December 2005

The Arkansas FireWise Team chooses a home each month that illustrates FireWise principles. Joe and Carolyn Marshall of Holley Mountain Airpark, an aviation community just outside of Clinton, Ark., are owners of the December 2005 FireWise Home of the Month. (Joe is also assistant fire chief of the airpark.) The Marshalls retired to Arkansas from Minnesota a few years ago and built the combination hangar/apartment in the photos below. The aerial photo of the Marshall's hangar/home (above) was taken immediately after construction, and Joe has since extended the defensive space down the lower slope by at least 100 feet and another 100 when he recovers from a recent injury. Other note-worthy FireWise elements of Marshall home are the metal roof and siding, a propane tank more than 30 feet from the house, and the tidy landscaping downhill from the house.

Here's the Marshall's story from the Holley Mountain Airpark website. Carolyn writes:

"We love it here and have not regretted our move for one minute. The pace is so different from large city life and the serenity, wild life and flora are cherished. It is difficult to explain, but as an illustration we have named our home Pacis Mons which is Latin for 'peaceful mountain.'

"For thirty years we lived in cold Minnesota where Joe practiced civil law there and in other states while we raised our daughter and two sons. I worked at the school part time and, in addition, I did a lot of volunteer work with our church, the community, and school system and was deeply involved with children sports activities. In fact, I was one of those Minnesota 'hockey moms.'

"Our children are grown and safely tucked away in careers now, our daughter and her physician husband have given us four fantastic grandchildren and our oldest son and his wife are both teachers and expecting their first one soon. Our youngest son is a career police officer and is engaged to be married, so this year will be an exciting one for us. They all live in Minnesota and that leads me to another story.

"As Joe approached retirement he told me of his life long ambition to learn to fly and I knocked his socks off when I told him to go for it. Before I knew it we were the proud owners of a hangar and airplane, and he was taking lessons. As retirement became a reality we decided to follow another longstanding plan and move south to escape the harsh weather. So, combining the flying and the move, Joe and I began a multi-year search for an airpark.

"We looked at many airparks through the central US and believe me some of those that were calling themselves 'airparks' were doing so with a great deal of intestinal brass. Many were very nice, but in 2001, when we found Holley Mountain Airpark we knew immediately that it was never going to get any better than this. When we realized that fact and started to prepare to buy a lot, Joe was asking dumb lawyer-like questions and I got frustrated with him and bought lot 18 myself. He could come along if he wanted to!

"We have a hangar/apartment and are happily planning a permanent home on the mountainside. Come and join us, the area is beautiful with many recreational opportunities, and really great history if you are interested.
Oh, by the way, the average January temperature here is in the 50’s. Quite a difference from where the snow falls sideways and its 40 below in the wind!"