The Wayland Board of Selectmen on Dec. 11

honored Wayland resident Peter Bachman, owner of Custom Designs Inc., for his selfless leadership in organizing Wayland residents to help rebuild homes in Waveland, Miss.
The Bachman-led group of more than 30 people was instrumental in building one home from the ground up, and repairing two others this past October. Waveland is Wayland’s sister city that was “ground zero” for Hurricane Katrina.
A citation was presented to Bachman recognizing his leadership and sacrifice in donating his time as well as his crew’s time (two full weeks). In addition, he obtained extensive donations of money and materials from area construction supply companies.
This effort followed a visit by a group of 18 Wayland High School students and nine adults during the Columbus Day weekend. This group included two of the selectmen, so the board had some firsthand experience with the situation Bachman and his crew faced.
A House-Raising
The major project in Waveland, Miss., was raising an entire house from its pilings foundation for Miss Melanie Keratas. Bachman’s crew and nearly 30 volunteers also did major work to restore two other homes in just 10 days as the second of two “October Waves of Relief” organized by the Wayland to Waveland relief committee, formed in the fall of 2012 to assist those affected by Katrina.
According to Bachman, the work on the three houses went almost according to plan. The weather, he said, was awful with rain every day and held the team back a bit. But all the major elements were completed on the three projects.
After the Wayland crews left, various groups have continued work – finishing roofing, installing windows, wiring and painting.
The home for Miss Melanie clearly was the largest of the projects. She had an insurance settlement and other money that allowed her to pay for most of the materials for her new home. Bachman arranged for the design and specified all the materials. This was an unusual challenge as all new home construction must meet new hurricane-resistant building codes.
For example, reports Pam Lesser, a committee co-chair, “several of us spent several solid days hammering in metal hurricane brackets into every single beam from the ground up.”
Melanie’s lot was cleared and foundation piers were installed prior to Bachman’s arrival. The Wayland team got right to work building a house from these piers right on up to the roof. A group of volunteers from the Amish community finished installing the shingles on both Melanie’s house and the one next door for Miss Hazel Tracey.
Miss Hazel’s house wasn’t washed away as Miss Melanie’s was. Some was left usable on its slab foundation. Miss Hazel didn’t have insurance and would not be able to rebuild without the support of the Wayland to Waveland committee.
Bachman’s team removed the old roof and installed a new one, repaired rotted framing, installed new windows and doors they brought with them down from Massachusetts, and completely plumbed the house for water and sewer. In addition, the team began installing new electrical wiring.
Similarly, the team was able to install new windows, doors, plumbing and electrical at Scott Blackwell’s house. This was a neighbor’s home that was washed off its pilings, but was salvaged and purchased for $1 by Blackwell.
All three houses are now at a stage waiting for appropriate building inspections. And plans are in place to help get these finished and livable.
Miss Melanie has been looking after and helping her neighbor Miss Hazel along. She helped previous teams from Wayland work on Miss Hazel’s property and build her a small deck on which she could sit with lawn furniture acquired for her by the Wayland to Waveland group.
The Wayland to Waveland committee also brought a load of relief for the Shutz family of Waveland. This is the young couple to which Lesser referred in her Town Meeting speech last fall. The husband was preparing to go to Iraq and the couple was expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. The family’s house had been damaged by the flood and the husband was having to do the repairs himself in free time.
A recent letter in September reported a lot of progress, enough where they just might be able to move back into the house. However, they reported needing a toilet fixture, a sink and flooring material. In the huge load of material Bachman drove from Wayland, he brought the family a crib and enough flooring material to do their house.
Fund-raising
The Wayland to Waveland committee’s fund-raising letter to Wayland residents has brought in more than $20,000, increasing the total to about $50,000 toward the initial goal of $120,000. Our town’s support is still very much needed, and contributions to this effort are greatly appreciated.
Monies raised will be used to buy materials for those most in need in Waveland. Since so many in Waveland did not have flood insurance at the time of the storm, they do not have the means to complete repairs. All contributions are completely tax deductible and can be mailed to the Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o Town of Wayland, Town Building, 41 Cochituate Road, Wayland MA 01778.
For more information on the group’s efforts, including photos and progress reports, visit “www.waylandtowaveland.org”