Mason Welch happily looks out the window in her new playhouse.
Hayden Welch making coffee in the kitchen of her new playhouse.
The Country Cottage's new home on Riverview Drive. Mason and Hayden Welch playing in their sandbox while mother Cora and grandmother Renita watch from the playhouse porch.
SEELEY LAKE – Three-year-old Mason Welch and her two-year-old sister Hayden are the proud owners of their first house. The country cottage playhouse, built by Doug Richards and raffled off by Seeley Lake Elementary School (SLE), found its home on Riverview Drive in Seeley Lake after Mason's ticket was drawn by SLE seventh-grader Emily Howard at the Tamarack Festival.
Mason's grandmother Renita Ruth is the manager at Cory's Valley Market. She bought five tickets when tickets went on sale and then bought five more, one with Mason's name on it, before the drawing two weeks ago.
"Being it sat at the store so long, Mason thought it was hers," said Renita. "She would say, 'My trailer. My house.'"
While the trailer still needs to be returned, Mason's new playhouse found its home. Mason and Hayden have been busy moving in.
The playhouse came finished on the outside and with carpet and curtains on the inside. Now it is complete with Mason's kitchen set including microwave, stove, sink and refrigerator, table and chairs and a high chair.
Mason wanted to move all of her toys out to her new house, but Renita insisted that she needed to leave some inside because it is going to get cold. The cold night-time temperatures also kept them from camping out in it this weekend. However next summer they anticipate many nights in the cozy cottage.
Richards built the house this past spring and donated it to SLE to raffle off to help fund the new scoreboard for the gym. Richards volunteered his time and Pyramid Mountain Lumber and Crescent Mountain Builders donated materials for the project.
"Doug did such an awesome job making it and with all the details," said Renita.
Mason's mother Cora added that Mason's brothers are excited to get to see and play in the house as well, "He's [Doug] making a lot of kids really happy."
"I'm glad it stayed in Seeley Lake," said Richards. "I'm also happy that there are youngsters in Seeley Lake that will enjoy it as much as I did building it."
SLE raised nearly $4,000 and will be using the money to purchase the new scoreboard and fund athletic programs at SLE.
As for Mason, "She couldn't be more happy," said Renita. "She loves her house."
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