RW Gray Construction Partners with the Greater Seacost Habitat for Humanity to Build Mathers Family Home

November 2007

Nottingham, NH – Building your own home, a dream for many people, was going to be a reality for Dan Mather. He started construction on his house in Nottingham using timber from the property. Dan, who is a skilled mason, built the three story red brick chimney as the centerpiece of his new house. A single dad, he was hoping to complete the home and move in with his two daughters.

His plans were sidelined, however, by an accident at work. Dan's legs were crushed by a pallet of cement blocks as he worked to build the Nottingham school. As Dan recovered from his serious injuries, he and his daughters were forced to move into a 25 square foot camper trailer without running water. Dan, unable to work, now faced the possibility of giving up the dream of completing the construction of his house.

Dan turned to Greater Seacoast Habitat for Humanity. He proposed a solution to both his problem and the problem faced by GSHFH as it contemplated its next project-affordable land. In return for help in building and financing his house, Dan would subdivide his property. GSHFH would obtain a building lot for its next house.

At this time, thanks to many volunteer hours and material donations, Dan's house has a roof, siding, windows, doors, insulation, wiring, and is ready to have sheet rocking installed. The property has been graded, a driveway prepared and a septic system put in. While still dealing with the healing of his injuries, Dan puts in his "sweat equity", working beside the Habitat volunteers who join him each Saturday to move this project closer to completion.

The true meaning of community has come together in this venture, neighbors helping neighbors, supporting the work of Habitat for Humanity. Thank you to all the people who have been involved in the building of the Mather home: Bob Gray of Gray Construction Company in North Hampton; Randy Sanderson, who has taken over 50 hours from his own work to operate the earth moving equipment to dig and backfill the foundation and grade the property; Ben Gurlin and his students from the Exeter Vocational Technology School who installed the roof, and the Wal-Mart employees of Epping who have volunteered their time to do whatever was asked of them. Thanks to these dedicated volunteers,the dream of building and having a home of their own will become a reality for the Mather family.