History of the Organization

The history of the organization begins in 1968 when Earl Shaffer, the Consultant for Vocational Education for the Washtenaw County Intermediate School District, contacted Henry Landau regarding the possibility of beginning a program. Henry, a well-known local homebuilder, and then President of the Washtenaw County Association of Contractors (made up of the Washtenaw County Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors, (now the Greater Michigan PMC, Inc.) the Homebuilders Association of Washtenaw County and the Washtenaw General Contractors Association) felt the idea had great possibilities. The two of them approached the Washtenaw County Association of Contractors with the idea of promoting a community sponsored training program for high school students interested in learning something about the building trades, specifically related to residential construction.

At the same time, Jim Weldon with Ann Arbor Federal Savings and Loan had been instructed by his employer, Roy Weber, to have the bank become involved in a community service project. He contacted his good friend Henry Landau, who informed him of the ongoing discussions with the schools. They felt the two directives fit hand in glove and the rest is history.

Henry knew that for a program to be a success, it would need the full endorsement and participation of the whole construction industry. As his first step Henry contacted Jack Wheatley, Business Manager of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 190 and President of the local Building Trades Council, which was comprised of all 20 major building trades unions. After some persuading by Henry, Jack and the building trades agreed that the program could have merit.

Even though all felt positive about the proposed program, the difficulty of coordinating the idea with the many factors necessary proved to be difficult and tremendously time consuming. The formal discussions to begin the program got under way in the fall of 1969. At that time, a voluntary Ad-Hoc Committee was formed which included all facets of the construction industry.

The Committee addressed itself to the problem at hand -- how to take a profit making enterprise - the building of a house for sale, and turn it into a learning experience that would provide the necessary instruction and involvement for students eager to learn more about the building trades. After a game plan was devised, Landau, Shaffer, Wheatley and Weldon made a presentation to the Ann Arbor School Board requesting the opportunity to begin the program.

On April 22nd, 1970, after the perceived problems with owning property and making a profit were handled, the Ann Arbor School Board at their April 22, 1970 meeting approved the project. A non-profit corporation, for the purpose of owning and financing the projects, was formed and the Ann Arbor Student Home Building Project was officially begun.

From the very first Board of Directors, chosen from the Ad-hoc Committee, through each and every Board of Directors Member and Volunteers, the work and support dedicated to this program has been amazing. The corporation's Board of Directors became the financial and technical coordinators for the project. They gave and secured from others, remarkable amounts of free time and materials, plus cash contributions. With all this in place, and after a great deal of planning and work, on September 9th, 1970, at a building site at 3377 Yellowstone Drive, a groundbreaking ceremony was held and the first student home building project was under way. Twenty-six students from Pioneer and Huron High Schools saw the project through to completion with the assistance of local journeymen, craftsmen and the supervision of the "Builder of Record," Henry Landau. Robert Haddick was the first instructor for the program. The students participated in every phase of the construction. As the home was being built, Warren McLean of Warren McLean Associates listed the home and sold it for no commission. It was sold before it was completed. With the sale, the program was successfully under way.