Winhall Home
Stop by to see the home. If you need directions click here.
A very happy family! Left to right - Ryan, Christine, Brian, and in front, Danny Jenks. Over 50 people, family, friends, and many of the people who had helped build the home, came together on January 7th to celebrate and dedicate the home. We were led in blessing each room of the home, a Habitat tradition, by Rev. Jim Gray of the United Church of Dorset. Top right photo was taken in July 2007 - the plantings look teriffic!
February 24, 2007
The Jenks have been living in their new home for a little more than a month. We took some interior shots so show how the had decorated their home. As everyone in Vermont knows, the weather of late has been very cold. They have loved living in a warm, energy efficient home, and the fuel savings alone over what it took to heat the mobile home are significant!
With a blanket of snow - snug and warm!
Energy efficient appliances. The kitchen and family room.
Ryan's room -- and the master bedroom.
Danny's room - left and Ryan's room - right
The trailer is gone!!!
January 7, 2007 - the Dedication of the Jenks' Home!
Over 50 people, family, friends, and many of the people who had helped build the home, came together to celebrate and dedicate the home. We led in blessing each room of the home, a Habitat tradition, by Rev. Jim Gray of the United Church of Dorset.
These photos were taken by Lee Krohn for the Bennington Banner. Participants are shown in the kitchen, dining and living room. More photos will be forthcoming.
Day 42 - December 16th
Helmer and Noble finished installing the cabinets, Joe, Buddy, and Dick did touch up painting in all the rooms, and Carl and Barth completed the railing on the front steps. With the exception of baseboard that gets installed after the carpet is put down and some clean up work, we are DONE!
BBA freshmen presented Christine Jenks with a beautiful porch glider that they had made as a housewarming gift as a part of their fall semester service project.
Over the past several days Carl Mohlenhoff has worked on the front steps. He completed them today, and they look just great.
Helmer Pearson has been part of the regular crew. This Saturday he worked with Noble to finish the installation of the kitchen cabinets.
Day 41 - December 13th
We started to install the kitchen cabinets, worked more on the front entrance, finished painting the closet shelves, and put another coat of finish on the wood trim around the interior doors and windows.
Fred and Noble installing the cabinets - Nancy working on the trim. 
John and Joe working on the trim and shelves.
The front of the house with the new steps and railings made by Carl, Noble, and Barth.
Day 40 - December 9th
The woodwork was sanded and another coat of finish was applied. Work was done on the closets. The cabinets are to be delivered on Monday. On Wednesday we will complete the woodwork and will install the kitchen cabinets.
A highlight of the day was when Pete Nicholson and three Burr and Burton students came to the site and presented Christine Jenks with two end tables that they had made as a house warming gift. They made the tables as a part of their service learning project for the fall semester.
Days 37, 38, and 39 - November 29th, December 2nd, and 6th
The painting of the walls was completed. The wood trim was finished. The closets were finished. There is color everywhere! Over Thanksgiving Brian Jenks put down the beautiful wood floor for the dining room.
Shadow of the American Sign Company of Manchester designed and made a new sign for us. We are most grateful to the American Sign Company and to Shadow for helping us in this very special way.
Day 36 - November 21st
Daryl Hart and his helper from Piper Hill Plumbing installed the baseboard heat. They did a great job and we greatly appreciate their contribution!
Days 34 and 35 - November 15th and 18th
Great progress was made with the painting on Wednesday. A sampling of what we did on Saturday .... Brian brought more trim. Joe and Brian measured and cut it. It was routed and put up around the windows and doors. Joe and Helmer filled the nail holes, Keith and Jo-Ann painted around the trim, John painted hallway walls, and Brant and Barth installed the front storm door. Darlene and Buddy worked with the router. Noble, Fred and Carl installed doors and trim.
Days 31, 32 and 33 - November 8th, 11th and 12th
On Sunday the 12th, a group of five employees from the r.k. Miles paint store applied the first coat of color to three bedrooms, one bathroom, and started on the kitchen. They did a great job and it looks great.
On Wednesday and Saturday all the interior rooms were painted with primer. On Saturday, in addition to applying primer, a group from the Dorset Church, led by Brian Decesare, prepared all the trim for the woodwork. They cut and made the pieces earlier in the week. Thanks to their hard work, the interior trim looks great! We will be applying a clear finish next week.
r.k Miles employees on their day off - working with Christine Jenks.
On November 11th a group from the Dorset Church did a great job with the painting. Brian Decesare and members of the church came with trim for all the windows and doors that they had measured and made in Brian's basement several nights before. The trim looked great and was a tremendously thoughtful contribution.
Days 29 and 30 - November 1st and 4th
On these two days we did the job few people like to do - apply joint compound, sand, spot check for imperfections, sand some more, and apply more compound. We finally got to put the primer on one room - Danny's room! So, we are on our way with the painting! The dust did not lend itself to lots of good photos - so we have a montage that includes a group from Citizens Bank - the West Pawlet branch - that did a great job sanding and applying the priner!
Day 28 - Saturday, October 28th
Students from the Stratton Mountain School helped to sell raffle tickets at Orvis. The proceeds will help purchase building supplies for the home that will be built in Rupert in the spring of 2007.
