Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
MAN, IN ODD TIME,
BUILDS OWN HOUSE
Office Worker Gives Up Golf
to Erect Two Stories,
Now Completed.
epecial pispatch 70 The star.


KANSAS CITY, Mo, August q IN
A.NA.1-Some time next Summer
Ralph f. johnson, a member OF the
Unity School of Christianity organiza-
ton, will take up golf again.
1t has been three full years since ne
slowed driver, niblick, midiron, puttei
and mashie in his golf bag, and there
they have remained. Meanwhile he has
devoted those one-time golflng hours Of
sunlight, his entire week ENDS and eve
nings and early mornings, before goine
to work, to the construction with MS
own hands of the home which now
stands finished. except for some minor
tasks. on North River boulevard In
independence.
Mr.. johnson will complete his base
ment billiard room and his f1sh pool
also in the subgrade level in his house
in these spare time hours and he will
complete the landscaping of his lawn
Then he will turn back to his beloved
pastlme of golf
Builds Own Story House.
However, as he contemplates this
renaissance of sport in his personal
activities. he does not expect to f1nd
therein the delight he derived from
building his own house. And TINS
despite the fact that he never drove
nail or welded a mortar-laden trowei
before he began his self-appointed task
of constructing his own home.
It is safe to say that no golfer ever
experienced greater delight upon turn
ing in a below par score for hole-in-
one performance than Mr.. johnson has
as he surveys his handiwork.
The product of his laborS there is q
two-story house designed in a modi-
fication of italian architecture. 1t is
q compact house conveniently arranged
in the planning Of which he had the
assistance only of Mrs. johnson. Gen.
ter reception hail. living room, dining
room and kitchen are the ground-fio
rooms. The living room Is few steps
below the hall and wrought iron grill
forms a gate under the dining room
arch. A circular stair rises from the
hall to the second floor, where there
are two bed rooms, library, convertible
into a bed room, and bath.
Lacked Building knowledge.
Mr.. johnson began to build his house
with no knowledge, theoretical or prac-
teal, about construction. He had lived
at the Unity Farm in rural Jackson
County and had watched several OF the
construction projects there. He had
asked questions and inspected the prog
ress of the work. That was his sole
OualinCation as a Dulloef.
But he knew exactly what he wanted
and how much money he cared TO spend
to get it. Contractors estimates ran a
bit too high, he thought. when ne got
them three years ago. and he felt those
to whom he talked didn't get his ideas
exactly as they should SO he deter
mined to build with is own hands.
Technical and theoretical information
he obtained in the reading rooms Of the
Kansas City Public Library. He spent
many hours thumbing books there both
before and during his construction task
For some hints and advice he sought
out practical builders and material
statesmen.
Started With Foundation.
The hands that were at first un-
deniabIy clumsy at their unaccustomec
task assumed a def capability as The
house began TO form. They were un-
skilled Iabors Mr. johnson gave TO the
building of his house back in 1928
when the work was young but the lat
ter stages were accomplished with the
dizziness Of experience nearer the close
Of the three-year period.
The house may be termed Mr.. john
sons personal structural product, al
though all of the tasks that went *
complete 1t were not done by him
For instance, 1t is legally required thai
plumbing and wiring must be done by
vuaiified experts. The 6-ton roof OF ills
was applied by roofing company. ano
an excavation company dug the base
nent Plaster and stucco were applied
BY hired workers.
But the foundation and the hollow
masonry walls we're built by Mr.. John
son. The framework of the house h
fashioned and placed, even to the com
plicated frame supports for the arches
and circular stairway. The support.
and bracing for the 6-ton roof Of TIL
ne erected in such fashion that /
passed the roofers' tests without CUES
ton.
The subflooring and sash we're IN
stalled By him, and countless othfl
tasks, too. were done in what most mel
consider their necessary hours Of leisure
Part Of the time the house was betnl
built Mr.. and Mrs. johnson rented tn
residence next door, so that he couis
be close To his tasks Then, long befor'
the house was finished, two rooms wer
made comfortable for occupancy ant
Mr.. and Mrs. johnson lived in tn
house while he formed it about them
abandoning il for city dwelling onl
in the colder Winter months
While he was engaged in his con
structi0n work Mr.. johnson was put
ting in FIVE full working days each wee
at the Unity School of Christianit
Offices. But from 5 o'clock until SO
each morning he was a builder. The
u work. A day at the Office. HOME
Dinner. Then a construction worke
once more from about or $50 o'cloc
until 10 or IL at night. Saturday
Sundays and vacations permitted hin
fun days Of labor at his building.
Copyright. 1851. By the North America