Students in the Hampton-Dumont-CAL building trades class show community members progress on a house they’ve built from the ground up at an open house last Thursday. GREG FORBES/HAMPTON CHRONICLE

Students in the Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School building trades program took the term “open house” literally.

The students last Wednesday welcomed school staff and the public to see the progress they’ve made building a house from the ground up on Seventh Avenue NE. The property formerly contained a home that was damaged by a fire. Tradmasters, Inc., purchased the property and leveled the house to allow the program the construct a new structure on the location.

Instructor Dave Harms said with some minor assistance from him and Trademasters crew, the students have been responsible for the entirety of the project. They’ve measured, cut and nailed their way from a blank canvas to a house that is now enclosed and resembles the two-bedroom home mapped out in the blueprints. The class will wrap up their portion of the work this month before the next group of students will put the finishing touches on it when school resumes in the fall.

“We’re really happy with where we’re at,” he said. “We’re trying to get the siding wrapped up and the lawn put in, then we’ll come back next fall to finish it.”

For the full story, see this week's Hampton Chronicle. Subscribe by calling 1-800-558-1244 ext 122 or email Deb at circulation@midamericapub.com or by clicking here.