Neighbors build family a new home

HAMPDEN – Many people and resources came together for Hampden resident Terri Thompson, 36, who has physical limitations, and her 8-year-old daughter, Kaylee – at a time when they were very much needed.

“It’s just an amazing story,” said Mary Ann Johnson, a second-grade teacher at McGraw School in Hampden, where Kaylee is a pupil.

Thompson lost her husband last summer when he died of complications from a fall. Jamie Arsenault, who teaches with Johnson and had Kaylee as a pupil, learned of the family’s loss and made the initial contact to find out what was needed, Johnson said.

Thompson was asked to provide a list of her needs and Johnson asked her, “If you could pick one thing [from the list], what would it be?”

Thompson told Johnson she was afraid that she and Kaylee would freeze over the winter, since their only source of heat was a wood stove in the basement. Johnson promised her a new source of heat.

“And I had no idea how that was going to be accomplished,” Johnson said. She made phone calls to the Kiwanis club and to R.H. Foster, and word got out. Money and a hot-air furnace came through, and the furnace was installed in late fall.

But that wasn’t all. Tom Hutchinson, a contractor in Hampden, read an article written by Bangor Daily News columnist Joni Averill about the school’s effort to provide Thompson with a furnace and contacted Johnson. The two discussed Thompson’s needs and Hutchinson decided it would be best to build a new house.

Gayle Conley of Hampden, Hutchinson’s employee as well as his mother, said that he came back and said, “Guys, we’re building a house.”

Hutchinson called Johnson about an hour after they had talked to tell her about the help he had been able to get, including plumbing and roofing. He contacted friends, employees, subcontractors and former customers for help, which included the purchase of furniture.

“My customers furnished the house totally,” Hutchinson said.

Nearly 100 people contributed in some way to Thompson’s new house, he said. And all construction materials were donated.

Construction began the end of January and took about 10 weeks to complete. The final product, a 28-by-40-foot ranch-style house, is handicapped-accessible and has hot-water baseboard heat, Hutchinson said.

“It felt good,” Hutchinson said of being able to help Thompson.

Thompson is “overwhelmed with gratitude” for the new house, for the work that went into it, and for those who helped to make it possible. She and Kaylee were able to move into the house in April. It feels “awesome” to have a nice, new home, she said. What does she like most about it?

“It’s all handicapped-accessible,” she said. The house is one level and is open in places such as under the sink and stove to allow Thompson easy access.

“It’s all accessible from a wheelchair,” she said.

Subcontractors who donated labor and materials told Hutchinson they had more fun working on the Thompson home than they had had working anywhere in a long time.

Hutchinson wishes to thank all who helped make Thompson’s home possible. Individuals and businesses who contributed were:

Joe Slevinsky; Lisa Grant; Paul Strout of C.A. Strout and Sons; Jim Conley, Scott Blanchard, Dale Rustin, John Ewer and Gary Rollins, all of H.E. Sargent Inc.; Irving Oil; Dysarts, Andrew Hartley of Clewley Foundations; Rick Scripture; Robert Vile; Hanscom Well Drilling; Sunrise Materials; Gerry Drake Masonry; Nathan Bemis Drywall; Wes and Brenda Brown Insulation; Ken Tarr Plumbing; Bob Kelly; David Climo, Eric Madden and Torrey Bean of Climo Electric Inc.; Troy Williams Heating; Gallants Home Improvements; Granville Lumber; Ed Marsh; Viking Lumber; Sterns Lumber; Mathews Brothers; Bangor Paint and Wallpaper; Carpet One; Dunnett Appliances; Sebco Kitchen and Bath; Bangor Pipe and Supply; Applicator Sales; Hughes Brothers; Clisham Construction; M.K. Construction; Downeast Concrete Products; Pine Tree Landfill; Keniston’s Tile; Gilman Electric; Best Western White House Motel; Suburban Propane; Susan Lessard; Carol Michaud; Gary Bennett; Gary Smith; Libbie Conley; Grace Conley; Scott Preston; Jamie Arsenault; Ashley Kneeland; Debbie Farkenburg; Priscilla LePage; Sharon St. Marie; P.J. Spenser; Gail Pierce; Gail Donovan; Mary Ann Johnson; Dale Tudor; Donna Dwyer; Gerry Dwyer; Jane Litwack; Dawn Moore; Valerie Edwards; Kelli Libby; Gayle Conley, Charlie Nash, Victor Lindquist, Bob Dow, Scott Hotchkiss, John Surrette, Chris Messersmith, Wayne McGary, Keith Foster, Bink Porter, Ricky Bates, Tony Santos, Corey Albert, and Tom and Heather Hutchinson, all of Thomas Hutchinson Construction Inc.; Tom and Jean Pforzheimer, Dr. Irwin Gross, Martha Fogler, Dr. John and Carolyn Jentzer, Dr. Andrew and Layne Dixon, Dr. Jay Ye and Bing Bing Li, Carl Ross and Sheryl Colvin, Peter Bartley, Gary Jordan, Neisha Bragg, Monica Gordan, Andrea Illingworth, and Rick and Ellen Port, who all contributed furniture or furnishings; and numerous employees of Dahl-Chase Pathology Associates, who donated food.