Augusta Woman Starts Online Campaign to Save Historic Home
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 20, 2012
A woman fighting to save her family's home in Augusta is taking her fight online and asking the community for help. Seventy-nine year-old Gayne Schmidt says her home is over 100-years-old and is a part of the town's history her family is trying desperately to preserve.
Schmidt moved in over 40 years ago, and she says it was once the loveliest home in the community.
"So many tried to buy it for me before it was messed up," said Schmidt.
Schmidt says it was built in 1904. But now, after years of deterioration it's a long way from being the feature worthy home, captured in black and white photos for a 1979 magazine spread.
"I've been told it's eligible, the historic people have visited, but I'd like to have it fixed up nice before it's promoted on the registry," she said.
But Schmidt says she doesn't have the money. She says she spent over $12,000 on a renovations that went sour a few years ago. Due to those bad repairs, she says she lost her homeowners insurance and chance at a home equity loan.
These days, she's on a fixed income, between her social security benefits and profit from her alterations business.
"It makes me want to cry," said Ambr Gilbert, Schmidt's daughter.
Unable to pay for the work herself Gilbert went straight to the internet, hoping YouTube and new school fundraising websites, like Indiegogo could help them save their old house.
"She has done so many things to help out the community for a number of years, bereavement meals for families," Gilbert said of her mother. "She sews police patches on police uniforms."
Awards at Schmidt's alterations shop highlight work she's done in the community, now her family is hoping it'll come back to her.
"I'd love to see her house get the attention she always needed," said Gilbert.
The family set a fundraising goal of $16,000. To learn more about the house and drive, click here.
They're hoping to get the renovations done so they can apply to have the home added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Schmidt moved in over 40 years ago, and she says it was once the loveliest home in the community.
"So many tried to buy it for me before it was messed up," said Schmidt.
Schmidt says it was built in 1904. But now, after years of deterioration it's a long way from being the feature worthy home, captured in black and white photos for a 1979 magazine spread.
"I've been told it's eligible, the historic people have visited, but I'd like to have it fixed up nice before it's promoted on the registry," she said.
But Schmidt says she doesn't have the money. She says she spent over $12,000 on a renovations that went sour a few years ago. Due to those bad repairs, she says she lost her homeowners insurance and chance at a home equity loan.
These days, she's on a fixed income, between her social security benefits and profit from her alterations business.
"It makes me want to cry," said Ambr Gilbert, Schmidt's daughter.
Unable to pay for the work herself Gilbert went straight to the internet, hoping YouTube and new school fundraising websites, like Indiegogo could help them save their old house.
"She has done so many things to help out the community for a number of years, bereavement meals for families," Gilbert said of her mother. "She sews police patches on police uniforms."
Awards at Schmidt's alterations shop highlight work she's done in the community, now her family is hoping it'll come back to her.
"I'd love to see her house get the attention she always needed," said Gilbert.
The family set a fundraising goal of $16,000. To learn more about the house and drive, click here.
They're hoping to get the renovations done so they can apply to have the home added to the National Register of Historic Places.
