Crouse hopes to rebuild

Because Crouse's business is considered a "non-conforming use," he can only expand his business by 35 percent, which would allow him to expand his building to about 9,200 square feet.

Crouse said he was in the process of requesting permission from county planners to expand the building before fire consumed it Dec. 5.

More than 100 shops in the country sold Crouse's reproduction furniture and the 30 employees who worked in the shop were limited in working space, Crouse said.

"We were just elbow-to-elbow in there," Crouse said.

While Crouse waits for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, he is trying to put together a temporary production operation.

A building that was used for a showroom has been converted into a furniture waxing area, shipping room and office space, Crouse said.

Crouse has been insulating and running electrical service to two other storage sheds on the property in hopes of turning them into temporary production areas.

There was an outpouring of community support for Crouse after the fire destroyed his shop along W.Va. 480 near the intersection with W.Va. 9.

Crouse said he was able to make payroll for his 30 workers for 21/2 weeks after the fire thanks to cash donations that streamed in from private individuals and organizations such as local Rotary clubs.

Churches from Marlowe, W.Va. and Leetown, W.Va. each sent a pickup truck full of food to Crouse's home to be distributed to his workers.

A catering service in Martinsburg, W.Va. insisted that it not be paid for providing food at a Christmas party for Crouse's workers, he said.

"It may not be the best Christmas they had, but it wouldn't be the worst. The community has just been wonderful," Crouse said.