GREENSBORO-After two years of living in a house made of tires and telephone poles, the resident and her two children love every minute of attention the house receives as well as having a place to call home.

Tracy Shiles, who works at the Woodhaven Nursing Home in Demopolis wakes up every morning thanking God for the students of the University of Auburn’s Rural Studio. Yes, this is the same group, but different students that are currently making history in the small town of Newbern.

“This house has been such a blessing for me and my family,” she said.

Before being chosen by the Rural Studio to receive this house, they lived in an older house that always had a problem with rats and snakes. The house was just run down and the walls were separating from the roof, it was just a bad situation, she said.

“Three years ago, we applied to reiceve this house and after three months worth of interviews, we were told we won out of four other families,” Shiles said.

The house was constructed using tires and telephone poles to lift it out of the swampy land. This same tire construction technique was used in the construction of the Yancy Chapel, she said.

“The tires are incorporated thorough out the home including the building of the winding staircase, that wraps around the family room in the center of the home,” Shiles said.

Her two sons, Andre, 17 and Lonze, 18 also have enjoyed the home over the past two years. Andre is currently still attending Sunshine High School and Lonze has graduated from high school.

Shiles’ mother, Bernice Lewis of New York, NY said via a telephone interview , that when she first learned about the new home she was shocked. She deserves something good too happen too her and her boys.

“I’m so proud of her,” Lewis said.

Shiles said the house has really been great because people come from all around to visit the house. People show up from 7 a.m. in the morning till 11 p.m. at night and that’s fine because they are more than welcome in my home, she said.