He had long held that the preservation and care of the land were paramount to a strong and vital community. Thus, James Gurney gifted a parcel of land he has owned for more than fifty years to Habitat for Humanity. The process started in 2012 and culminated in the deed transfer in November 2013. On a cold yet sunny December morning, Gurney sat surrounded by press and two members of the Buzzards Bay Area affiliate of this international organization. We met him at the Sippican Transitional Care facility where he is currently convalescing before returning to his home in Marion.
Gurney smiled and said he was ‘39’ when asked his age, and clearly his active mind is nimble in spite of his chronological standing. He was born in New Bedford, but grew up in Freetown where members of his extended family still do business at the sawmill. He is the widow of Judy (the former Judy Jenny), with whom he raised three children, two daughters and a son. For 38 years, he lived on part of the property he has now given to Habitat. The home he shared with his wife has been sold, and the remaining parcel will now benefit a family in need.
He is a humble man who clearly was more comfortable talking about his wife, children, father-in-law, and cats rather than himself. When asked what he did for a living, he shared that he had been in the Coast Guard stationed in Battle Harbor, Labrador. He enjoyed telling the assembled about a sign posted for all to see as they came ashore. It stated that behind every tree there was a beautiful woman. He gave an impish grin as he confirmed that to be the truth. He also worked for many years for the telephone company, back when it was a single business enterprise.
Gurney said that his father-in-law was a cornerstone at the town meetings for decades. He, too, believed in the town government process and faithfully attended town meetings in Rochester and Marion. He said his wife had been a member of the Rochester Historical Society and was very familiar with sites around the community including a forgotten cemetery on the land that has become Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. The town was apparently surprised to learn there was a cemetery located on the proposed school site. Had it not been for Mrs. Gurney, a set-back in construction surely would have followed. Instead a solution was found. Today the cemetery is fenced in and cared for by the school. These are the topics that Gurney preferred to discuss rather than himself.
Yet clearly he understood the importance of his gift. As a past member of the Marion Conservation Commission, he has vast experience in land preservation and use.
Habitat for Humanity hasn’t been around as long as Gurney, but it certainly enjoys international exposure. From their website we learn: “The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.
At Koinonia, Jordan along with Linda and Millard Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.” “Inception of Habitat for Humanity: In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun. Expansion into Habitat for Humanity International: In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting.
Today, the organization helps not only to house people in a manner that is affordable and sustainable for their financial situation, but they also provide emergency services after catastrophic events.
Christine Lacourse, Executive Director of the Buzzards Bay Area affiliate whose offices are located in Mattapoisett, said that Gurney’s donation is a “big step” because it is the first for Rochester. She went on to say that average construction costs run about $125,000, most of which will be paid by the resident family with a low-cost or zero-cost mortgage. The group had also received a $5,000 donation from the Makepeace Foundation a few years ago that will help to defer associated legal and engineering fees.
Richard Charon, a local engineer, has agreed to a severely reduced fee in order to assist with the home. He has confirmed that the parcel in question will perk properly and therefore, a well and a septic system can be planned – two necessary elements in order to receive a building permit from the town.
Lacourse said the selection process requires that the family be willing and able to either work for 300 hours on the actual construction or donate an equal amount of time to the organization in a less laborious fashion. Selected families must also partner with Habitat by agreeing to pay a low-interest or no-interest mortgage that is held by the organization. The family selected will need to have an income that is 30 to 60% of the average income for any given community. She said, “We want to set the family up for success.” Applications are available on Habitat’s website. Through a collaborative effort with schools, community agencies, and similar groups, Habitat reviews the applications with a focused eye on the severity of the need.
Habitat homes average 1100 square feet with three bedroom and 1.5 baths, and are either a ranch style or what she called a ‘Pittsburg’ style home. Claude Miquelle, architect, has begun some design work also at a reduced-fee structure. This particular home is unique in that it will have a full foundation and be two stories in the back – a walk out basement space. The home’s design will lend itself to the sloping topography of the site.
It’s interesting to note that once a piece of land is given to Habitat, the deed for that property is considered ‘affordable’ into perpetuity. The towns where such properties are located will base tax rates on the suppressed real estate value. Lacourse said that in the future they are hoping to partner with the USDA to assist with the mortgage portion of the program.
For Gurney, it was simply something he wanted to do, and his family agreed with his decision. He is hopeful that students from Old Colony will be allowed to work on the home. The fact that it is located almost directly across the street from the school will make logistics quite easy. His memory of spreading cracked corn for the ducks around the pond area that is a feature of property is a happy one for him. He gets a little sparkle in his eye remembering the cat that followed him to the pond and then crouched in the grass as the ducks ate. He has a cat waiting for him at home. We can just imagine that cat curled in his lap, and Gurney comfortably settled into his own surroundings at peace with his decisions.
By Marilou Newell
