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photo by Tim Engstrom
Ben and Noah Irons play violins Saturday morning as their mother plays piano inside the Dirk and Susan DeVries home in Hayward Township. The Ironses are from Lake Mills, Iowa. Ben is 14 and Noah is 12. In the kitchen, Susan DeVries chats with visitors.
Inside the DeVries house
As part of a school fundraiser, visitors pour through house featured on national TV show
Published Saturday, December 13, 2008
HAYWARD — The Dirk and Susan DeVries family opened the doors of their new “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house Saturday in what was a fundraiser for Hollandale Christian School.
A little more than two months ago, “Extreme Makeover” producers knocked on the door of the family to tell them they would be receiving a home makeover.
Volunteer contractors demolished their house Oct. 2 and built their new home in about 100 hours. The house was finished on Oct. 5, and then on Oct. 7, a rain-soaked crowd of onlookers yelled, “Move that bus!” while the DeVrieses stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the surprise of seeing their new house.
Because so many people from the community had helped make the house a possibility, the family wanted to open it and show it.
Eager area residents who came to the tour were first led to the family’s new garage, where they took off their shoes before they walked into the house.
Then, upon entering the house, the first stop was Susan’s new craft room, which had been stocked full of scrapbooking and other supplies before the family saw the house for the first time.
Sara Jensen, who has two children at Hollandale Christian School and who was staffing the craft room Saturday morning, showed people a rock that Susan had painted with a rabbit on it. She explained that a similar rock has gone for $600 at the school’s auction before.
She said she was grateful for the DeVries family’s generosity.
After the craft room was the kitchen, which is also part of a large open space with the dining room and the living room.
Different floral arrangements and wreaths donated by area businesses adorned the walls and tables.
“They’ve really enjoyed it,” said Tammy Peterson, a part-time custodian at Hollandale Christian School, about people going through the house. “Many thought it was neat how it went together so quickly and turned out so good.
She said she is happy the DeVries family has been blessed.
After people went through the living room they were directed to the hallway, which connects the other half of the H-shaped house. The hallway has two milk cans that came from Susan’s grandfather’s farm, Hollandale Christian Kindergarten teacher Deb Louters said.
“Everybody’s been so supportive,” Louters said, concerning comments she’s heard of people going through the house. “They seem so thankful for the family and the opportunity they’ve given the chance to look at the house.”
The first bedroom through the hallway was the master bedroom, which features a headboard made of pieces form the family’s old house, a piece of artwork placed above the bed made of old siding and other recycled materials, diaries of Susan’s grandmother, and artwork of second- and third-graders at the school.
That bedroom was celebrity Ty Pennington’s special project to design the week of the makeover.
Next was the bedroom of Hanna, the youngest daughter of the family.
The room has a naturalistic scene painted on the walls, and it expresses much of Hanna’s personality, Hollandale Christian School Principal Lisa Vos said.
The principal noted that people have been “very complimentary, very excited” about the house.
“What a wonderful opportunity to really open your house to the community for people who were involved,” she said.
At one end of Hanna’s room there was a door that led to a bathroom, which connected to daughter April’s room.
April’s room included artwork made of many recycled materials, including books, records and coffee filters. Old newspapers were incorporated into the base of the bed.
Then, at the end of the hallway was the room of Derik, the only son of the family. Derik’s room featured many items made of duct tape, including a headboard, chairs, a lamp stand, curtains and even a bedspread.
“It’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” said LaChelle Sandon, of Albert Lea, who was taking the tour of the house. “They’re so deserving.
“It’s really neat for us to see and for them to allow us into their home.”
It was a great experience — even for kids — to see, she said.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Susie Petersen, who helped organize the event, said there had been a sense of excitement from people who walked through the house. People are also thankful they have the opportunity to see it.
“What you see on TV, there’s so much more,” Petersen said.
While tours were given, local artists, including Julie Stoneking, Roxanne Irons, Jill Stevens, Lora Virgil, Sharon Astrup-Scott and Brock Besse played the DeVries family’s new piano.
Jared and Shanna Dawson were scheduled to perform music outside of the house, and the Albert Lea High School Caroliers were there too.
The tour came a week after the show aired on television.
People who attended the tour were encouraged to bring one food item for the Albert Lea Salvation Army food shelf.
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Comments
Posted by bobbyg (anonymous) on December 13, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.mlpvideo.com/extremehome/inde...
I purchased a DVD from this web site, and found it extremely good. It shows behind the scene shots of the DeVries home. I'm not sure if any of the money gathered from the sales of the DVD benefit the family, but it should! (If not, I apologize for stepping on the toes of the family or anyone that might be closely related)..
The DeVries family appear to be a great family and I really wish them well! God bless them!
Bobby G.
Posted by mannyg (anonymous) on December 13, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
how can she feel strange about letting strangers in her house when it was strangers that built her house.i would be proud to let people see the house that was build by love for my family and not charge for it.
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it is a shame. all those people who waited to help out and they did not need there help. so what do we do. exploit a good thing and charge people to look at a hose. everyone who could gave time and money. i would of been grateful at let all the people in for free. i guess there is greed every were
Posted by BLSSS (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be great if people would read the articles before commenting on them! This is "NOT" a money maker for the family!!! It clearly states the following in the very 1st paragraph.
The Dirk and Susan DeVries family opened the doors of their new “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house Saturday in what was a fundraiser for Hollandale Christian School.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
manng and mrthunder, you must have read a different article than I did. I don't see where you're coming with your comments. I hope they have another opening later sometime. Maybe the AAUW tour of homes!
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If possible, I would like the Tribune to do a behind the scenes interview with the family.
