News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Open House Held for the Harpers

Open House Held for the Harpers

Open House Celebration Wednesday

By Michael P. Neufeld
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Running Springs, CA – An Open House was held July 23 in Running Springs to celebrate the return of Gary and Debbie Harper to the rebuilt home they lost during the 2007 Slide Fire.

The 60-minute event—organized by Rebuilding Mountain Hearts & Lives—begins at 3 p.m. at the "new" residence at 2384 Chicago Drive in Running Springs.

"The Harper's are an excellent example for others who want to get back home," according to Rebuilding Mountain Hearts & Lives spokesperson Cheryl Nagy. "The open house is being held to give others impacted by the 2007 wildfires encouragement and hope that they too can regain their future and one day be back in their own new home."

The Harper's have persevered and Gary's construction firm (G & D Builders) has rebuilt the residence despite many adversities and set backs including the loss of two homes, loss of Debbie's business (G & D Signs), the destruction of Gary's construction office and the loss of Gary's tools when thieves broke in to a storage unit on the construction site in January.

Contractor Gary Harper displays the storage shed where his tools were stolen in January delaying the reconstruction of their Running Springs home on Chicago Drive. An Open House will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. to celebrate completion of the residence. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A day or so after thieves stole his tools from the locked storage unit, Gary Harper told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, "We just want to get the house done and get back home again…that's all we want.

"We're the first Running Springs home to start building up from the ashes," Harper explained on that Sunday in January. "We've been working every day since it stopped snowing."

Harper admitted while standing in front of the home in its early stages of reconstruction that the county process was very frustrating at times but said once he got his plans drawn the county quickly approved them.

"In fact, we took our plans in on a Friday," Harper noted during the January interview, "and the plans were approved and returned to us the following Tuesday. I'm hoping my neighbors are able to work through the county process and rebuild also."

Following the theft of the tools, several individuals and businesses—like Rim Forest Lumber—helped with the replacement of the stolen items.

For additional information about the Open House call (909) 337-9922.