The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-23
AMATEURS HERE
BUILD OWN
HOMES
Half Score OF -Washingtonians
Are Erecting Houses Them
selves At Odd Times.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN,

By GEORGE FRANKLIN,
"This is the house that Jack
built"
Soon some half-score of Wash
ington home owners will. point
with pride to their family man,
sions just completed, and that
will tell the story. They will tell
of how the house grew up around
them over night, for. in reality
that is what took place. It all
came about this way.
Some persons with an. irrepressIb|e
desire to own a home, but un-
able to pay rent and build at the
same time, hit upon the expedient
of initiating the spider and the
beaver. They bought a lot, drew
plans of the future home, selected,
in most instances, the site for the
garage or chicken coop, built it
and moved in. They found the
quarters comfortable during the
spring and summer months.
Real Work Begins.
Established in the temporary
home they set to work building
the family mansion. The founda-
tons were laid after office hours.
During the same periods the frame
work was set up, floor beams laid
and the sheathing boards nailed on.
Little by little. through the week
days, holidays and vacation times,
the house took form. Each mem
Der of the family lent a hand.
Building materials were secured
from lumber yards. The material
came rough-cut to size. Interior
finish was obtained in the same
way. Stock moulding. single or in
combination, were utilized for deco
rative purposes. Patent beaver
boards took the place of plaster
ing in many instances. It was easy
to put in place and did not require
the Service Of an expert plasterer.
1t also offered opportunity for pam
nelinR effects, and took stain and
yarnish satisfactorily.
Several Near. Completion.
Now several families have their
homes about completed. Soon will
come the day for the house warm.
ing when they will say to their
friends:
1--WE built 1t ourselves. It is
the house that Jack built. Don't
tell us you have to keep right on
paying rent and never getting any
nearer owning your own home II
you really want one. Just start
with year. chicken house or garage
and make, that do until you COM
plete@ the house proper. 1t is just
like, roughing. it in the wilds.
!, 'Afterwhue we will add a room
or two, build a wing to the house.
Then we. will finish the attic. But
for the present, you see, we are
snuggly housed in our own home,
and 1t cost us really a whole lot
less than If we had had 1t built.
Isn't It all splendid?"
Built In Spare Time.
Arthur Brown, assistant engineer
at Walter Reed Hospital, is one of
theg ,adventurers in home.bailding
whose experiences go to show that
where there is a will there is a
way9 Mr.. Brown bought a lot near
Silver Springs, Md. 1t is in the
heart of wooden tract that is
rapidly being developed. Having
secured the land he erected a
combination garage and chicken
coop. For the present it consti-
tutes a four-room bungalow.
Here the Brown family have
lived since early spring. 1t is as
coy a rustic retreat as can be
found in any Of the suburban sec
tions. It cost. a little over $500 plus
Mr.. Browns labor, but he put in
his spare time on the work, and
declares that as it was play time
for him he does not feel 1t should
be charged up to building cost.
Here the family, consisting of
Mrs. Brown and Arthur Brown, Jr,
have lived happily for months. OF
course Jack" Brown should be in.
cluded in the Brown census, for he
is really as important an addition
to the family group as any WELL
bred collie dog could become. The
chicken house-garage is located on
the rear of the lot. The home goes
up on the street line" at least in
line with the adjoining property
house. The roadway will go through
before long.
Decided to Build.
1T decided last winter to own my
own home" said Brown today. $50
came out here, selected my lot
and then had the material carried
out. The family were away at the
time and l was determined when
they returned it would be to go
into their own home. l put in my
spare time during the late winter
and early spring on construction
work. When Mrs. Brown returned
with Arthur I was ready for them,
and here we have been ever since.
l will complete the home proper in
good time and then feel 1 am set
tied for life
Mrs. Brown comedies she has
spent an enjoyable summer.