www.gmwp.org/1998/framing.html

The 1998 GRAND MASTER's WORK PROJECT house was framed on Saturday July 18, 1998.

By 6:30 A. M., Brother Carl Reneau and Brother Tom Boduch had already arrived at the building site to begin preparations for the day's activity. Brother Bill Neubert (128 PM, Secretary) had set up a registration tent the night before, which was staffed by Otta Lee Wininger (wife of our Grand Master) and several other Eastern Star Sisters. Due to limited parking at the house site, Brother Neubert used his van, to shuttle brethren to a parking area. Brothers Warren Brooks and Dan Neubert (both Past Masters of New Providence Lodge #128) assisted in directing traffic.

29 brethren, representing 11 Lodges, 8 guests, the Lambert Family and future Roane County HFH homeowner Theda Morrow, spent a great day of fellowship as operative builders. Brethren present included M.W. Grand Master Walter Wininger, Senior Grand Deacon Willie Cradic, East Tennessee Grand Lecturer Lynn Spanger, District 20 Chairman Johnny Stooksbury, Brother Jim Pike, (Junior Deacon of Clay Lodge #386), his son, James III, (a former SHRINERS Hospital Patient), his father Brother Jim Sr., and Brother Lanny Selby (WM Sparta Lodge #99). Brother Selby left Sparta at 4 A.M. to arrive on site in time to start work!

Upon his arrival at the building site (via motorcycle), Brother Bill Neubert presented Brother Lynn Spangler with a pair of customized 2 foot high saw horses. Brother Spangler is shown holding one in the photo at right, while fellow biker Brother Johnny Stooksbury (Past Master of Cherokee Lodge #728 and District 20 Chairman) and Brother Warren Brooks look on. Brother Stooksbury was NOT permitted to use power tools.

Lodges represented were Union #38, Sparta #99, New Providence #128, Cleveland #134, George Washington #181, Clay #386, Rockford #469, Mountain View #519, Kingsport #688, Prudentia #719 and Cherokee #728.

Most of the wall sections had been previously built on our first work day. The four outer walls were raised by 9 A.M. The photo at left shows the first wall section being raised.

Shown at left (from left to right are Brothers Hoke Culbertson, Bill Neubert, Grand Master Wininger, future homeowner Raymond Lambert, Brother Larry Price. Brother David Williamson (kneeling in front) is checking a wall for alignment.

With the assistance of a crane, Brother Jim Pike and his crew raised the roof trusses, and installed the facia boards, end rafters and roof decking (see photo at left).

It soon came time to call off from labor to refreshment. A hearty lunch was served by the Centenary Baptist Church of Maryville's Women's Missionary Unit. The blessing was asked by Brother Ralph McElroy, Secretary of Prudentia Lodge #719.

Work continued after lunch until early evening. Raymond, Eric and Melinda Lambert are shown at right, enjoying their first quiet evening on their new front porch after a day of hard but productive work.

Over the next week, several brethren finished installing roof decking (see photo at left). Brothers (both Masonic and familial) Bill and Dan Neubert installed the exterior doors. On Saturday July 25, led by Brother Carl Reneau, a crew shingled the roof and built the side porch. Brother Tom Boduch, his wife Betty, Brother Bill Neubert, Brother Larry Price and the Lambert Family installed the vinyl siding.

In the photo at left, Amanda and Melinda Lambert are applying house wrap tape to seal to the windows. Brother David Williamson is standing on the roof, nailing down roof decking, while (from left to right) Raymond and Eric Lambert and Brother Bill Neubert cut sheathing.