Published: August 30, 2008 08:32 pm         

Restoring Tower House

Career center’s Eel River project in its third year

When students from Century Career Center began working on Tower House on Bankers Row in 2006, the home was in shambles.

Kyle Leffert, building trades instructor, said when the students first began the project, garbage filled the house and people had broken in and painted graffiti on the walls.

Some of the original trim was also stolen from the home.

Despite the setbacks, Century Career Center students got right into restoring the structure. Leffert said the home is estimated to be about 150 years old.

The front of the home is nearly finished, a goal Leffert said Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana had been hoping to reach so that individuals driving past might consider purchasing it.

Students were recently painting the porch, measuring for a back deck to be constructed and cleaning out the tower that gave the house its name.

Leffert said the front porch was one of the bigger projects this year.

The students spent several weeks working on brackets for the front porch, and will paint the front bay window with greens and reds.

Last year, the big project was renovating a bathroom at the rear of the house.

The driveway and sidewalk were also redone, and new steps were added to the entrance.

He said students were planning on tearing down a wall this year to open up the kitchen area.

Walls in the utility room still have to be patched up, along with other renovations.

The goal of the project is to give students hands-on experience, he said.

Sophomore Schuyler Hand plans on working in carpentry after high school. He said he learns something new everyday.

“You can actually look at what you’re working on and go, ‘Wow. I did this,’” he said.

Leffert said the students learn teamwork, responsibility and respect through restoring the house.

Junior Brandon Wilburn said he had learned to trust the people he works with.

“I’ve basically learned how to build a house from bottom up,” Wilburn said.

Sophomore Falen Cason said she’s learned patience through the project. She plans on going into carpentry and construction management.

Leffert said this year the students will finish the front porch and build a rear deck.

He said he hopes the school gets another year to finish up renovations.

Wilburn said he felt as though he was accomplishing something by working on the home.

“It feels so good getting it done,” he said.

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com