DANVILLE — Danville Area Community College students working with Renaissance Danville to refurbish the house at 112 Pine St. will get to show off their handiwork this weekend when an open house begins for the 102-year-old home.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Ashley Chezem, a student in the new class taught by Renaissance Danville Executive Director Bob Yapp.



She said the hands-on work serves as a nice break from the classroom portion of the course. Students work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the house.

John Bales, a landlord and handyman, said the most important thing he’s learned is how to work on older homes properly.

Yapp teaches his students to work with the original structure, carefully restoring woodwork, window frames and other features to maintain the original artistic integrity.

Bales does odd jobs in addition to maintaining his rental properties.

“People call me for old homes,” he said. “This is an enhancement to what I’ve known.”

He’s been looking for a class like Yapp’s for years.

Yapp is excited about the open house, which will be a payoff for students’ hard work.

“Without the students, we’d be in a crunch and over budget,” Yapp said.

The house was a mess at one time, but the refurbished woodwork and repainted rooms on the second floor will show the fresh look emerging from the dusty renovation.

Almost finished last week was the master bedroom suite with a walk-in closet and art deco-style bathroom. The back windows overlook the carriage house.

“The house was chopped up in as many as six apartments at any given time,” Yapp said.

The original central stairway and porte-cochere once removed from the home also have been restored.

Many people expressed interest in purchasing the Coolley home — named for the physician who built it in 1905 — but didn’t know how to handle the renovation financially.

The students’ work, as well as volunteer time from contractors, kept the project fiscally manageable.

“We’re really wanting to show people what the quality standard is that can be attained cost-effectively,” he said.

Rather than using replacement materials that eventually would have to be replaced again, Yapp said using the original components can last another 100 years.

Bales agrees.

He said older homes are unique because the quality of wood used more than century ago is much different than wood used now.

“Older homes are made of old-growth wood,” he said. “ … That’s why they look sturdier and stronger.”

These days, most wood is only about 10 years old. It doesn’t get much of a chance to mature.

Student Marwan Maklad said he’s gaining a new appreciation for old buildings. He hopes the Pine Street house and others like it will help “Danville come back again.”

Ryan English, a contractor and student in the class, said he’s seeing paid dividends already. A woman who owns an old school approached him about doing contract work.

“Every day, he teaches me something else,” carpenter Carl Fox said about Yapp.

Yapp enjoys watching his students gain appreciation for the work they’re doing.

“You take something that no one sees the value in and turn it into a jewel,” Yapp said.

Along the way, you can see how much you’ve accomplished, he added.

Yapp said the open house, which utilizes the skills from designers all over this part of the state, will be a great thing to do on Mother’s Day.

“Do something your mother wants to do,” he said.

“It’s going to be fabulous. … You think HDTV is cool? No way. Come to the designer show home. You’ll get a lot of great ideas.”

IF YOU GO

The 2007 Designer Show Home and open house at 112 Pine St. will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays this weekend and Tuesday through May 20. Private tours are available Monday.

Tickets cost $12 and are available in advance or at the door. The tickets may be purchased at Renaissance Danville, 149 N. Vermilion St., and B&J; Music, 3232 N. Vermilion St. Proceeds will benefit Renaissance Danville and Old Town Preservation.

The opening reception will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. Cost is $25 per person, which includes one return visit.

Those who attend can meet the designers who decorated the homes. The night will feature a cash bar, live music and refreshments.