By Echo Menges
Thanks to the organizational efforts of Weaverland Disaster Services and a team of Amish and Mennonite builders from throughout the area, the Baring Senior Housing complex is another step closer to completion.
Beginning on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, builders started framing three four-unit buildings, aiming to build the shell of each structure within just one week.
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, manpower peaked with approximately 40- 50 volunteers on-site. Volunteer numbers ranged from 10 to 20 builders daily for the remainder of the week.
Before their arrival, local contractors Snelling & Sons and DJ’s Construction were contracted to repair the foundations and one of the two remaining structures.
Snelling & Sons Concrete repaired and re-poured the concrete foundations.
DJ’s Construction repaired the exterior of the four-unit structure, which was damaged but not destroyed by the Aug. 4, 2023, EF2 tornado. That building received a new roof, windows, doors, and metal sheeting on parts of the exterior.
According to Raymond Burkholder Jr., local volunteers will return to the site this week to finish framing the interior walls.
The next steps of the project will include electrical and plumbing work, according to Keli Luthenauer, Baring Senior Housing board member.
The Baring Senior Housing complex accounts for 16 homes between one damaged building and three destroyed buildings by the tornado in 2023. The community continues to recover from the destruction.
A large portion of volunteers who have continued to help rebuild the Baring community are from Knox and Scotland counties.