A group from St. Johns' Church (Mark, Tom, Bea,Frank, and Will) came and was joined by Griff and his grandmother, Sue, Fred, Carl, Barth, Brian DeCesasre, Brian Jenks, Kathy, Barth and Dick. The heavy rain kept us indoors and focused on sanding the walls and ceiling. Another coat of spackle was applied where it was needed. We will soon be ready to paint.
Day 27 - October 26th
We finished the siding and did more with the wall board - applying spackle and sanding. This was a messy job - but it started to look good.
Darren Houck, Principal of The Mountain School, and most significantly, Danny Jenks' Principal, helped finish the siding.
Days 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 - was Global Village Week
During this week we welcomed a Global Village Team of 10 people from different parts of the United States and Canada. We worked full days on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and half days on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. To learn more about each team member, click on profiles. Are you interested in joining a Global Village team? Teams travel to most countries and many parts of the United States where Habitat is working. Click on Global Village to learn more.
The team visited Calvin Coolidge's home on Sunday, the Vermont Country Store, the Winhall home, and enjoyed a great put luck supper at the Colony House in Dorset on Sunday the 15th.
Then they got down to work on Monday, October 16th. Throughout the week they made great progress with the siding and the sheetrock. Almost all of the siding was installed, and all of sheetrock was put in place.
To see profiles of the members of the Global Village Team - click this link.
Day 19 - Wednesday - October 11th
Work continued on the front entrance steps. A lot more of the sheetrock for the ceiling was put up. Jamie Johnson, of Jamie Johnson Masonry, built a double chimney that will serve both the furnace and a wood stove.
Day 18 - Saturday - October 7th
No photos were taken. The strapping for the sheetrock was completed - and the roof was finished. The steps to the front entrance to the house were started. Brian did considerable work grading on all sides of the house.
Day 17 - Wednesday - October 4th
The focus of the day was to complete the south side of the roof and to start putting up the sheetrock for the ceilings. The roof was done and we managed to get the ceiling started. We also cleaned the inside of the house, top to bottom!
Day 16 - Saturday - September 30th
The primary focus of the day was to begin putting the shingles on the roof. Barth, Travis, Fred, and Brian did a great job and completed one side. Noble and Jake assembled and installed two sliding doors, while Kathy and Mary cleaned up the work site and organized the the trailer. Kathy welcomed the BBA freshmen.
Bart, Brian, Fred and Travis finished one side of the roof.
BBA freshmen came for an orientation. As a part of their service learning program, they have chosen to support Habitat's work on and off site by completing various projects. As they are under 16 they cannot work on site.
Day 15 - Thursday - September 28th
Bob Bentley and his crew from Ed's Electric spent the day wiring the home. They got everything completed. This is a major contribution! Make no mistake about it. With the plumbing and wiring now done, we can focus now on the insulation and installing the sheetrock. We are most appreciative of this help!
Day 14 - Wednesday - September 27th
The Wednesday crew got a lot accomplished. We prepared for the roof - got the trim boards in place and finished insulating around the windows.
Andy Avery and who are these masked women?
Fred and Russ - putting on the trim and preparing for the shingles.
Site supervisor - Noble - at work.
Day 13 - Monday - September 25th
Michael Jenks - of Jenks Brothers Plumbing - spent the day installing the plumbing for the home. His brother and future Habitat homeowner, Brian, worked with Doug Hewes. They built the stairs going to the basement. All of the windows are now installed. We are ready for the home to be wired.
Mike Jenks installing the pipes and while- Doug and Brian built the stairs.
Day 12 - Saturday - September 23rd
The morning rain made it more challenging, but a lot was accomplished. Students from the Stratton Mountain School helped a lot. Altogether, we had a crew of 15. We finished putting in strapping for the sheetrock, four more windows were installed along with the downstairs exterior door.
SMS students did a great job. The shingles are ready to be put on.
Day 11 - Wednesday - September 20th
Winhall Realty employees took the morning off from work - and came together to help build the home. Together with other volunteers they installed the stapping from which the sheetrock will be hung, they helped put up the Tyvek on the front and back of the home, and the first two windows were installed. All had fun on a beautiful fall day.
Day 10 - Saturday, September 16th
We had a very productive day. Eleven students came from Castleton State College and four came from Burr and Burton Academy. Another dozen volunteers came t0 help. The challenge was to get everyone meaningfully involved. Several people boxed in the deck, and we started putting down the wood for the deck. Others put in some interior insulation and some of the interior trim was painted. The frames for under the sides of the roof were completed. The house was wrapped with tyvek on two sides.
Special thanks to Burr and Burton and Castleton State University students!
The deck was boxed in and the first pieces of decking were attached.
Day 9 - Thursday, September 14th
The rain held off long enough and thanks to Midura Building Company, the plywood and felt for the roof were put up. It took them the morning. We are most grateful to Lou Midura, Rick and Justin Keyes, and Aaron Gates for taking time from their busy work schedule to help us out! Please see our Corporate Partner page to learn more about their service.
