From left, Jillian Berg, Sebastian, Candace Berg, Doris Salemme and Payton at the new home of Jillian, Sebastian and Payton at 27 Norton Ave. The house was constructed, with the assistance of Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity, at the former location of a house built by Doris Olson Salemme’s father and mother, Fred and Dorthy Olson, in 1926. Submitted photo

If home is where the heart is, one Norton Avenue location in Jamestown has carried on one family’s affection for five generations.

Earlier this month, Jillian Berg became the proud owner of a new house built by Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity. Jillian Berg’s new home is located at 27 Norton Ave., which is the same location where her great-grandfather and great-grandmother — Fred and Dorthy Olson — finished building a house in 1926.

“We have a picture of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother holding my grandmother (Doris Olson Salemme) after they were done building the house,” Jillian Berg said. “This plot of land has been in our family for such a long time. It’s a dream come true.”

Jillian Berg, along with her mother, Candace Berg, volunteered to help Habitat volunteers build the new home along Norton Avenue.

“My mom kept saying when we were working on the house that bricks we were finding on the property could have been bricks my great-grandparents used,” she said.

A photo from the 1920s of Fred and Dorthy Olson with their daughter, Doris Olson Salemme, at the former house located at 27 Norton Ave. Earlier this month, a new house built by Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity at 27 Norton Avenue was purchased by Jillian Berg, who is the great-granddaughter of Fred and Dorthy Olson. Submitted photo

Candace Berg said her grandparents started construction on their home in 1925 and finished when her mother was born in 1926. She said Fred Olson started building a garage at first, but converted it into a house by the time he was done.

“It was a really small house. It was referred to as the ‘little house,”‘ she said. “(My mother) lived there until she was 15 years old. By that time (my mother) had two siblings, and they outgrew the house and moved to 11 Norton Ave.”

Candace Berg said she found out a couple of years ago that Habitat was looking to build a new house in Jamestown through her sister-in-law, who had inquired to see if Jillian Berg was looking to purchase a home. She was told the house was going to be built on a lot along Norton Avenue, but wasn’t provided the exact address.

“I got in my car and drove over to see where it was going to be located,” Candace Berg said. “I saw the Habitat sign at 27 Norton Ave. and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It brought tears to my eyes. When I told my mother about it, it meant so much to her. It’s been a very moving experience. It’s been a very joyful experience.”

Jillian Berg was given the keys to her new home she purchased during a special Habitat ceremony on Sept. 19. Berg volunteered for more than 250 hours assisting other Habitat volunteers build new houses. She learned almost everything one needs to know to build a house from putting up drywall to flooring to painting.

“They teach you everything you have to do to build a house. Every step of the process, except the roof,” she said.

Construction of the house started in 2019. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the house slowed down because only so many volunteers were allowed to work at the site.

David Kurzawa, Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity volunteer CEO, said before COVID-19, Habitat could have as many as 30 volunteers at each site and could finish a house in 14 to 18 months, with volunteers mainly just working on Saturday. He said the pandemic shut down Habitat for five months. He added that despite the pandemic, Habitat worked on three houses this year, with the other two being in Silver Creek and Westfield.

“When we could reopen, we were limited to just so many people per a square foot. Each site was limited to five to seven people maximum,” he said. “This was very unusual. I have to compliment all of our families who were able to stay where they were living longer than expected.”

Kurzawa said even with the delays, there was no doubt all the projects would be completed because of the dedicated volunteers.

“Everybody stayed the course,” he said. “When (the volunteers) get involved, they really get involved. They support the families very much.”

Jillian Berg along with her two children, Payton and Sebastian, said the whole process has been a blessing and they really appreciate the work done by Habitat volunteers.

“I can’t thank the volunteers enough,” she said. “They’ve become like our family.”

To find out more information about Habitat or to volunteer, visit chqhabitat.org.