Thousands Tour Home Built For Septuplets

About 3,500 people - slightly more than the town’s population - toured a 6,400-square-foot house Sunday that will be home to the McCaughey septuplets.

“It’s curiosity, of course,” said Joan Benscoter of Oskaloosa. “Plus, it’s a celebration of the miracle that the whole seven lived.”

A year ago on Nov. 19, Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey became parents of the world’s first living set of septuplets. To help the couple, scores of businesses and residents contributed materials, services, money and land to build them a new home.

The McCaugheys held a housewarming as a show of thanks, and the line of curiosity seekers wrapped five blocks down for five hours. About 700 people an hour took the free 10-minute tour of the seven-bedroom, 4-1/2-bathroom, 15-closet house.

Most who signed the guest book were from central Iowa, although some came from as far away as Ontario, Canada.

“This house is like a dream house,” said 8-year-old Susie Goulette of Minneapolis, who visited with her grandmother.

The main floor houses the living room, dining room, study and family room, a spacious kitchen and a laundry room. The basement features a 648-square-foot play room, two bedrooms and space for a future laundry room.

The upstairs features five bedrooms ranging in size from 220 square feet to the 362-square-foot master bedroom and two bathrooms. One has a Roman tub.

An intercom system connects the various parts of the house.

Big sister Mikayla, who is almost 3, and brothers and sisters Kenneth, Alexis, Natalie, Kelsey, Brandon, Nathan and Joel also have a playground in the back yard.

“If people knew what kind of people the McCaugheys are, people will understand … that nobody will appreciate it as much as they would,” said Donovan Baber, 82, who lives three blocks away.

The house is a far cry from the McCaughey’s original plans.

“We were going to build an addition to their house, as a church family,” said Ginny Brown, who has helped coordinate the volunteer effort through Missionary Baptist Church, which helps care for the babies.

“We prayed for three things, a vehicle large enough to carry their family in, a home that was large enough and enough to support the children,” Brown said. “Looks like God is going to provide all these things.”

The car dealership that McCaughey works for donated a 15-seat van the day after the babies were born. And the couple hopes their book, “Seven From Heaven,” as well as other deals continue to provide enough money to care for the children.