BATH

Joel Austin, director of the Bath Regional Career and Technical Center, liked the modular home built by his students so much, he bought it.

Austin and many first-year carpentry and electrical students from the school were on hand Monday morning as a crew from Northeast Crane service placed two box units and then two sections of roof onto Austin’s property on Middle Street. Workers moved the four sections from an area near the skate park on Congress Avenue.

First-year carpentry and electrical students at the Regional Career and Tech Center watched as the work of last year’s seniors came to fruition. Students finished their work in June, and a buyer was all that was needed.

Austin said that he and his wife needed less space, with their daughter attending school out of town.

“It was a good time to downsize,” he said.

As Austin explained it, the students spend up to 1 1/2 years to build these modular homes. With the help of the Rotary Club, they have been building them for nearly 40 years.

It costs approximately $55,000 to build the structures, and buyers pay $65,000. The Rotary Club bankrolls the cost and turns profit back to the school, Austin said.

Guy Saucier, a member of the Rotary Club Board of Directors, watched Tuesday’s “moving day,” with a smile.

“Rotary has a huge commitment toward vocational education,” Saucier said.

See the Thursday print edition of The Times Record for photos and tomorrow’s online edition for video.