European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 22, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday March 22, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 9 515-l j nil it. Spa k Kristen Nielsen. A lounges in the live or room. Ai right in the timbered Interior of heir House arc from left Vrankic and son rubble and Robert and Dag her Kristen a Houseful of headaches but a dream come Frue 8 Mark Moore suit writer Nordenstedt West Germany Boh and Frankie Nielsen wanted to buy a House in 1980, but in could t be just any House Bob had what Frankie called the seven year itch and he wanted a place that needed some fixing up. She wanted an investment. They looked at a Row House that did t need a thing. They weren t interested. Then they found what they d been searching fur in a Wiesbaden suburb but there were problems. In was built around 1620, it had someone else living in it and it needed major renovation. The Price tag was 300,000 Marks about $ 162,000. Now s Rynars and 500,000 Marks Worth of fishing up later inc two employees of the department of defense dependents schools have a showplace. But the evolution of inc. 17th-Century House into a 20th-Ccntur Home was anything but easy for the employees of Wiesbaden Middle school. At first there were financing hassles the Bank would Only go As 80 the Purchase Price so the previous owner agreed to finance the re roaming 60.000 Marks at-5 percent interest. The Niel Sens would t hear of it they insisted on 10 percent interest because 5 percent seemed Loo Low Hankie said. Another obstacle before Genig to work on the House was the niel5cnshinlienlcd tenants. A eight lived on the second floor and had been there for eight years the family s chickens lived in . The place was t liable at least not to our stand Ards Hob said. There were holes in the floor and tie family had Young children. It was t a very Safe place gelt i no Llic family to move que t was a two year ordeal a West German Law prohibits homeowners from putting a child out on the Street Hob explained. Bui German housing officials found the family a better place and they moved m july 1981. In the meantime the Nielsen lived across the court Yard ill a Small House on inc property. Bob added a room since quarters were tight and the Nielsen first child was beginning to roam. Today Kristin 8, and her 3- ear old brother Robbie have the run of a much larger Home the a the renters moved out Bob and Frankie started tearing he place apart. We gutted for two years Frankic said. Inside and out they removed All the plaster covering the solid Oak beams let. They Are lobbying their congressman m Hopes thai he Ean help. We it Pul our heart and soul into this i ran Kiesa id "1 t s Home although they plan to live in the United states when they retire Hob and Frankie would like o keep the House As their european Home. Obviously we would sell if we had to. Hul emotion ally we could never give in Frunk Esaid whale Var the future holds the couple does t Reg Rel inc work they be invested be cause of the people we have met and the experiences thai we have had fran Kie said. And those experiences Are it Eli to continue. When Spring is in full Bloom the courtyard with its Brick foundation is new on the Nielsen restoration Calendar
