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  • Volunteers from Seymour and Plano place the last rafter Tuesday afternoon at the first Appanoose Community Homes house at 1228 N. Park in Centerville. Photo by Michael Schaffer

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July 16, 2009

Community building habitat-style home

By Michael Schaffer - Managing editor

The first of what is hoped to be many is taking shape in northern Centerville.

Pastor of the Plano Christian Church, David Welch, said a group called Appanoose Community Homes began construction on a house at 1228 N. Park one-and-one-half months ago. He said Tuesday when the house is finished depends on the number of volunteers who show up to help and the weather.

The 24 foot by 32 foot slab, two bedroom house is being built for 82-year-old Russell Swofford. His new house is on his lot just north of his old residence that suffered fire damage recently and has been condemned by the city.

"It will meet his needs for living. It's all handicap accessible," Welch said.

Appanoose Community Homes was formed one-and-one-half years ago and is dedicated to building habitat-style houses in the area, Welch said. The idea to build homes was an offshoot of four years of Plano Christian Church members traveling to Biloxi, Miss., to rebuild hurricane damaged houses.

"We decided we could be doing the same thing here," Welch said. "Just a very basic house. We really think there is a need in the area."

Welch said they would like to build up to two houses a year.

"This is not just Plano Christian Church's. We want to make this a community project," he said.

Welch said if anyone is interested in volunteering, they can call his cell phone at (641) 895-6056.

Businesses contributing to the construction of the first Appanoose Community Homes house at 1228 N. Park are Joiner Construction, True Value, Cossolottos, Dave's Doors and Windows and Dwight Pfannebecker. And then there are countless volunteers doing the hard labor.

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So, the question this week is, “Will it stay or will it go?” The United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. wants to close three Farm Service Agency offices in southern Iowa, which includes the FSA office in Centerville, and consolidate the operations in order to save money. Tuesday afternoon a meeting was held at Faith United Methodist Church to allow farmers and other producers who use the Centerville FSA office to make comments about the closing to John R. Whitaker, state executive director Iowa FSA. Many questioned if the meeting Tuesday was necessary because the decision had already been made.

A. Yes, because Washington will listen.
B. No, because the decision to close the Appanoose County FSA office has already been made.
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