From the National Mall to the Shenandoah Valley
Something extraordinary is taking shape on a hillside right here in our community, and as far as anyone knows, nothing like this has ever been done in this area. It would not have been possible without the people who made it happen. A home originally built on the National Mall in Washington D.C. has been carefully taken apart, transported 65 miles an hour down the highway, and rebuilt piece by piece, becoming a permanent, affordable home for a local family.
A Challenge Unlike Anything They Had Seen
When Masonry Plus USA Chief Operating Officer Susan Knupp and Owner Josh Talbott agreed to take on this build, they were working from the exterior measurements and perimeter plans. The structure had to be taken apart carefully. Every nail, every pane of glass, every wall panel needed to survive the journey to be useful on the other end.
"Every bit of that has to be disassembled, cut loose, broken apart without destroying it," Josh said. "And then when we get there, we have to be able to take the Legos and put them back together in a way that builds a home."
The pieces were hauled to the site on an equipment trailer, a few at a time, brought up the road and around the corner before being lifted into place. Mark Battle of Mainframe Builders volunteered his crane to lift every wall panel up the hill.
"It would have been impossible without his help for sure," Josh said. "We've never seen a project like this. We may never see another project like this."
How SAW Habitat Partners Made It Possible
The land presented its own set of challenges. The crew cut rock, adjusted grades, modified the site plan, and shrunk one side of the house by about two feet to make it fit the lot properly. Through every obstacle, partners and contractors showed up with more than their skills. They showed up with their generosity.
"Oftentimes we find that we get a bill and then there's the top taken off of it," Executive Director of SAW Habitat, Brad Bryant, explained. "I got a $3,000 bill for some excavation and there was a $1,500 discount on it. Our affordability is due to other people's kindness."
What Comes Next
The exterior shell from the National Mall build is now on site. The next phase will bring in a semi-skilled volunteer group to help with the interior walls, and the homeowner will have the opportunity to review the floor plan and make any final adjustments before that work begins. A shared commitment to community is what makes partnerships like these possible.
"We're excited to continue to partner with Habitat wherever we can, on the carpentry side, on the masonry side, on the concrete side," Josh said. "It's something that Susan and I are both passionate about. Giving back when we can."
We are grateful to Masonry Plus and Mainframe Builders for their extraordinary commitment to this project and this community. Because of partners like them, a local family will have a place to call home.
Watch Episode 1
See how innovation, partnership, and community came together to create high-quality homes and lasting new beginnings for families in the Shenandoah Valley. From the National Mall to Staunton, this story shows what’s possible when people work together to make homeownership more attainable.
