Vision House 2004 Ground Breaking

Mission Statement:  The main mission of the Hartford Rotary Vision House Project is to emphasize vocational opportunities for Hartford Union High School students and to raise scholarship funds for technical and related educational fields by building a single family home each year in Hartford

Background:  The Vision House Project originated in the spring of 1992 when the Rotary Club, Don Langenfield, president 1992-93, initiated a new project to raise funds to support its commitment to local scholarship programs.  Ed Majkowski, Dave Rohrer, Dick Zimmerman, Brian Priestaf and Larry Rocole assisted Don.

HUHS felt a carpentry class (and others) could work well on this type of project and instructor, Arthur Luthi, directed the HUHS carpentry students until his retirement.  It is now directed by Rick Sparks.  The word Vision comes from "Vocational Instruction Supporting Individual Occupational Needs."  At first, it was decided to remodel an older home, but for many reasons, this was changed to build a new home.  Several Rotary members "loaned" money to buy the original lot at 514 Fairview Drive.  After the home was built and sold, the loaned money was returned to the members.  This Rotary project has been endorsed and supported by the Hartford Union High School and the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce since it originated.
To access the HUHs VISION Project page, click here.

Since that original Vision House in 1993, there have been 14 other single-family homes built and sold in Hartford.  The second home was immediately behind the first home on 525 Sunset Drive.  These homes were followed by homes at 316 Rossman Street, 3437 Clifford Drive, , 810 Ridge View Drive, 772 Ridge View Drive, 626 Main Street, 387 Root Avenue, 411 Root Avenue, in 2002 at 944 Cedar Street,  in 2003 at 460 Northview Trail, in 2004 at 912 Cedar Street, in 2005 at 1414 Kennedy Drive, in 2006 at 405 Ridgefield Pass and in 2007 at 730 Dakota Drive.   Most of the homes have been in the 1400-1600 square foot range and have been sold for an average of $150,000.  (See several examples pictured above)

In addition to the HUHS carpentry students, architectural students design the basic homes; the interior design students select the colors and textures to be used; the landscaping students plan and landscape the homes; the marketing students write the advertisements; and TV production students record the building of each home on video.

The Rotary Club has contracted with suppliers and subcontractors for the various materials and other trades that are not part of the work provided by the HUHS students.  Many of the Vision House students over the past ten years are working in building and related fields.

Several of the Rotarians have worked on the Vision House project all ten years including this year's Chair, Ed Majkowski.  Serving on the 10th Anniversary Vision House Project are Dave Rohrer, Brian Priestaf, Harriet Doerfert, Ed Heck, Doug Smith and Jim Rodell.

The Vision House Project has been recognized by Rotary District 6270, which includes 61 Rotary Clubs in SE Wisconsin, as one of the top Rotary Vocational Service projects in the District.

THE ROTARIAN magazine, Rotary International's monthly publication, with a readership of over 1,100,000 featured the Hartford Rotary Vision House in its November 1996 issue.