Sigel couple's dream house becomes a nightmare

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Sigel couple's dream house becomes a nightmare

07/01/2009

Jeffersonian Democrat Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:51 AM PDT

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20338990 & BRD=2758 & PAG=461 & dept_id=5730\

66 & rfi=6

Snell was lying on the couch in his living room, and having trouble

breathing. He thought he was allergic to the Christmas tree in the corner. In

reality, he was being sickened by mold hidden in the walls of his home.

originally from Emerickville, and his wife, the former Ross, who

grew up in Hazen, admit they ignored a lot of warning signs which they realized

only after the cause of Chris' breathing problem, and other health issues for

both of them, was identified - four different kinds of mold.

The silent threat had grown in the walls of the structure, built in the 1940's,

where the young couple had gone to housekeeping. It sits along SR 949 near

Sigel. When they purchased the property, they had seen no signs at all.

" I never had any allergies, never sneezed, " explained, " and I started

sneezing. " Thinking the cause was something in the air, paid no attention

to the condition.

It was later that the usually energetic man, who works for A. C. Munro repairing

gas lines and gas wells, along with being in charge of Seneca Resources'

warehouse, noticed that at home, he was constantly fatigued, wanting to sleep.

" When I was away from the house, I was my normal self, but as soon as I'd come

home, I was so tired, " said.

For , who is a homemaker, the illnesses mounted. She, too, experienced

the sluggishness and allergies, but other concerns surfaced, too, such as

anxiety and depression. " Some of the molds can cause cancer because of a

microbial reaction, " she explained.

As they sought answers to their increasing illnesses, the molds surfaced through

one wall. That's when another nightmare unfolded - trying, unsuccessfully, to

have their homeowners insurance pay for the extensive remediation, structural

damages and restoration needed.

Unable to live in their home, in March of this year, the Snells were offered a

place of sanctuary by the congregation of the sville Baptist Church.

Because the present minister, Reverend Ron Gray and his family have a home

nearby, they were not living in the parsonage and the young couple was welcome

there.

Amidst arguing with the insurance company, calling the Pennsylvania State

Insurance Commissioner and dealing with other practical matters, the Snells also

lost many of their possessions.

" Anything soft had to go, " said of their couch, chair, mattress, box

springs, even food, paper products and wrapping paper. All had to be destroyed.

Seeking professional help, said, " They put everything we could save in

to one room. It was called the ozone room and it sucked out the mold spores. "

In talking about their experience, said, " We wanted people to be aware

of what can happen with molds. " Testing is very expensive and not required in

many home inspections.

Searching for answers, they discovered that their house, built on nearly all

clay, had no French drains to take ground water away from it. Moisture also

entered from the bottom of the house and a simple hole drilled for a cable was

not sealed properly.

As the Snells have engaged professional assistance and also worked at tearing

out the offending portions of the house, the community of sville has

continued its support with a benefit event on Saturday, June 20th.

A variety of food was donated, along with items for a Chinese Auction, and

musical entertainment. As he sat helping to make change, said, " Everyone

is so kind and caring, it humbles you. "

Introduced to the large crowd which gathered for the evening, read a

thank you on behalf of herself and her husband. She quoted several passages from

the Bible expressing the couple's humility and appreciation for those present.