1) When did they first find out?
2) What did they ride in to the airport?
3) Did the show crew follow them everywhere on vacation?
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
where did i say the family. you should read what is said. eather way it is wrong
Posted by tallyman (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mrthunder:
You said "they." That's the family to most. If you want people to understand you, be specific.
mrblister:
If a man is hungry for years, then suddenly receives an abundance of food, would you tell him he doesn't need it? You probably would, even if the man had intended on rationing out his gift of food so that he doesn't live so desperately. The school is taking a good opportunity to raise funds. It's a nonprofit school, for goodness sake. Stop coveting other people's good fortune. Stop judging people.
Posted by friendswithall (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am happy that the DeVries opened up their new home for people who were interested in seeing, and I think it's great that they did a fundraiser to support a school. However, many people from different communities came together to share in the excitement of Extreme Makeover and help build this house. I would only have hoped that the money raised would help out others also and not just the Hollandale Christian School! Many districts would be interested in recieving new books, materials, etc.
Not much money would be raised if only families from the Hollandale school came to the fundraiser..Several people from all over have attended (and participated in the building of the house.)
But it is a wonderful thing that they are raising money for a cause, whatever that may be. At least others will be benefiting from it.
Posted by vikings08 (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm kinda sick of the whole Devries thing, enough is enough already!
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tallyman.. you want me to be specific sure show me all the the money that was received. and then show me that thew school received all the money. then i well not say THEY and like friends said a lot of schools would like ot see some money. i am sure there family helped out. why should it be one school. they should of asked for donations if you would like to leave any.
Posted by gone (anonymous) on December 14, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a nice story but why not build two or three more modest homes.
Posted by danecook3 (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Negative People-shut up
Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why complain about where the DeVries choose to give the money? It's their fundraiser for their school, which runs on fundraisers and tuition - not taxes.
Granted, parents and students of other schools helped out - but this tour is entirely voluntary, for all those curious who want to see the inside. This is an opportunity to come into their home - which, for the record, should not be "free". Those who helped - good for them. It's called volunteering. If you expect some sort of compensation, then, simply put, you weren't helping out of the kindness of your heart.
And for those of you wanting an accounting of where the money goes - I suppose you'd like an accounting of where the Salvation Army kettle money goes as well? Does that keep you from giving, because you don't know exactly where your money is going? Keep your money in your pocket, if that's the case. The world doesn't need stingy, accusing people like you.
And for the record, I did not go to the DeVries home, to help out or to tour it. As great as it is that this happened for them, I am simply not interested. I didn't even watch it on TV. I'm happy for them, of course, but I don't feel the need to see the home of someone I don't even know, even if it was on TV. And as far as helping out, it's not that I don't like to volunteer. I simply feel there are places where volunteers are more needed.
Posted by Momma23 (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am amazed by all of the negativity directed towards the DeVries family. I find it very sad that people feel they "deserve" to look at the inside of someone's house just because they "volunteered" to help build it. Isn't volunteering supposed to be giving something of yourself without EXPECTING something in return???
That volunteering spirit is EXACTLY why the DeVries family was chosen for this makeover. They had given so much of THEIR time and money to the school BEFORE the makeover show, without expecting something in return. And now, even after the show is over, they are STILL giving to the school. This school is funded by donations and tuition and it is hard for schools such as this one to make it without those donations.
I think it was a brilliant idea for them to charge for tours of their home. They could have done so and kept the money, but instead, they chose to GIVE all of the money to a cause they feel strongly about. That giving spirit is what gives us HOPE in the world. This world needs more people like the DeVries'. Not many of us would want to open up our HOME to complete strangers and allow them to wander through our HOME. The DeVries family has shown what true generosity and giving is all about.
Posted by Outsider (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Over 10 grand was raised and went to a school......Good for them.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People this is a Hollywood TV show not government social services. Extreme Makeover is not in the business of building homes, there in the business of making television shows around the concept of building a home.
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think anyone is being negative towards the DeVries family. They did not solicit the home make-over. But I am still curious as to why they had to give up the pets that they had for 3 years. On the subject has anyone else heard about the deaf family with an autistic son who are receiving donations to avoid foreclosure on their home that was also an Extreme Makeover project. Consider this - their mortgage payments doubled after the make-over. You have to wonder how much their property taxes went up also. We still need to remember that most of these recepients of the make-overs have financial difficulties so I hope they consider that when deciding how big and how fancy the new home should be. Will the DeVries family be able to afford the new property tax increase? Were they able to pay before the make-over?
Posted by hometownguy (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gone, call ABC if you want to know why they don't build two or three more modest homes.
mrthunder, I'm stumped how you see greed in this fundraiser.
danecook3, I too get annoyed with all the negativity that shows up on tribune comments. A wise person once told me that you should make three positive comments for every negative thing you say. Some folks never seem to see anything positive Albert Lea.
Posted by gone (anonymous) on December 16, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hometownguy: They don't build modest homes because no one would watch the show. They do the show simply because it sells advertising dollars.
Communities have the opportunity to view this a an incubator effort to mobilize their volunteers. Perhaps doing a handful of houses per year would have a broader, positive community impact. It's wonderful to recognize this particular family and to help them but communities need to help themselves.
Posted by quandary (anonymous) on December 16, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you have seen the show this was a very modest home compared to what others have received in the past. The show does nothing but select , coordinate and film. Mr Thunder, schools take funding plain and simple and as a christian school it doesn't receive state funding, if it did it would have to follow strict state guidelines. It still must adhere to state education curriculum, student academic performance standards, and state mandated standardized testing scores.
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