Hebron resident part of Tiny House movement

Adela Crandell Durkee

Built in the 1930s, long before Tiny House became a movement, the Quonset (or Nissen) Hut design was developed during World War I as a pre-fabricated military barracks. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Built in the 1930s, long before Tiny House became a movement, the Quonset (or Nissen) Hut design was developed during World War I as a pre-fabricated military barracks. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Nostalgia propelled Scott Ihrky to purchase the Tiny House on the large lot at 9706 St. Albans St.

His parents lived there with his sister. He knows he was there too, in-utero that is, because he viewed the home videos. As a young father, he drove his children by the house to show them his origin.

A view of the kitchen in the house that is only 800 square feet. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

A view of the kitchen in the house that is only 800 square feet. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Ihrky’s roots run deep in Hebron. His parents, aunts and uncles, and both sets of grandparents lived there. One of his uncles was on the famed 1952 state championship basketball team. Ihrky took over the family business, Bud Ihrky Remodeling after his father died.

When Ihrky saw the Tiny House where he was conceived with a For Sale sign in front, he had to have it. Today, his son and daughter-in-law and their two children live there. The house is smaller than most apartments, 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, just an 800-square-foot footprint.

The Ihrkys busied themselves getting the house up to modern standards and in keeping with the Tiny House movement.

The most popular reasons people choose to join the Tiny House Movement is for environmental or financial concerns. Some people choose to join the movement to have more freedom. For most Americans, 33-50 percent of a family’s income goes into their homes. The idea of the movement is to focus on smaller spaces and simplified living, and free up time normally spent on home maintenance for enjoyable activities.

A typical American home is around 2,600 square feet, while the typical small or Tiny House is around 100-400 square feet. So, Ihrky’s Tiny House is a little on the big size.

Built in the 1930s, long before Tiny House became a movement, the Quonset (or Nissen) Hut design was developed during World War I as a pre-fabricated military barracks. Ihrky’s Tiny House does not fit the standard dimensions of the military Quonset. Although some military barracks were converted to civilian housing after both wars, Ihrky’s Tiny House has no such connection.

“One odd thing about this house, is it has a 100-foot set-back,” said Ihrky.

Scott Ihrky’s roots run deep in Hebron. His parents, aunts and uncles, and both sets of grandparents lived there. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Scott Ihrky’s roots run deep in Hebron. His parents, aunts and uncles, and both sets of grandparents lived there. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

It makes for an unusually large front yard. There’s enough room to build another house in front of their Tiny House. However, that’s not in Ihrky’s plans. He and his son renovated the corrugated galvanized steel house to make maximum use out of every nook and cranny of the space.

Although the family wishes to re-paint it that may require sandblasting, as the existing paint seems impossible to remove. They may end up replacing the galvanized steel with corrugated steel panels.

“That can be foamed for a better R value,” according to Ihrky.  Although he concedes, “heating the house results in a small gas payment, now.” In the meantime, they are slowly improving the landscaping.

According to Fast Company, a business magazine that focuses on technology, business and design:

“Living in a Tiny House might be the millennial version of the American dream, but for most of us, it’s more of an Instagram-fueled fantasy than something we’re likely to do in the near future.”

For the Ihrkys it’s a labor of love.

“Every bit of the insides is rebuilt,” he said. “The electrical was a mess, the cement slab was replaced. The place got completely gutted.”

Ihrky bought the place about a year and a half ago. Since then, he’s been busy putting things in order.

In a house that tiny, everything has its place and everything is in its place.

–Hebron resident part of Tiny House movement–