From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 16, 1989:

A four-member Lawrence family was selected this week to be the first homebuyers from Lawrence Habitat for Humanity. Habitat officials announced they would build their first house in Lawrence for Gerald and Mary Richter and their two children. “In effect, Habitat is becoming partners with the Richters,” said the Rev. John Gingerich, Lawrence Habitat president. Gingerich explained that the family would participate by providing “sweat equity” in the construction of the house, and after moving in would begin making monthly interest-free mortgage payments to Habitat. A groundbreaking was planned for the house, which was to be located on Harper Street in southeast Lawrence. The local chapter of Habitat had been organized earlier in the year by Gingerich to provide volunteer-built homes for qualified low-income families.