Fulton House Halfway to Total Restoration

Indoor restoration will re-commence this spring, following the fall restoration of a dwindling Peters home by the services of the McMurray Rotary Club (MRC). In conjunction with other local charities, the club provided urgent relief and assistance, as well as donated equipment.

After switching a homeowners care policy to alleviate financial pressure, long time Peters resident, Don Fulton, was required to properly renovate his property in order to avoid receiving a homeowner's cancellation notice. This daunting request obliged Fulton to remove years of debris and safety hazards shrouding both the outside and inside of his property -- a task that seemed financially and physically inconceivable for Fulton.

Fulton's daughter and well-known Peters resident, Shannon Fulton, recognized the harrowing circumstances surrounding her father, and immediately began seeking assistance through various community organizations.

Among the organizations contacted was the MRC, which has devoutly supported the home's restoration through various financial and laborious contributions.

"Everyone always seemed so happy to be there," said Fulton. "You don't hear to many stories like this anymore."

MRC's community service director, Al DeLucia, was one of the many club members eager to support the struggling homeowner.

"We all immediately agreed to help in any way we could," said DeLucia, who became aware of the Fultons' need through MRC President Tony Zuloaga.

Upon hearing the request, a handful of MRC members investigated the residence's outside premises on Halloween night, noticing many safety hazards lain throughout the property.

According to DeLucia, the property required many landscaping duties, such as trimming back bushes and trees, removing years of debris that accumulated in the backyard and tearing down structures, as well as removing hazardous stairways and installing necessary handrails.

"A lot of things needed to be done that involved manual labor," said DeLucia.

Following the MRC's initial visit, around 50 volunteers from local organizations, such as Bethel Presbyterian Church, Waterdam Church and St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church, began supplying equipment and participating in renovation activities, according to DeLucia.

"One charity donated a 30-yard dumpster," said DeLucia, who credits the property's expedient renewal toward immense funding from various charitable groups throughout the area, including the MRC.

With the property's outside now polished, the MRC, along with local charitable groups, will shift their focus toward the indoors, beginning in the spring.

Fulton says she plans to lead an auctioneer throughout the house in hopes of reducing the clutter before the MRC and other groups arrive.

"There's also a lot to do on the inside," said DeLucia, who foresees the project's completion around July. "We plan on laying floor boards, repairing loose hand rails and fixing up the bathroom."

The MRC also plans on continuing correspondence with the groups who previously contributed, according to DeLucia.

Through generous funding and ardent service, the Fulton house restoration project impeccably reflects the pinnacle of community involvement.

This rigorous and costly endeavor, however, did not hinder the MRC's promptness in supporting a fellow resident.

"Everyone saw a local who needed help," said DeLucia, regarding the MRC's genuine concern for their community.

"She had an outpouring of involvement from the community," said DeLucia. "All she needed to do was ask for help."

If you'd like to contribute to the Fulton House Project, e-mail Al DeLucia.