Some say hard work is the building block to a successful life — for Jeremiah Booth those words couldn’t be more fitting. Booth was just released this week from the Allen County Jail and has been working on replacing the mortar on the left side of Denny’s Sports Center.
A painter has been hired through Thrive Allen County to paint a mural on the side of the old building, but before the painting can take place the mortar has to be replaced.
“The mortar on that building is over 100 years old, and needs to be replaced” Thrive Allen County’s executive director David Toland said.
That is where Booth came in. He had been doing a volunteer tuckpointing project on behalf of the Allen County Jail, where all the old mortar is being replaced to make the building more secure.
“They asked me if I wanted to do it and I said ‘yes,’” Booth said. “I would just rather do something productive.”
What started out as a volunteer project turned into a paid contract job for Booth. “He did such a good job we decided to hire him to finish the work,” Toland said.
Roughly 35 hours of volunteer work went into the project, Booth said. And while working in custody of the Allen County sheriff, Booth was allowed to work unattended.
For most people 35 hours of heat and sun would be unbearable, but Booth is used to it. “I am a roofer and a builder, so it doesn’t bother me,” he said.
Tuesday morning Booth began his contracting work without the watchful eye of the sheriff.
Booth enjoyed keeping busy and using his skills, “(the sheriff) should do more of this kind of project. If someone is trustworthy and has a skill, then that should be utilized,” he said.
What began as just a project Thrive needed completed turned into a “chance for rehabilitation,” Toland said. “We are grateful to the sheriff for giving us access to this resource and giving Jeremiah a chance to prove himself.”
The project of replacing the mortar should be finished by Sunday.
