An open house is planned at the home at 111 Greenwich Road.
Senior carpentry students from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School stand in front of the house at 111 Greenwich Road in Ware that they helped to build. They are from left to right, Lyle A. Bachand and Kelly L. Ingram, of Belchertown; Jeremy M. Beaulieu, of Palmer; Brian D. Page, of Hubbardston; John M. Cockshaw, of Palmer; Jamie S. Bovat, of Belchertown; Joshua H. Plouffe, of Warren; and John A. Portelada, of Ludlow.WARE — For the past two years, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School carpentry students have put their skills to the test by building a home at 111 Greenwich Road.
The finished product is nothing short of breathtaking — a 3,800-square-foot farmhouse set back from the road on 17 acres. Beige with stonework inlaid in the front, the inside is spacious, with white cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom.
On a recent weekday, eight seniors were on the grounds, looking over the home that they first started in November 2010.
"I'd live here if I could," said Jamie S. Bovat, 19, of Belchertown.
Carpentry instructor John Weyant explained that people who are interested in having a home built by the Palmer students must go through an application process. The homeowner buys all the materials, and must have the proper permits and the foundation poured. Then the students can take over.
The public can see the students' handiwork at a June 10 open house.
"It was a learning experience," said John M. Cockshaw, 18, of Palmer.
Weyant said the students did the framing for the house, installed the windows and doors, and also were responsible for the cabinetry.
Pathfinder carpentry student John Cockshaw, 18, of Palmer, works on the home at 111 Greenwich Road in Ware."This is definitely the biggest home we've ever done," Weyant said.
"This is the classroom for the 11th and 12th grade. It's vocational education at its best," Weyant added.
Altogether, 16 juniors and seniors worked on the home. Weyant said the homeowner not only helps the students learn their future trade, but also realizes a substantial cost savings. The school's heating, ventilation and air conditioning department also worked on the house, which has four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, he said.
"It's definitely a piece of art," Kelly L. Ingram, 18, of Belchertown, said.
Jeremy M. Beaulieu, 18, of Palmer, said the project was fun and that it took "blood, sweat and tears" to get it done.
Weyant said the first winter, the students spent a lot of time shoveling the work site because there was so much snow.
John A. Portelada, 18, of Ludlow, said working on the house will help him after graduation. He plans to work with his father, an electrician, and he said he has a better understanding of wiring after being involved in the house project.
Homeowner Patricia A. Clark said the house was built on her great-grandfather's land. She said she and her husband, Thomas W. Clark, were not in any rush to move into a new home, so they could wait two years, plus she was familiar with the Pathfinder program.
"It was a good fit," Clark said.
She said they plan to move into the new home in three weeks. She said the project inspired the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, which is where she works, to come up with a teacher of the year award.
"We're really looking forward to being in it," Clark said about the new home. "I enjoyed working with the students."