OSHKOSH, WI
Team Leaders Ray & Karen Nellis

The Oshkosh build began with the arrival of 5 coaches at Hickory Oaks Campground in Oshkosh on July 31st. The first evening the local affiliate treated us to a potluck welcome dinner.

After devotions the first day our supervisor John Marek and his sidekick Griz, explained our initial assignments. The sub flooring was complete and John and Griz had laid out and marked the plates for all four walls, hoping we might get one together that day. To their surprise, by quitting time we had all four walls framed, sheeted and standing, more than they or any of us had expected. We returned to the campground with a great feeling of accomplishment.

The next two days we framed the interior walls, installed the windows and doors and began siding, completing as much as we could without having the roof on. By Friday we had completed much more than anyone had anticipated and new materials would not be delivered until Monday, so the supervisor gave us the day off.

Monday the roof trusses arrived and with the aid of a skycrane -- what a back saving piece of equipment that was -- we began to raise and set the trusses. Soon after lunch we set the last truss and began sheeting the roof. Mid afternoon a car pulled up and two senior ladies came over and gave us a box of vanilla cookies and three large bottles of soda. They had seen the article about the build in Friday’s newspaper and just wanted to help. That motivated us to work beyond quitting time to complete the sheeting.

Tuesday we papered and shingled the roof, again working late to finish. Wednesday found a busy work site — plumbers, electricians and heating contractors. Along with starting the soffitts and porch, our main job this day was to keep out of the way of all the other workers. Thursday, our last day, we finished the siding and roofing.

As we stood back to admire our work, it was hard to believe that just 7 working days ago this was a foundation covered only by sub-flooring. Now, the walls were up, roof and siding on, and windows and doors in. It truly looked like a house! If all goes well, it will be completed months ahead of schedule.