CALLICOON — Thanks to the generosity, skill and community spirit of a crew of retired tradesmen who have dubbed themselves the “Retired Renovators,” the Delaware Youth Center (DYC) in Callicoon has a brand-new meeting room.

Led by Craig Schumacher, a longtime subcontractor with over 50 years in the business, the group took on the challenge of transforming the previously neglected space. DYC Secretary Peg Luty said, “The meeting room never got done. It was just a real eyesore…We had renovated the bathrooms and the office, but the meeting room had exposed pipes…[and] blinds that came over on the Mayflower.”

Schumacher saw an opportunity to give back. 

“I’ve been around the business for fifty years, so I know how the components go together,” he said. After reviewing the room, he drew up a design plan with input from the DYC board and recruited a team of skilled volunteers: electrician Dave Calkin, cabinetmaker Roy Omara, and all-around handyman Pete La Fleur.

“The great thing about this group is how smoothly everything went,” Schumacher said. “We all have decades of experience and we just worked together. No headbutting, just get it done.”

Working only from 9 a.m. to noon, the team completed the job in eight weeks, which was well ahead of schedule. They gutted the walls, custom-built trim and radiator covers, added soffit lighting and coordinated colors and materials with DYC board members. Even the fine details—like custom window blinds and hidden piping—were handled with care and precision.

In addition to his time, Schumacher also donated the bulk of the materials for the renovation. 

“There was no formal budget,” he said. Between Schumacher, Calkin, Omara, and La Fleur, the cost of the project was mostly covered, though the youth center picked up the bill for some of the smaller odds and ends.

“We hadn’t really rented it out before because I was a little embarrassed by the condition,” Luty said. “Now it’s worth the $125 rental fee.”

While the transformation of the meeting room is complete, the work at the Delaware Youth Center is far from over. “There’s a lot of things to be done around here,” Schumacher said. “I’d like to see more contractors come in and just give a little bit back to the community.”

Luty echoed that sentiment, noting recent upgrades to the outdoor courts and a growing sense of momentum. “Stuff is getting done,” she said. “And I’m really proud of that.”