The Allen Building

“Be Strong and Courageous” is repeated again and again throughout the book of Joshua (4 times in Joshua 1 alone!). The past year (November 2016 – November 2017) has been full of wonders beyond my greatest expectations and incredibly difficult challenges.  But I keep heart and stand strong with this reminder that is stated over and over again in Joshua, Be Strong and Courageous!  I have felt like Joshua more often than not this past year, which has been a scary yet beautiful experience.  The one thing I have had to continually remind myself of, is that no matter the challenge, God delivered Joshua from tyrannical rulers and gave him the strength and ability to fight when necessary and the courage to do so.  This project is far from over and although I grow weary at times, I am encouraged at the thought of being led by the one who commanded the walls of Jericho to fall and gave Joshua the power to do so.

Quick note about renovations:
-I spent 2 weeks + the trash company’s largest dumpster to clean out the building and all its trash (my dad helped me fill the dumpster after I had gathered all the trash)
-I did all of the demo work (my dad helped on occasion, my mom helped me clean after demo, my dad helped me load it all in a second dumpster)
-I did all tile + grout work, carpet, mudding, taping, & painting
-I sanded, stained, & sealed the wood floors (my mom helped stain and poly)
-I hired a contractor to remove all metal siding and the metal awning since it could not be recognized as a historical building with the metal coverings.
-I hired an electrician rewire the lights like they were in the bank image below + rewire original lights that I found in a wall while in the demo process + add 4plex out lets on
the north and south walls
-I hired a contractor stud and sheetrock the newly ADA compliant bathroom + 4 ft high wall on the south wall
-I hired a plumber fix the leak in the bathroom plumbing and redo the fittings on the main line into the building.
-After 11 months of researching + writing I was approved as a Historical Building in Kansas and will hopefully have a confirmation for the National level soon!