One Busy Summer

Here we are.  Mid-August.  What happened to April, May, June, and July?!  It’s been a busy one for the team, everyone working at greenhouses, wineries, and electrical supply shops.  Bill and Michael continued to meet up at the Masser House (now being called the White House), getting her ready for her new foundation.  As you might expect, no small project!  Sit back, and enjoy a super-long post that will catch you up on the whole summer!

APRIL

The sun porch had to be removed.  We were saddened by this, as we cherish the memories the families shared about many happy hours spent out there.  The sun porch was an add-on to the original structure, so it wouldn’t lift with the House when she’s raised for the new foundation.  The boys carefully took it apart, window by window, board by board, until all that was left was the cement pad.

MAY

All living things have an expected lifespan.  The large trees next to the property are unfortunately at the end of theirs; they are diseased and are a threat to the White House and the neighbor’s house with limbs that could come down in a storm.  Special equipment was rented, the chainsaw was gassed up, and up went Bill and the saw in the bucket!  No injuries to any of the “chainsaw party” participants, equipment, vehicles or houses–a successful tree trimming!

JUNE

Chim-chim-cheree!  The boys looked like Mary Poppins’ chimney sweep friends, covered in soot as the crumbling chimneys came down and bricks were cleaned of mortar.  The cleaned bricks are no longer structurally sound, but are being saved for a future life in or around the House.

JULY

The sidewalk is back in the hands of the Little family.  Roger and Leslie showed up with a truck to gather up the sidewalk sections inscribed with family names.  Leslie plans to incorporate them into the landscaping of her house in Idaho.  Roger’s dad poured the sidewalks himself, and poured them THICK!  These are some HEAVY mementos!

Now it’s August and you’re all caught up!  Stay tuned for upcoming events, like a yard sale during Fruita Fall Fest, and the lifting of the House for its new foundation!  Next up on the agenda though, is a reworking of the garage to make room for the lifting company, and to be a more usable storage place than it is currently.  Most of the team will be at the House this Saturday, August 16–stop by and say hello!

 

You Can Help Us Save Her

Dear Friends of The Masser House,

We are in the process of applying for grant moneys for needed renovations, including repairing the mud sill foundation, bringing electrical and plumbing to code and saving important original woodwork and leaded glass windows.  All of these repairs are necessary to save her and will require a sizable sum of money.  We feel The Masser House is an important part of Fruita’s history and should be saved, preserved, and shared with the community.  We also know that The House has been an important part of the lives of the people who lived and visited there.  Many wonderful memories from some of the people who loved her can be found in this blog.  There may be some of you following our progress because you love all old houses.  Your input is also important, as many houses like this disappear forever along with their history if caring people don’t band together to save them.

Now is the time for those of you who feel like we do to write letters to get the attention of grant-giving agencies.  It will take our whole community, both online and local, to save her.  Please take a few minutes to write, including your contact information and relationship to any of us and The House, along with why YOU feel The Masser House should be saved and thus deserves the grant money.  Being as specific as possible is always a plus.

Please help us by sending your letters to Bill at billhols@gmail.com.

We know this is short notice, but we really need your letters by next Friday, January 24, 2014.

Please, please help us make her pretty again.  Help us help The Masser House to be a shining jewel of her community.

Thank you so much.

Much love,

Bill, Donna, Heidi, and Michael