on the exterior trim. The Rupert 4H group treated us all to a great lunch. The 4H club had a tour of the home and learned about how Habitat works in the community and around the world.
Putting on the insulation - Noble at work on the trim.
Noble and John -- Group from the Vermont Country Store
The Rupert 4 H Club - the house at the end of the work day.
June 1 - Day 11
Jason, Rick, and Aaron of Midura Builders spent the morning putting on the plywood and felt for the roof. This was a tremendous contribution by Lou Midura and his men, and we greatly appreciate their generosity!
They handled the plywood as if they were in a weightless environment!
They made a hard job look easy!
May 30 - Day 10
We finished prepping for the roof and the insulation for the siding. We also started to install the strapping on the celing from which we will hand the sheet rock. Noble, John, and Helmer built the stairs. On Friday, Lou Midura of Midura Builders will bring his crew and they will put up the plywood and felt on the roof. On Sunday, June 3rd, the Rupert Fire Department will put on the shingles. Of this help is greatly appreciated and is helping us to make great progress!
Haley from The Gap - Group from J.K. Adams with Haley on the right.
John finishing the prep work for the roof - inserting the strips around the windows and doors in preparation for the insulation.
May 26 - Day 9
Derek Cornell brought a machine that lifted the roof trusses into place - and this was a tremendous help - making a hard job safer - and go much faster! By the end of the day all the interior walls were done - and the roof trusses were in place! The photos for the day were taken by Marion LaTorella.
Derek at work. We used studs that had been sold at r.k. Miles in the fall to shoppers who signed them - knowing they would be used for this home. This was a very creative and special way to raise funds to build the home.
First and last truss put into place.
The job done - thanks to hard work and a tremendous help contributed by Derek Cornell of Big Pine Builders.
May 23 - Day 8
A large group of volunteers worked on the interior walls and set up the scaffolding for Saturday. One interior wall is still to be done on Saturday before we put up the roof trusses. A lot was accomplished on a truly beautiful spring day! A highlight of the day was the visit of Mrs. Mach's 6th grade class from the Mettowee School
Sixth Grade class from Mettowee School - and Carl (right) building a wall.
Volunteers from J.K. Adams and The Gap helped again.
Russ and Jim - left - Dave on the right.
May 19 - Day 7
Rain was all around us - but we did not have enough to hinder our progress. A big group came from the Dorset Church. We were joined at lunch by Reverend Rob Carpenter who gave an inspired blessing before we shared a great lunch.
Helmer Pearson and Kelli Lewis at work.
The sheathing was finished. We discovered that Robins approved of the new habitat - and had already taken up residence!
Before lunch, Elise (on the left in red) spoke about the work of the Faith Relations Committee. Despite the showers we had over twenty people help out. A great deal was accomplished! More photos from the day are on Shutterfly - see above instructions.
May 16 - Day 6
The threat of rain forced us to ask several groups to reschedule for another day. About ten people came and we managed to get a lot accomplished before it started to rain with much enthusiasm!
We finished the fourth exterior wall, started on the stairs, leveled the exterior walls, and organized the trailer. Despite the rain, we made some good progress.
May 12 - Day 5
George and his friends finished laying the plywood on Friday enabling us to focus entirely on making and putting up the walls for the first floor. We had a big crew, with lots for everyone to do. The weather was perfect. Doris Schneider took the photos.
Three walls up - two with sheathing. George and Noble making the wall straight.
Jane on the left and Tyler Lewis and John on the right - attaching plates.
May 9 - Day 4
This was an exciting day of accomplishment. We had a slow start because the walls had to be leveled, and this took time and skill. Once done, we put the supporting floor beams in place and started to put the sheathing for the basement walls and floor in place. Over 20 people came to help - including groups from J. K. Adams and The Gap.
The main supporting beam for the home was donated by the Bennington Iron Works. It was put into place at 8:00 a.m. and once we had everything leveled, we put the floor supports into place.
George and his dad - a family affair! We nailed to the metal supporting beam.
Putting the beams in place - a look from the basement.
Setting the floor beams in place - Noble and Russ.
Volunteers from J. K. Adams - Debbie applying the glue for the floor.
Jake, lining up the joists - the volunteers from The GAP.
May 5th - Day 3
We had a big group of people come to the build - and others brought and some of the volunteers commented that we should take longer with the build because the food was so good! Kelli Lewis took the photos.
We started with no walls - four hours later - the basement walls were done!
Above - Cliff and Jane --and above right - Noble and George 1st basement wall!
Lauren - and John checking to make sure the walls are level.
This group of Burr and Burton freshmen have taken on Habitat as their service project. They have done some fund raisers and have built two adirondack chairs as a house warming gift for the Lewis famil. They visited the site for the first time and met George and Kelli Lewis.
Left - Jane - and right - Elise
Marie Lewis brouht us a fabuluous lunch - featured today was a great corn chowder and enough great food to feed an army! Thanks so much Marie.
May 2nd - Day 2
We spent the day peparing for the basement floor. We inserted the perimeter drains, the drains in the floor, then cut and placed the insulation, followed by the wire mesh. The last step indluded the piping for the radiant heat that is being donated by Phil Mazzucco of RMS Plumbing and Heating. The floor will be poured on Friday. Photos taken by Volunteer Host, Nancy Cilio.
April 28th - First Day for Volunteers
A lot was accomplished. Project Manager, Cliff Beebee - below left - Donna and Marion - below right. We put tar on the foundation to waterproof it, and then insulated the walls.
Homeowner, George Lewis - and the Tar Ladies - Marion, Donna, and Marion.
Sid - cutting the insulation.
April 21st
The footings have been started. The walls will be finished by the 28th - we will be ready to apply tar to waterproof the walls and insulation before the dirt is backfilled.
April 14th
The mobile home has been moved to an adjacent field. The excavation has been started where the mobile home was situated.
The excavation for the foundation was started on April 12th. The holes for the footings will be next. The foundation will not be poured until the soil is less saturated with water.
Cliff Beebe, an architect who works for Ramsay Gourd Architects of Manchester is serving as our Project Manager for the Rupert home. He has been working with the Lewis family this winter to complete the design for their home.
The mobile home was removed at the beginning of April. The new home extends almost to the tree.
Lewis Road -Rupert, VT