Most of the 220 residents in the small Oregon Outback town of Paisley have a story to tell about Dennis O’Leary, who works with heavy equipment for a living, but tries to save every old board he comes across.

He often talks about his preservation ideas that involve finding a new purpose for a forlorn structure and using the salvaged building materials that fill up his shop.

But even his wife, Mollie, was surprised when he said he wanted to save the 1900 Woodmen of the World Hall from the wrecking ball, move it across the town’s Main Street to their land, and remake it as their home.

Sixteen years ago, some townspeople considered it a folly — a waste of money — when Dennis paid $100 for the abandoned building made of old-growth pine.

But that was then.

The O’Learys’ charming white-clap

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