Habitat homecoming in city delayed no longer

Thomas and Stacy Carpenter and their three children were prepared to move into their new Habitat for Humanity home on Chester Street just days before last Christmas.

The move was not to be, however, as a fire ripped through the structure, gutting the inside of the building and destroying its roof.

On Friday, after six months of renovations and restoration work, the family finally moved into the home, the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity's 47th.

During a ceremony dedicating the home, Larry Keisner, chapter construction manager, presented keys to the home to the Carpenters and their children Alyia, 8, Thomas, 6, and Marlin, 4.

"This is a real joyous occasion, especially if you saw this home back in December and (knew) the sadness that went along with it," said Earl Kinter, chapter board president.

The house previously had been occupied by a Habitat family. When that family outgrew the four-bedroom home, it was sold back to the chapter. The chapter had it for only two weeks and was getting ready to hand the keys to it over to the Carpenters just before Christmas when the fire occurred.

Thomas Carpenter said he was picking up a co-worker who lived in the neighborhood the following morning when he saw the burned-out structure.

Carpenter said he could not believe his eyes when he saw the building.

"I said, 'Did I just see what I thought I saw?' Then I said, 'That does not look good,'" Carpenter said. "We were going to move in two weeks."

Instead, they remained at Journey House, a facility designed to allow homeless families to transition into independent living. Journey House was launched about four years ago as an initiative of New Covenant United Church of Christ.

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Habitat homecoming in city delayed no longer