Sea Isle City Residents Prove They're Stronger Than Sandy As Rebuilding Efforts Continue
By: Diana Rocco
SEA ISLE CITY, N.J., (CBS) - Ninety-one-year-old Sam Lisa has reason to sing.
It's a special day on the 5900 block of Sounds Avenue in Sea Isle. Construction crews are hard at work, but it's not you're every day building project.
This one is special.
"Putting it back together and we're going to use it again, getting ready to go crabbing, clamming, fishing," said Lisa.
This home was built in 1907, but Sam has owned it for the past 40 years.
This is what it looked like the day before Sandy hit in late October.
But when the storm slammed the shoreline, it took a serious hit.
"That little house that you see was pushed off the foundation and it pushed right into that little house and I mean to tell you I thought that house was gone,' said Lisa.
The property was condemned, and set to be demolished. But Sam and his son Charlie weren't about to give up on the home that has meant so much to them.
"Oh gosh, it's been in the family for 40 years and you've met my father. This means everything to him. He loves it down here, it just energizes him were doing it for him. It's the best thing in the world," said Charlie Lisa.
They salvaged the second floor, moving it to the side, while they used pylons to build up the home.
Then, a newly constructed first floor was put in place and the original second story lifted back on top.
"We've been waiting for this day to come. It's been an uphill battle, but we finally reached the point where I know the house is going to go back together and dad will be up on that porch singing 'On The Way to Cape May' again," said Charlie.
