Debbie Houck, our volunteer in the spotlight this month, hit a special milestone earlier this year: 20 years of service to the Martin House. Even after all this time, the estate still takes her breath away.
A lifelong resident of North Buffalo, Debbie taught in the Buffalo Public Schools for more than 30 years. She and her husband raised four children, and Debbie was very active in school life. When her youngest was ready for high school, Debbie realized she was ready to give back to the larger community in a meaningful way – and lucky for us a friend suggested the Martin House.
Debbie is one of our volunteer retail associates and has helped visitors from all over the world leave the estate with the perfect memento from the Martin House Museum Store. In the early years, the store was located in the Barton House, which she recalls being cozy and warm. Today, she loves spending time in the store’s permanent home in the Carriage House.
“I still remember the beautiful fall day and all of the dignitaries in attendance as we celebrated the completion of the Carriage House, Conservatory, and Pergola reconstruction,” said Debbie. “I remember thinking ‘Buffalo did it – we really did it!’”
Like many of our volunteers this year, Debbie has missed spending time on site. To stay connected, she and her husband enjoy frequent walks past the Martin House.
“During this challenging time, we have captured lots of pictures of the landscape and witnessed how many visitors have spent time exploring the grounds during the past 10 months.”
Thank you, Debbie, for your countless hours in the Museum Store and for your commitment to our great city.
Interested in hearing about volunteer opportunities at the Martin House?
