MERF House Restoration Complete

The MERF House restoration is officially complete, which is a big milestone for MERF and for the Mentone community. After months of steady work, the building now meets current safety and structural codes and is ready to once again serve the public as a community and educational space. This 111-year-old home got a much-needed facelift!

We truly appreciate all the local donations that helped make this project possible. Your financial support carried it all the way to the finish line, and we’re excited to finally say it’s complete. MERF is also grateful to the Alabama Historical Commission, whose funding helped open the door for this work to move forward.

We extend special thanks to Craig Sheldon, MERF board member and retired professor emeritus at Auburn University, who helped spearhead this effort from the very beginning. The project would not have been possible without his initiative. We are also thankful to Sally and Larry Johnson, owners of Camp Skyline, for generously allowing MERF to use their property as a temporary space during the renovation.

Nearly three years in the making, this restoration project has spanned everything from early planning and outreach to the final walkthrough. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing it to completion.

The work on the house was completed by Circle H Construction, owned and operated by Brent Hobbs. Brent and his crew helped make the project work for MERF both visually and financially. What most folks will notice right away is what meets the eye — everything feels fresh and new. Just as important, though, is the work you don’t see. A large part of the time and budget went into what’s under the floors and above the ceilings, the kind of work that doesn’t stand out but matters most for safety and long-term use. Brent’s flexibility and generosity helped move the project forward when things got challenging.

Architectural oversight was provided by Joel Leonard of Leonard Designs, who was responsible for the overall concept and design, project management, compliance and coordination among everyone involved, and who worked closely with the construction crew throughout the project to help keep everything on track. MERF President Kathryn Norris was also a key player in the process. She collaborated with Leonard Designs and helped finalize major decisions along the way.

Final details are wrapping up now, and MERF is in the process of moving operations back into the house. The Groundhog newspaper will once again be distributed from the MERF House, and Senior Lunch will return starting February 25. Plans are also in place for an open house in the near future. The MERF House will be available again for community use, including gatherings, meetings, family events and other local activities. We’re looking forward to seeing the house and grounds back in use and filled with people again.

THANKS TO:

Alabama Historic Commission

Camp Skyline
Larry and Sally Johnson

LeonardDesign PC
Joel Leonard
404-863-2139

Circle H Construction
Brent and Shannon Hobbs
205-966-2276

Laney Electric
Benji Laney
256-717-5145

J & B Service LLC – Plumbing
Louis Gruendler
575-944-3414

Conner Plantscaping
John Conner
256-418-2650

Lawn and Tree Care
Steve Flannigan
256-635-8383