Day 8 - Wednesday, September 13th
The showers held off - and we were able to put the trusses in place - a good morning of work!
The crane dropped the trusses into place - we got it done in half a day.
Brian and Ryan Jenks working on the deck.
Day 7 - Saturday, September 9th - The spacers were put up between the rafters in the basement, and the frame of the deck was put in place. The Faith Relations Committee hosted a picnic that was attended by members of five different congregations.
The back side - the deck is started. Rosalie, Marion and Marty (below) put in the spacers.
Noble getting the posts for the deck straight - Larry with the nail gun.
Reverend Hamblett speaking at the Faith Relations picnic. We all ate very well!
Like father like son - Danny and his dad - building their home!
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 6th - The rain held off and we were able to put up the rest of the sheething and finished the interior walls.
Brian putting up the sheathing. And Carl cutting braces for the interior walls.
Sherrie and Bill working on interior walls - Dagny and Marion putting up sheething.
Day 5 - Saturday, September 2nd - The rain held off and a good crew came together. The interior walls were completed and the sheeting on front and one side was put up. A lot was accomplished.
Day 4 - Wednesday the 30th - the first floor walls were put up and two interior walls. A lot was accomplished - it is starting to look like a home!
The front of the house. Rosalie at work.
Marian and Fred putting together the walls.
Barth cutting the studs and Sherrie putting them together to form the walls.
Back side of the house. Pat working on the insulation for the headers.
Day 3 - Saturday the 23rd
Volunteers put the first wall up - a very exciting moment!
Beth and Jim - Walt and Beth - making headers for the doors and windows.
Day 2 - Saturday the 16th.
DAY 1 - We started the ground floor wall - and also the joists. Lots got done.
Wednesday, August 16th - the basement floor was poured. On Saturday we will put in the joists and plywood for the first floor. We will work from 8:30 to 1:00.
The foundation was poured on Monday and Tuesday, August 7th and 8th. We will ready to build - starting Wednesday and Saturday, August 16th and 19th!
The hole for the foundation was dug in early July.
Left to right - Brian Jenks, Steve Gubb of Bear Paw Landscaping, and Daniel Jenks. They dug the foundation.
Profiles of the members of the Global Village Team
Pat Dunn - is a semi-retired professor of Health Education. She has been active in Habitat as a board member and President of her affiliate. She has done Global Village work in South Dakota, Alaska, Uganda, South Korea, Hungary, El Salvador, and Hungary.
Nancy Massey - recently retired, she enjoys vacationing with a purpose - such as working on Global Village trips. Her HFH trips include Hungary, Alaska, South Korea, and South Dakota. She has participated in construction trips with her church to Kenya, Romania, and Katrina areas.
Betsy Steel - Global Village Leader - Betsy is a teacher, and an artist, parent, and world traveler. An experienced Global Village leader, she has participated in volunteer organizations traveling to Fiji, Hawaii, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Portugal, Alaska, and now Vermont!
Ron Chez - He is an obgyn doctor who has been working with the underserved at city and county hospitals. He recently started a research institute in complementary and alternative medicine with a particular emphasis on optimal healing environments and holistic care.
Rhoda Brooks - She is a native of Michigan - and has worked in management at a major manufacturing firm. She currently owns and operates a real estate firm. She loves to travel and has participated with a Global Village team to Anchorage, Alaska.
Cary Chambers - She has raised five children and has two grandchildren. She owns an insurance business. She loves to travel and enjoys white water rafting and bicycling (Pike's Peak). This is her first Habitat build.
Lucy McNamee - A mother of one son and now a grandmother of a 1 1/2 year old grandson, this is her first Habitat build and this is her first time ever in Vermont.
Jim Belair - recently retired after 30 years as an engineer at Dow Chemical. He enjoys kayaking and cycling and has cycled and paddled in Europe, China, Central America, and Greenland . This is his first Habitat build.
Roy Carpenter - He has participated in building 12 Habitat homes in the Seattle area and in three previous Global Village builds. He retired this September from teaching Oceanography at the University of Washington.
Stuart Fox - a father of six children - he enjoys working with youth as a volunteer at his church. This is his first Global Village trip.
Directions to the Bondville site
If coming from the north
From Manchester - Go east on VT 11/VT 30 for about 9.5 miles. Turn right onto VT 30 and go about 4.3 miles. You will turn a corner to the right and will start going down a long hill. Jenks Way is the first road on the right just before you reach the bottom of the hill. Turn right at the blue sign - Christine's Hair Salon. The house is the first one on the left (time from Manchester 20 minutes).
From Jamaica - Go north on VT 30 for about 9.5 miles. Turn left onto Jenks Way at blue sign - Christine's Hair Salon. The house is the first one on the left.
If coming from the south
From Bennington - Go north on VT 7 for about 23 miles to exit 4, Manchester. Follow the directions from Manchester (see above).
From South Londonderry - Go south on VT 100 to Rawsonville for about four miles. Turn right onto VT 30 and go about 4.5 miles. Turn left at blue sign - Christine's Hair Salon - onto Jenks Way. The home is the first on the left.