The Nine Finalists Chosen
Tracie Armendariz - Carlsbad, NM
I am a single mom who purchased a real fixer upper. I have been fixing up rooms as finances and skills allow. But the house is in desperate need of a paint job but that is way out of my realm both financially and skill wise. I know it is the one thing my daughter would love to see done she often asks when are we going to do the outside as we feel like the neighborhood sore thumb. This house was purchased so my girls and I would be able to have some security but it would be a dream come true to be able to finish fixing it up so that it is more like a home instead of a rundown eyesore.
Gwen Beauchamp - Lancaster, TX
It was time to downsize. With most of our children out on their own we bought a small house in the country that was perfect for the two of us. The only thing I disliked was the exterior color. It was a horrible shade of yellow with rust orange shutters, but that could easily be fixed. Painting the house was on our "To Do" list, but it never made it to the top. On July 28, 2004, 13 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. The creek behind us churned into roaring rapids, flooding the entire area. The house stood strong, but was badly damaged. A deck and bridge were built and retaining walls put in all around the house with extensive drainage systems to allow future floods to flow under and around us. The orange shutters were painted white to match the deck railing, but the house remained an ugly yellow. The paint is cracked and peeling and I am hopeful that one day soon it will be transformed into a new refreshing color. That will be the crowning touch that tells me our home is finally complete.
Kathryn Coombs - King George, VA
My house, "Cleydael" was built in 1859 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Each year, we are open to the public for 12 bus tours and host several living history open houses. The house was visited by Lincoln assassin Booth on his escape route and has other Civil War history associated with it, as well as connections to George Washington's family. We are also an animal rescue and, neighborhood children come year-round to visit to visit our horses, sheep and goats.. We repainted 6 years ago but it needs it again and we can't afford it in the current economic climate. The heating & AC system is not very energy efficient, there's no insulation and the overheads in running the property are making it hard for us to continue to offer the house as a public educational and recreational amenity, which would be a pity as we're the major tourist attraction in our county. If we won this prize, it would make a big difference and help to preserve an important piece of heritage for future generations. Visit us on the web at www.Cleydael.org.
Laura Harrison - Dixon, WY
My home is the ugliest home in my small town. That's harsh but true. I have never had the funds to give it the exterior TLC it deserves. It seems the money goes to just keeping the things in this 50+ year old home functioning. This was my mother's house. After her passing, I was the only sibling to need a home so I bought my sibling's share out with my small inheritance. My mom did have a fly by night character paint it once. She gave him cash in good faith and he did paint it but it was a shabby job. The paint peeled months later. She also had a similiar experience with a man that came to fix the leaky foof. Gratitude would be an understatement on how I would feel to win the grand prize. I want a house that my family and I can be proud come home to. One that my son would not be embarrassed to have his friends come to. A home that I can proudly hang a welcome sign by my door and really mean it. I am grateful for having a home at all but it needs help. If any home deserves the generous grand prize, mine would surely qualify. Thank you for reading and please vote!
Cathy Horner - Johnson City, TN
I am single 49yr old and this year I bought my first home. This is a dream come true, not only because I've always wanted a historic home, but as a full time artist and music teacher I now have studio rooms for both. I want to create an inspiring and wholesome place where families enjoy bringing their children for lessons and I can continue to do what I love. This house, built in 1900, was also the house my neighbor grew up in 75 yrs ago. She has given me photos and told stories of how it used to look. On a budget, I've had to have so many things repaired like the whole house needing new electric wiring, plumbing and heat issues that it will be many years before I can restore it to its original grandeur. Sadly, not only has the upper balcony been removed but the house was covered in yellow vinyl siding, red shutters and the tin roof color looks orange. I would love to see the house exterior done with paint again. Please help her, with a lovely country setting and becoming part of the community as a place to learn about music and art, she is worth it.
Leah Juarez - Albuquerque, NM
As I pull up to the driveway and look at my home, no yard for my children to go out and to roam. The stucco is cracking, the weeds need a whacking. There is so much to do, for my home is lacking. It's like a bad song, with everything wrong, oh how it has been so very long! The pipes wont drain, it's such a pain, not an once of faith to gain. Mold, on the gold, of our outdated shower, calcium deposits growing up in a tower, might as well let the termites devour. It looks So very bad, my face has gone sour. For I need this, oh the bliss, my old home: I'd never miss, not even worthy of a goodbye kiss. Please consider my desperate plea, my face would turn from sour to glee, if only, if only, you would go and pick me!
Marylane Koch - Byhalia, MS
Got a moment for my story? In 1899 the local mercantile store owner and his family moved into me, one of the largest homes built in this historic area. My portrait hangs at Town Hall; my picture beckons from note cards, the Byhalia history book, and the Chamber web site. I am Byhalia heritage. My new owners rescued me from probable demise. They love me so. Since my purchase five years ago, they have plastered, painted, and wired two upstairs rooms; installed built-in bookcases in my study using Old Hickory's wood (struck by lightening, bless his bark); upgraded my water lines; refinished my heart pine floors; and installed new gas lines and inserts for four of my fireplaces. Now my electrical system needs rewiring while my coat begs repainting. However, a professor's salary will only go so far in today's economy. How I dream of my original ivory cloak with contrast trim! My depression betrays me in the drab shawl and peeling gingerbread I must wear until good fortune shines my way. Please help preserve and restore me to the grand Mississippi lady I was born to be 110 years ago: McCrary Place on Historic Church Street, Byhalia, Mississippi
Patty Miller - Minneapolis, MN
Sixty years ago, the little house was born. Even though it was much smaller than the grand houses around it, the little house was happy. Except for one thing - it was painted white. The little house lives in Minnesota, where for five months of the year, everything is white - the snow, the sky, the trees. The little house felt like it disappeared. One day, the little house heard that it was going to be painted. Oh, joy! Maybe it would finally wear the colors its little wooden heart yearned for - the yellow of fresh-churned butter, the green of the sea on a stormy day, the blue of a hazy July morning, even the red of an aging barn. But it was not to be. More watery white paint was slapped on just to make it pretty for purchase. The little house sighed. Then the new paint began to flake, just like wintry dry skin. The little house despaired. But its new owner yearned for color, too. So one day she entered a contest for exterior painting. Together, the owner and the little house held their breaths, crossed their fingers, and hoped, hoped, hoped for color.
Joyce Peters - Irmo, SC
From the first moment that I saw this house, I knew it was going to be my last home. Although empty for nearly 30 years, you could see tell that this was the home of a happy family. The inside told a story of children raised and love that endured nearly 70 years. In the attic was a box of love letters written while the last owner was fighting in World War II. We puchased our "Dream Dump" in May 2008 and began renovation. Then the economic crisis hit and we are struggling. Please help us fulfill our dream. That house needs to be loved. It needs to have family dinners, and friends over for Bible studies and sweet little children running around.
