The house that love built

SUMMERFORD -

The entire community of Summerford has come together to help build a new home for a family of three.
Tommy Barnes, Daisy Brown and their daughter Julienne, lost their home in a fire on Dec. 13, 2009. They were living in the dwelling at the time, while at the same time Mr. Barnes was building a new home just behind the house that burned.
Mr. Barnes said according to the Summerford Volunteer Fire Department, a chimney fire caused the fire that consumed the home. With the family out of a home during the Christmas holidays, people in the community began rallying together to provide help to finish what Mr. Barnes had started.
"We had this house framed, weather-tight with shingles on and windows in, but the inside was pretty much empty (at the time of the fire)," said Mr. Barnes.
Little did the family know that help wasn't far away. Mr. Barnes credits Roy Jenkins, a neighbour, as the organizer of the many volunteers who dropped by the work in progress on a daily basis. Also, Patsy Bennett for organizing many donation centres throughout the community.
"I was just going about my own thing, going to get materials to start framing up the house inside, and when I called Roy he had people lined up to do all kinds of work by that time," said Mr. Barnes. "At any time of the day there could be from one person to a half dozen people here in the house going about their thing and donating their time. You would never know who would drop by to lend a hand."
Mr. Barnes said the volunteers were tradespeople and professionals in their field, whether they were electricians or plumbers - the frequent visitors were only too happy to help.
"Electrical was the big thing and they came down and did that for no cost, so that was a big, big help there," he said. "A house this size is a lot of work to wire, a lot more then I thought to be honest, but they did good. The volunteers who came to help with the drywall were also fantastic. They had the drywall,137 sheets, completed in a day."
Mr. Barnes and Ms. Brown said volunteers like Floyd Boyd and Doug Small helped with the plumbing, Lloyd Hillier, Dennis Rogers, Calv Adams and Harvey Adams helped with the drywall, Johnny Anstey and Terry Barnes did the plastering and Gerald Boyd, Dave Hann, Nick Snow and Allan Barnes completed the electrical work needed throughout the home. Local lumber supplier, Cottle's Island Lumber Company Ltd., provided the family with additional supplies needed to frame up the inside of the home.
Ms. Brown also mentioned the Town of Summerford, who set-up a donation centre on behalf of the family and the numerous family and friends who helped them in every way possible.
Currently, Mr. Barnes said the painting, cabinets and bathroom are all that is left to complete before the family can move in. He said he will focus on other small tasks once they are settled in.
"We have another crew that will be coming to be doing something for us for cabinets, to help us out," he said. "Then we need to get the bathroom ready, everything is bought, it's just a matter of installing it once the plaster and painting is done."
The overwhelming support and help the family has received over the past month and a half is evident when the couple speaks of each individual volunteer.
"Initially we wanted to be moved into this house by next Christmas," said Mr. Barnes. "We never dreamed we were going to get this much support. It's a lovely job that they have done here."
"It's just amazing," said Ms. Brown. "With everyone busy over the holidays and still taking time to come out here and help us - you can't help but appreciate each and every one of the volunteers. They made it possible."