Community building habitat-style home

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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

July 16, 2009

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.