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“From the Foundation Up” Carpentry students building Watertown House
(L-R) Bill Kilmer, Nick Smolen, Andrew Johnson, Ashlyn Nellis, Mike Stella, Justin Beres, Rob King, Tony Biancardi, Shayne Tullock, Mr. Denote. The latest production project for the OWTS carpentry shop is a nearly 3,000 square foot house. It is located on a picturesque wooded hillside in Watertown. Begun during the past school year, Jeff DeNote, Carpentry Department Head, indicated that the project will be completed in another few months. “Our part in the construction of this house began from the foundation up,” reflected Mr. DeNote. “All that is left for us to do is to finish the inside partitions and set the windows. The owner has yet to decide if he wants us to start the siding.” On this day, the Seniors were hard at work building a “tray ceiling” above the master bedroom. “This one has three levels- two horizontals and a diagonal,” said Mr. DeNote. This explained, at least to me, why there were students working above, in the middle of, and on the floor of, the bedroom. The students worked in teams, measuring, marking, cutting, and nailing the boards in place. The pace was brisk as they worked through the winter cold. Inside the house, out of the sun, it was at least ten degrees colder than outside. Simultaneously, a team of four other Seniors was working on an upstairs floor. I watched as students used a laser level to mark positions, along with an old-fashioned snap line. To make the job progress, long, heavy planks had to be passed from the first floor to the upstairs, then nailed into place. While this was going on, Andrew Johnson was busy cutting angled ceiling joists with the table saw, located on the first floor. Mr. DeNote’s time was split monitoring all three operations. “If not for (senior) Rob King, half of this would not be done,” said Mr. DeNote. The other seniors indicated that the production experience made them “tougher.” All agreed that building the house was a great practical learning experience. “This job is something sweet,” said Nick Smolen. Overhearing this remark, Mr. DeNote quipped, “Nick is the John Travolta of the carpentry shop. His favorite movie is Saturday Night Fever.” “No way,” answered Nick, as the others laughed. “It’s Night at the Roxbury.” The exchange typified the obvious rapport the students shared with each other and their instructor. “The kids are doing well, considering the weather,” concluded Mr. D. “Most days, they’re ready to come to work.” “Also,” he said, referring to the now framed-in house, “once everything came together, the kids really started to get into it.”
Justin Beres and Nick Smolen, part of the downstairs crew
Justin, Nick, and Rob King measuring the tray ceiling
Andrew cuts as Mr. DeNote checks progress on the ceiling
Shayne, Bill, and Mike hold the snap-line
The upstairs crew pose in a dormer
One side of the house showing the garage, but no bathrooms, as yet |
