Heavenly Revivals: Turning Churches Into Homes

2008 - Volume #32, Issue #3, Page #42

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Contractor Jim Landreth recently remodeled two abandoned country churches and is working on a third.
    The Almena, Wis., man fell into the church niche after earning a Masters degree in architecture at 57, after a successful career as a builder and ski hill owner. He was unwilling to relocate to pursue his new career, and wanted to find something unique nearby. He became aware of a growing number of abandoned historic churches due to accessibility requirements and growing congregations.
    "I fell in love with the big spaces inside," Landreth says. His first church was the East Balsam Baptist Church. He completely gutted it to the studs, as he does with all the old churches.
    "I'm constructing a new home inside an old shell," he says.
    He reuses as many of the materials of the former church as he can. In the Balsam Lake Church, for example, he carefully removed the century-old Southern yellow pine floor, cleaned and reinstalled it. He restores old light fixtures and re-purposes wainscoting into cabinets and decorative elements throughout the home.
    Landreth saves money where he can, basing designs on materials available from local lumberyards and home improvement stores rather than having them custom made at higher prices.
    "I like to make something special out of very ordinary materials," he says. For example, at Balsam Lake, he used ordinary slate for the fireplace, then made it sparkle artistically with an overlay of copper rivets.
    Landreth also installs low maintenance siding and windows on his buildings and pays attention to areas where there would be air leaks - often between the walls and roof. He rounds off the junction into an attractive cove, which allows for more heat-saving insulation. He installs air exchangers and lots of insulation to make the buildings as energy-efficient as possible.
    Besides being the architect, Landreth does some of the finish work, but hires others to do the bulk of the restoration.
    Currently, he's remodeling his oldest project, an 1887 Lutheran church that was moved from Cumberland, Wis., to his property on Sand Lake. Gutting it was like opening a Christmas present, Landreth says. Above the dropped ceiling tiles he discovered a rare, barrel-vaulted ceiling.
    Former parishioners of the churches are pleased that the old houses of worship have been beautifully and respectfully remodeled, Landreth says. One parishioner financially supported transforming the second church.
    With the slowdown of the housing market, the first two church/homes are still on the market for $295,000 and $499,360. Landreth's website includes a slideshow of interior and exterior photos of the homes.
    Landreth is confident they will be sold because the buildings are quality homes.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Landreth, BLDG ART, 1196 4 1/4 St., Almena, Wis. 54805 (ph 715 357-3950; www.bldgart.com).

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Heavenly Revivals: Turning Churches Into Homes BUILDINGS Houses Contractor Jim Landreth recently remodeled two abandoned country churches and is working on a third The Almena Wis man fell into the church niche after earning a Masters degree in architecture at 57 after a successful career as a builder and ski hill owner He was unwilling to relocate to pursue his new career and wanted to find something unique nearby He became aware of a growing number of abandoned historic churches due to accessibility requirements and growing congregations I fell in love with the big spaces inside Landreth says His first church was the East Balsam Baptist Church He completely gutted it to the studs as he does with all the old churches I m constructing a new home inside an old shell he says He reuses as many of the materials of the former church as he can In the Balsam Lake Church for example he carefully removed the century-old Southern yellow pine floor cleaned and reinstalled it He restores old light fixtures and re-purposes wainscoting into cabinets and decorative elements throughout the home Landreth saves money where he can basing designs on materials available from local lumberyards and home improvement stores rather than having them custom made at higher prices I like to make something special out of very ordinary materials he says For example at Balsam Lake he used ordinary slate for the fireplace then made it sparkle artistically with an overlay of copper rivets Landreth also installs low maintenance siding and windows on his buildings and pays attention to areas where there would be air leaks - often between the walls and roof He rounds off the junction into an attractive cove which allows for more heat-saving insulation He installs air exchangers and lots of insulation to make the buildings as energy-efficient as possible Besides being the architect Landreth does some of the finish work but hires others to do the bulk of the restoration Currently he s remodeling his oldest project an 1887 Lutheran church that was moved from Cumberland Wis to his property on Sand Lake Gutting it was like opening a Christmas present Landreth says Above the dropped ceiling tiles he discovered a rare barrel-vaulted ceiling Former parishioners of the churches are pleased that the old houses of worship have been beautifully and respectfully remodeled Landreth says One parishioner financially supported transforming the second church With the slowdown of the housing market the first two church/homes are still on the market for $295 000 and $499 360 Landreth s website includes a slideshow of interior and exterior photos of the homes Landreth is confident they will be sold because the buildings are quality homes Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim Landreth BLDG ART 1196 4 1/4 St Almena Wis 54805 ph 715 357-3950; www bldgart com

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