Volunteer workers place siding on the addition to the Leach family barn. (Photograph courtesy of Debbie Swaffield) A group of friends turned a tragedy into a demonstration of neighborly kindness as nearly 60 people gathered to help the Leach family of Hessel build an addition to their barn.

Suzie Leach and her children, Kevin and Stephanie, lost a husband and father, Jesse Leach, when he died as the result of an accident in September. Mr. Leach had been preparing to build a large addition to the family’s barn, and bought all the materials the week before his death. Mr. Leach’s friend and employer, Tim LaForest of River Country Stone in Hessel, organized an impromptu “barn raising” with the help of some of Mr. Leach’s friends, including Jimmy Lee of Hessel, Goose Windsor of Les Cheneaux Dock and Dredge, Carl Reich of Pickford, and Steve Autore of Cedarville, among many others who came forward to offer assistance. Yogi Gugin and J.C. Cardinal of Mackinac Island also helped, and Brian Bloswick, who owns Brian’s Barbecue on Mackinac Island, donated hot dogs and bratwursts for the day-long event. Mr. Leach worked for many years on Mackinac Island, and drove horse teams on the Island, Pickford, and in the Les Cheneaux area.

A group of volunteer builders gather in front of the almost finished barn addition that nearly doubled the size of the Leach family’s barn in Hessel. The addition provides more room for Suzie Leach to board horses. (Photograph courtesy of Debbie Swaffield) Friends and family of the Leaches gathered Saturday, September 24, to build the 20-foot by 24-foot addition to the barn. Most of the families who came brought food to sustain the workers throughout the day.

“We had a big turnout, starting at about 9 a.m., and we got it done around 6 p.m.,” Mr. LaForest said. “A group of us is planning to go back and finish the stalls inside one of these days, too.”

The resulting steel pole building is large enough to include five horse stalls, a storage area, and a tack area. Mrs. Leach boards horses at their 20-acre home in Hessel, and the additional stalls will allow her to board more.

“The extra income will help Suzie now be able to rent out more stalls to people and bring in more income,” Mr. LaForest said. “Now she can take in four to five more horses if she wants to.”

The addition comes just in time for the birth of a new foal, Mrs. Leach said.

“One of the reasons Jesse was trying to get this done now was because we have a horse in foal who’s due any day now,” Mrs. Leach said. “They did a great job, and it was great to have all of Jesse’s friends get together and finish something he started, and just for all of us to get together.”

Mrs. Leach is a riding enthusiast and she particularly enjoys spending time around the horses. She has given some riding lessons, and she has enjoyed the times children come to their place to see and ride the horses.

“Jess would be very appreciative and proud of all his friends for pulling together to finish our project,” she said. “I sincerely thank everyone who came out and helped.”

Mrs. Leach said she was overwhelmed by the number of people who brought food to the event and donated materials and time.

Mr. LaForest said a lot of people “loved Jess,” and there were people working on the construction project “who didn’t even know him.”

“They just heard about it and wanted to help out someone in need,” Mr. LaForest said.