For 11 and a half years, the Reynolds’ home on 328 East Manoa Rd. was a place where they built a family and created a safe haven for their children. But a fire took all of that
away last Thursday.
The big sofa in their living room, where they most likely sat on as they watched their favorite TV shows and movies together, was heavily marked with smoke and fire damage. The sofa was unceremoniously thrown out of what was once the picture window by firefighters.
The picture window itself, which probably brought in warm sunlight, splashing the living room with color on cold, gray winter mornings, was removed by firefighters so they could easily take out items from the house.
With nearly everything gone because of the fire, what can the Reynolds do now?
They plan on rebuilding, despite the condition of the house.
“The inside of the house is gone and as far as we know the contents are not salvageable, but we have not been given an official determination,” John and Tina Reynolds wrote in a joint e-mail late Friday night to the Haverford-Havertown Patch. They stated that they are not sure how much money they loss due to the fire.
At the moment, the Reynolds Family is staying with friends.
Before the fire, John Reynolds, a plumber, and his wife Tina Reynolds, a part-time teacher for the Haverford School District, were already putting an addition to the Havertown home, which would have included an extra bedroom, a laundry room and they were going to extend the kitchen.
And it seems as if the extra space was needed, as the Reynolds have four children: Three sons, ages 15, 9 and 7 and a 13-year-old daughter.
“They are hanging in there, being strong and relying on each other for support,” the Reynolds wrote when asked how the children were doing after hearing the devastating news that their home was nearly destroyed. In a phone interview on Friday afternoon, John Reynolds said that his children went back to school that day, to help keep things as normal as possible for them.
As of Friday night, the Reynolds wrote in the e-mail that the fire marshal has not told him what caused the fire, but on Thursday once the fire was extinguished, Jim Marino, the Haverford Township Fire Marshal, told the Haverford-Havertown Patch that he believed the fire started in the living room and burnt down into the basement.
Marino also said that the second floor suffered smoke damage.
But even though John Reynolds, who volunteers at the Brookline Baseball & Softball club, stated that his family are planning to rebuild their once-beloved home, it would be difficult for them to accept donations that they need.
“We have lost just about everything so every little bit helps. It is very difficult to be the recipients of donations but we are very (grateful) of those willing to help,” he and his wife wrote.
But despite their family’s loss, the Reynolds had nothing but praise and gratitude for the community.
“We are deeply sadden by the loss of our home however are extremely grateful for the rapid response by the firefighters. We are also indebted to our neighbors, the Molitors, and indebted to the fire department.
“To our family, friends, neighbors and fellow members of Annunciation Parish and Haverford Township School District, we wish to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks,” the Reynolds wrote. “The tremendous amount of love and support that we have received is humbling and overwhelming. We could not begin to thank everyone that has offered us shelter, help, support and the love we have received. Words cannot accurately express the gratitude we feel.”
Donations can be sent to:
In care of: The Reynolds Family
108 E. Park Rd.
Havertown, PA, 19083
