THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190561
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover story
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 149 lines
DAN ANGLIM, construction supervisor for Suffolk's second Habitat for Humanity project, wants to prove he doesn't persist in mistakes.
But because Anglim and most of the workers he oversees are amateurs, they're learning by doing. And sometimes the learning comes slowly.
``We probably put in and took out enough framing and enough joists to build another house,'' says Anglim, a retired Navy captain and former teacher.
And that's just what they plan to do. They've decided to tackle a third project before they finish the second one.
Project manager Fran Alwood says it makes sense to start planning for the third house, which will be built next door to the one they're finishing on South Broad Street. They already own the lot, and they've selected the homeowner, Priscilla Jones, a custodian at Florence Bowser Elementary School.
So if they can start construction by late spring or early summer, they can take advantage of good weather, Alwood said earlier this week.
``The design is very similar to this one,'' said Alwood, a retired teacher and guidance counselor, ``so we're going to strike while the iron is hot.''
But the design also created challenges the workers had not encountered in their first project, a house two doors away on Mason Street where Sclester and Charlotte Uzzle live.
The second house, which will be Arthur Beamon's home, required roof construction. The Uzzles' home was built with prefabricated roof trusses.
``And we're amateur carpenters,'' Anglim said. ``For a while, I was reading a carpentry book, one chapter ahead at the time.''
Also, the first house was a ranch, but this one has an upstairs.
``A story and a half was a little bit of a challenge for us,'' Anglim said.
Everyone who has helped has learned a great deal, he said. And the workers are enthusiastic, optimistic they can finish Beamon's house - the second project - by spring.
``Dan is especially anxious to prove that he doesn't do wrong things twice,'' said Mary Keith Garrett, construction coordinator for South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity Inc.
For the next project, the only thing Anglim needs is a new hat. The baseball-style cap he's been wearing is frayed from being turned around every time the architect advised him to confer with one of his subcontractors.
``He told me I should check with my trim person, my wallboard person, my plasterer and my siding person,'' Anglim said. ``I just kept turning my hat around.''
Alwood worries that Anglim, who's at the site nearly every day that someone is working, will suffer from burn-out.
``But he seems very committed. We're very, very fortunate that he was sent our way.''
The Habitat volunteers will have a 7 p.m. meeting Sunday at Suffolk Presbyterian Church to plan the third house and, hopefully, take some of the responsibility off Anglim.
``We're cutting up the elephant,'' Alwood said. ``We're trying to get people to take on one piece of the elephant.''
Hopefully, people will volunteer to take on different areas of construction - one to supervise the foundation, another to oversee the framing, someone else to do the roof, another to take on the flooring or walls.
``That way we won't be asking for a long-term commitment,'' Alwood said. ``We'll be asking for a commitment of, say, two weeks. It's not exactly blitz-build, but it's not snail-build either.''
But work still needs to be done on Beamon's home. The volunteers had hoped to finish the blue, three-bedroom house by Christmas, but delays have pushed that to Valentine's Day or even St. Patrick's Day, Alwood said.
``People can pitch right in,'' she said.
Inside, there are projects to be done: insulation, wallboard, plastering, cabinet work, flooring and painting.
``There is a fair amount of work left,'' Anglim said, ``but we can pretty much do it inside as long as we have the people.''
A core group of nine to 12 volunteers works regularly Saturdays, starting about 9 a.m. and finishing in mid-afternoon.
``Usually, we try to work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then take a break and work again on Fridays and Saturdays,'' Anglim said.
The volunteers, though amateurs, have much to offer, he said.
``A lot of us have other skills, such as woodworking, that we bring to the job. People who feel they can't measure up do a superb job. What you find in volunteers where you don't in many professional contractors is that sense of craftsmanship as opposed to getting the job done as soon as possible.''
Anglim and his wife, Terry - the volunteer coordinator - were looking for a project to become involved in when they heard about Habitat. They signed up in 1992, just after ground was broken for the Uzzle house.
``It's a Christian outreach project,'' he said. ``I think the Spirit moves people to maintain their association with it. I think that has a great deal to do with it.''
Alwood said many different people have helped with the Beamon house.
``Some did the foundation, some did the framing,'' she said. ``Some of them went away and haven't come back. But it has worked out that there have been waves of folks. It just works out.''
The Habitat organizers appreciate the tremendous support from the corporate community and from the city government, as well as from the volunteers. Donations of money and materials help lower costs so the homesteader can afford monthly payments on a 15-year, interest-free mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in Georgia in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller to address the worldwide need for decent housing. Since then, the movement has spread around the world.
Suffolk's efforts, which began in 1991, have all been confined to the Saratoga neighborhood, although organizers say they hope to expand into other areas if they can obtain inexpensive land.
Workers have even come from other cities, helping in Suffolk when they don't have a Habitat project under way in their own communities.
``You've got to help somewhere,'' said John Gabriele, a Portsmouth volunteer who had come to help on a recent work day. ``The world is so full of hate and crime, a little good goes a long way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Construction manager Dan Anglim, a retired Navy captain and former
teacher, works on the electrical system at the Beamon house. Because
Anglim and most of the workers are amateurs, they're learning by
doing.
Volunteers Paulette Wickert, left, and Terry Anglim stack
insulation, which still needs to be installed.
Bob Alwood is a volunteer and Mary Keith Garrett is construction
coordinator for South Hampton Roads Habitate for Humanity Inc.
Graphics
ON THE COVER
Cover color photo of Fran Alwood and Dan Anglim is by staff
photographer John H. Sheally II.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Volunteers are needed Saturdays and on designated weekdays to
finish Suffolk's second Habitat for Humanity project, at 531 S.
Broad St. Workers also will be needed in late spring to help with
the third house, at 533 S. Broad.
Workers willing to donate time may come to the site any Saturday
between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., or they may call Fran Alwood at 539-5780
or Dan Anglim at 255-0607 to find out when work will be done during
the week.
Anyone able to supervise a work area for the third house is
encouraged to attend the planning meeting this Sunday at 7 p.m. at
Suffolk Presbyterian Church, 410 N. Broad St.
Donations of money or materials are also welcome. Checks to South
Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity Inc. should be designated for the
Suffolk project and mailed to 109 E. Main St., Suite 401, Norfolk,
Va. 23510.
by CNB