Ground broken for Habitat house
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Joe, Chris, Leah, Gage and Andrew McSparren were joined by about 100 people, including Selectman Mark Carlisle, on Tuesday night at the formal groundbreaking of their future home. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER

About 100 people gather Tuesday evening at 211 Sherbert Road in Ashburnham for the formal groundbreaking for a Habitat for Humanity house being built for the McSparren family.

The crowd of public officials, family and friends of the McSparrens, Habitat volunteers and members of the community gathered to help welcome the family to Ashburnham.

"It's an important day. It is a turning point," said Leah McSparren, of the official groundbreaking.

The foundation for the house was poured in March once the weather broke, but the first official build day is Saturday and there will be build days every Saturday until the house is completed.

"It's the excitement of getting the house but you get all of this, too," McSparren said, referring to the crowd. "I'm nervous. I'm happy. I'm excited."

McSparren, who grew up in Ashburnham, is currently living with her husband, Chris, and their three sons in Townsend, with members of his family. The couple's three kids, Joe, 12, Gage, 6, and Andrew, 3, are all excited about the prospect of the new house, said McSparren.

She said Andrew identifies the Sherbert Road parcel as "the sandy house" because of the construction material that is currently on the property, and knows that it will become home soon.

The McSparren family was chosen to receive the new home on 1.1 acres of land in September 2006. They are required to put in 400 hours of "sweat equity" into the home and another 100 hours into either their home or other Habitat projects.

"This is ours, we built it. We painted it. We decorated it," she said referring to the feelings she is looking forward to. "We plan on being here every Saturday."

McSparren said she is looking forward to being in the home, so much that she is placing furniture in the rooms based on the architectural drawings.

Habitat has been working on a building project for several years as the local group works to raise funds and volunteers, and also trying to work with the town to accomplish the legal transfer of land.

(Left) The design of the house being built on Sherbert Road in Ashburnham is for a two-story building. The first build day is Saturday. (Above) Andrew McSparren, 3, works with the shovel during the groundbreaking ceremony. JOURNAL PHOTOS/CAITLYN KELLEHER

Megan Foley, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, said the local committee needs to be recognized for their work over the last two years. She said this is the work that is often overlooked in the recognition process.

She said as a Christian organization the group asks for help not only from community residents but also of God.

"We pray like it all depends on God, and we work like it all depends on us," Foley said.

Selectman Mark Carlisle recognized Bob Powers, an Ashburnham resident who worked on the project before his death. Powers was one of the people that started trying to identify land for a Habitat house five years ago.

Laura Jones, the volunteer coordinator for the project, said people interested in working on the project can sign up online at www.ncmhabitat.org, or can call her at (978) 827-3232.

Volunteers must sign up ahead of time because there are limits to the number of people allowed on the site for safety reasons. She added residents do not necessarily need to know about construction because there will be guides on the property. She also said some of the work that needs to get done is preparing food for the volunteers and other work of that nature.