LANTHIER

Staff Writer

NORWAY — With an assist from a group of 37 volunteers from Hastings, Mich. the newest Habitat for Humanity home in Norway has gone up seemingly overnight. This has drawn numerous drive-bys from curious people.

“We had a basement floor (only) on Monday,” said Nancy Pellegrini, Habitat for Humanity Menominee River director.

Allerding was there with his son, Scott, and granddaughter, Annemarie, shown nailing on insulation.

They had the house framed in by Monday afternoon. Trusses went up on Tuesday. Most of the roof was completed Wednesday. Windows, doors, siding and roof were being installed Thursday, along with shingles. The group, who are members of the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, Michigan, arrived Sunday and plan to leave Saturday for the drive back.

They been coming to the Upper Peninsula for more than 30 years to work on homes. After 12 years helping in Marquette, they assisted the local Habitat on a home in Kingsford last year. That house is nearly complete. The group ranges in age from 12 to adult.

Cindy Preston, who serves as Habitat director in Barry County, was unable to make the trip last year, so this was her first time in this area. She has come on several trips to the U.P. over the past 15 years as Habitat director.

“I love nothing better than turning over the keys to a new home,” Preston said.

The Rev. Nick Marlatt was making his first trip with the group, as he has only been pastor of the church since November.

Rev. Nick Marlatt applies tape to a window frame. The group of 37 volunteers were in town for a week to work on the house.

Annemarie Allerding is part of three generations of volunteers, with grandfather David and father Scott. The 15-year-old has been coming for four or five years.

“I used to live in the U.P. and I love coming here and helping some folks in need,” she said.

Pellegrini said this is the eighth Habitat home in Norway, with the last one done in 2013. This is the 51st house local Habitat has constructed.

Preston said she has overseen the construction of 45 homes in Barry County, which has a population of about 62,000.