by Trish Rudder
On December 20, the Bath Christmas Project Inc. board members and the volunteers that helped to renovate the building called the Elf Shack, met with the Morgan County Commissioners Bill Clark, Joel Tuttle, Commission president Sean Forney and the Town of Bath, Mayor Scott Merki to celebrate the newly renovated building.
The yellow building that was given to the Bath Christmas Project, Inc. in August 2021, by the Town of Bath is now completely renovated inside and out.
Hunter Clark, who heads up the Project, said shelves are to go up on one wall and the other side has a large built-in work table on the wall to assist the all-volunteer members to build, repair and restore the Christmas decorations the Project uses to dress up the Town of Bath for the holiday season.
Clark said getting the building moved and renovated has been a team effort from first getting approval from the Commissioners to place the building behind the Pines Opportunity Center in September 2021.
Allan Truax leveled the ground and built a gravel pad in December 2021. Roy’s Service Center moved the building from the Train Depot lot to the Pines in February, 2022.
In August 2022, Joey Starliper donated the vinyl siding for the building. In October 2022, David Kerns transported and unloaded the siding in the building.
In November 2022, Kenny McCoy and Ed Braithwaite installed the siding on the east side of the Elf Shack, “so we could get electric power,” Clark said.
Electric power was placed to the building in December 2022.
In May 2023, Rick Franklin completed the electric wiring inside the building. In October 2023, John Michael finished the siding on the building.
In November 2023, Vince Chinchello and crew finished the inside of the building and on December 20, a garland cutting was held to officially open the Elf Shack.
Both Commission President Sean Forney and Mayor Merki complimented the Bath Christmas Project at the garland cutting ceremony.
“It gets better every year,” Commissioner Forney said.
“They are doing an excellent job,” Mayor Merki said.
