Visit Kelly Hannon's blog: On the Road

Stafford High junior Ryan Goring looks out from the Drew home's master bedroom at neighboring houses in Clearview Heights subdivision. Ryan installed electrical wiring in the home, which was built by students in Stafford High's building-trade classes. ram View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Teens fashion a fine home

Stafford High students design, build, sell Falmouth house

By KELLY HANNON

Date published: 6/3/2004

By KELLY HANNON

Not everyone would be comfortable buying a home built by teens, but Edward and Evelyn Drew of Stafford can't wait to move into their new ranch house on Winterberry Drive.

"I've been living in a three-story house," said Edward Drew, 80, carrying a cane. "Too many stairs. I've been looking for a one-story for years. They're hard to find."

Last summer, the couple heard high school students in Stafford County's building-trades classes were erecting a single-story, three-bedroom home.

The annual project, sponsored by the Stafford County Vocational Education Foundation, gives students work training in masonry, electricity, carpentry and drafting.

Local contractors and teachers oversee every aspect of construction and design. About 25 percent of this year's house was built by professionals.

At the end of each year, the house is sold. The money is used to buy the following year's house lot and materials.

The Drews immediately put their name on the list for the ranch house off Butler Road in southern Stafford.

As former educators--Edward Drew is a retired assistant superintendent of Stafford schools and Evelyn Drew is a former county teacher--they were undaunted by the youth of the home's builders.

Of course, they stopped by now and then to see how work was progressing.

"We know what's under the floors and behind the walls because we've watched it go up," Evelyn Drew said yesterday.

They paid $325,000 to buy the house, which is the highest sale price in the 13-year history of Stafford's student-built home program.

Yesterday, the Vocational Education Foundation threw an open house to showcase the students' class project.

People milled about on the lawn, admiring the house's red-brick exterior and landscaped garden.

Inside, people ran their hands over the cool tile of the whirlpool tub. Their feet sunk into the plush wall-to-wall carpeting. Their eyes admired the recessed lighting and high ceilings. Women stepped into walk-in closets with awe.

"It's really beautiful. I especially liked the his and hers closets in the master bedroom. It's a gorgeous home," said Stafford School Board member Dana Reinboldt.

Terry Wilson, who teaches building trades at Stafford High School, said he had a hard-working, enthusiastic team of students this year.

Follow us on

Date published: 6/3/2004