House in Wells to Get TV makeover: County Firms to Donate Services September 29, 2005
Bangor Daily News - Bangor, Me.
Author: Jen Lynds

OAKFIELD &ndash The generosity of a host of Aroostook County businesses, volunteers and contractors will be seen by both a southern Maine family and a national television audience on an upcoming edition of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

The contingent will be working through Oct. 3 to build a cedar log home for a deserving family in Wells.

More than 1,400 volunteers are expected to participate in the project.

Oakfield-based Katahdin Cedar Log Homes will be tag-teaming with the show to furnish Doug Goodale and his family with one of their customized dwellings.

A longtime lobster fisherman, Goodale lost his right arm as the result of an accident while lobstering.

The calamity did not deter him, however. He rebuilt his boat and taught himself to fish with one arm in order to support his family.

The family's home, however, has fallen into disrepair. The ABC show, which premiered in 2003, renovates an entire house for a deserving family.

David Gordon, president of KCLH, said in a press release that the soon-to-be constructed cedar log home will "keep the Goodale family cool in the summer and cozy in the winter."

The company employs more than 100 people and manufactures about 200 homes, condominiums and camps per year.

Many of the volunteers who are assisting with the construction - including plumbers, electricians and contractors - are from Aroostook County.

Dave Harbison, the owner of Harbison Plumbing and Heating in Houlton, barely had time Wednesday to talk about his company's involvement. Harbison was preparing to leave for Wells with four of his other employees to begin work.

"We will be installing one of our Bison hand pumps on the well and helping with the plumbing," he explained. "And I am sure we'll be doing whatever else they need us to do as well."

Employees from J.H. McPartland and Sons, a Houlton plumbing and heating business, also will be volunteering at the site, proprietor Jimmy McPartland said Wednesday.

"We're just one of many people from around here going down," he acknowledged. "We are going down on Friday to help get the rough plumbing done. We told them that we'll help out in any way that we can. ... This seems like such a great project."

The demolition of the Goodales' home will begin today.

The family is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Oct. 4 to witness the unveiling of their new home.

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