2nd to none
Social club reopens after devastating water pipe breakBy DAN FELDNER, Staff Writer, dfeldner@minotdailynews.com
Article Photos
There are more than a few clubs in Minot, but none quite as unique as 2nd Story, a social club for adults with developmental disabilities. After a water pipe break the day after Christmas this past year flooded the club and closed it for almost two months, it's back and better than ever.
Alayne Okland, executive director of 2nd Story, said a pipe on the second floor of the building they lease space in burst and flooded the club on the first floor as well as the basement where their storage area is. She doesn't know the exact cause of the break, but was shocked at just how much damage was done.
"All's we know is we walked in and water came out the front door. We were closed Christmas Day and we came in the day after, so I'm sure it ran for at least 20 hours, probably," Okland said. "So it's amazing the damage that water can do. I didn't realize water could do that much damage."
The damage they found after opening the front door was truly jaw-dropping. A large amount of ceiling and floor tiles had to be replaced. The walls had to be cut open to allow fans to dry out the insides, and once dry they had to be rebuilt. In fact, Okland said the first month of reconstruction was spent basically drying the place out.
After the walls had been dried and rebuilt, new paint and wallpaper followed. Brand new toilets were installed and some of the carpet that proved to be unsalvageable had to be replaced. There were also many little things ruined in the disaster such as coffee makers and surge protectors that had to be thrown away and replaced.
It could have been even worse, but Okland credits the quick response of IRET, which leases the space to 2nd Story. She called the landlord right away, who wasted no time dispatching an electrician, plumber, and several people from Command Labor as well as a moving company.
"...They had waders on up to their knees, and they were walking through here and they had to carry all of our furniture, everything that's in here, up to the third floor without an elevator, and it's so steep," Okland said. "So I was amazed that they could do that. Because of that, we were able to save a lot of our furniture and the equipment, you know, the computers and that type of thing."
While much was saved, quite a bit was lost. Okland said they were in the middle of their Snowball fundraiser, and close to 1,000 of the 3,000 items already boxed and wrapped for the fundraiser were ruined.
To make matters worse, since it happened right after Christmas, the club had a lot of Christmas presents stored in the basement, which was swamped with water. Bingo prizes and much of their paper products such as toilet paper, tissues and paper plates were also ruined.
Dot Theobald, assistant director, said food stored in two freezers was also lost after they had to be unplugged to free up electrical sockets for all of the fans.
However, the city of Minot showed true Christmas spirit, even if the holiday had already past.
"But we were so amazed because since this happened, the community has just rallied behind us and, you know, everybody came to our aid," Okland said. "For the Snowball, they all called and said, 'What do you need?' and people brought items and we got all of those replaced and we were able to have the Snowball. We had to work out of the (Minot) Armory to do it because we couldn't work here. ... So that Snowball was a big success."
Okland said people can still help by donating bingo prizes and paper products such as paper plates, tissues, silverware, napkins and paper towels. Anyone with a donation can bring it into the club, located at 13-1st Ave. SW, next to US Bank, during the normal operating hours of 2 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Okland said they will also be happy to send a complete wish list to those who call them at 838-0912.
Founded in 1975, 2nd Story has been in its present location for the past four years. It receives no state or federal funding, operating solely through contributions and fundraising projects. It offers members a multitude of free activities to enjoy such as pool, bingo, card games, dances, cooking lessons and much more.
Okland said she didn't believe it would be possible to make the club look just as it had before the damage, but that's exactly what happened.
"I'm amazed. When we were in here, we were just sick when we stood there with things dripping on our head and watching everything," she said. "We thought this will never, ever be the same again, and there's no way they can get it done. Because I just looked at the place and I just said, you know, how can they rebuild and make it look like it did?"
She said when the members came back at 2 p.m. sharp Wednesday they couldn't believe how similar it looked to before the damage. To have some fun with the reconstruction, a scavenger hunt of sorts was set up which had the members searching for any changes to the club they could spot.
And the opening didn't come a moment too soon. Okland said the members were calling her every day asking when the club would be open again.
"They couldn't wait. So we got a "welcome back" cake today and have been treating them to some cake and welcoming them back to their club," Okland said.
Larry Hanson, who has been a member of 2nd Story since it first opened over 30 years ago, was part of the throng that filled the club shortly after the doors opened. Hanson freely admits to being one of the members who kept calling and asking when the club would be ready.
"I kept on calling them guys and seeing when it's gonna open because they've been closed so long, I thought they were never gonna open," Hanson said. "It took a long time."
Hanson said it was pretty boring when the club wasn't open because they didn't have anything to do. Now that 2nd Story is finally open again, boredom is no longer a problem.
"I like the activities and the people," he said. "(I) play pool and play cards, especially the computer games the other games and everything I like to do. ... It's nice to get into the flow again."
Martin Myhra has been a member for almost 15 years, and said he was really disappointed when he heard about the water problems. While he really missed being able to come to 2nd Story and was glad when it reopened, he did find other things to do while the club was being repaired.
"(I) went bowling for a while, then headed out to the Blind Duck to play pool," Myhra said. "I'm a pool player, myself."
Unlike some of the members, Myhra said it wasn't him calling Okland to see when the club would be open, but the other way around.
"They kept calling me," Myhra said. "She's (Okland) like my mother. She always has to keep an eye on me."
This close bond she shares with the members is why Okland turned her dining room table into a temporary office while work was being done in the club and why she and Theobald worked so hard to hold the Snowball fundraiser after one-third of the prizes were lost.
They aren't the only ones responsible for 2nd Story's success, however. Along with the board of directors and other volunteers, there have literally been thousands of people over the years who have helped make 2nd Story what it is today, and to them Okland is eternally grateful.
"I always say we're just so lucky to be located in Minot, Minot and the surrounding area, because people have just, you know, been there with open arms for us," she said. "If not for the people that we have here, we wouldn't be in existence, so it's because of the giving and kind people."
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carriemv2001
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02-22-09 3:46 PM
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I'm so glad that a place like this is around for people to enjoy. Where I'm at in Redwood Falls, Minnesota; there is no real activities for people with disabilities to participate in. Having this club in Minot makes me even more likely to move there in 2010.
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