Residents of Plum neighborhood hopeful outside cleanup is start of help for hoarder

Residents of a Plum community are hopeful the cleanup outside a hoarded house Thursday is the start of getting the woman who lives there the help they say she needs.

Residents of Plum’s Edgemeade neighborhood say it was about two years ago that the hoard inside retired school teacher Janice Stemler’s house began spilling out onto the lawn and driveway of her home on Shelbourne Drive.

Until then, they described the outside of the house as beautiful, immaculate even, and well kept.

“When I moved in, none of this was here,” said Debbie Wilson, who moved in across from Stemler about four years ago. “It was hidden inside.”

Plum’s code enforcement first cited her last October, according to court records. Six more citations came in March, but none had been acted upon at district court.

A group of frustrated residents took their concerns to Plum Council in early April, complaining about the eyesore, problems with rats, impact on property values and officials’ lack of action, but focused on getting Stemler help.

A turning point was reached, they say, when Stemler accepted offers of aid.

That included Mike McCloskey, owner of G.I. Haul Junk and Waste Removal in North Oakland. McCloskey and his brother, David, are veterans and started the business 13 years ago.

McCloskey said he was driven to volunteer his services after hearing a neighbor’s comment that she could not open her window blinds because of the conditions.

McCloskey said Stemler accepted their offer of help Wednesday, but she wasn’t home when they arrived Thursday. He, his crew and several neighbors waited a couple of hours for her to return because he said they could not do anything without her presence and approval.

Stemler allowed them to remove items from outside the house, including some things in the bed of her pickup, but would not let them inside, McCloskey said. According to neighbors, the three-car garage is full floor to ceiling, and the house also is hoarded, with only a narrow path leading from the front door to a couch.

A crew of about a dozen filled two trucks and a small roll-off dumpster. At one point, a snake was found in the driveway.

Stemler participated, as did several of her neighbors — all offering words of encouragement. Stemler posed for a photo with the crew, who gave her a G.I. Haul T-shirt.

“Today is a victory,” McCloskey said. “The neighbors made this happen.”

Stemler had been very resistant to help until now, Wilson said. Neighbors were going to band together to get a dumpster themselves before McCloskey and G.I. Haul stepped in.

“I’m very proud of her for taking this step, because I know it’s hard for her,” Wilson said.

The Salvation Army may be among other agencies getting involved. Spokeswoman Nicole Harrell said it is ready to assist and willing to coordinate with other parties in the community to support Stemler in clearing out items she has collected in her property.

Thomas Marzina, whose grandparents live across and up the street, said he would be happy to mow Stemler’s lawn if she keeps it clean.

Stemler has lived in her home since 1994, according to Allegheny County property records. Marzina said she and his grandparents were among the first to move into Edgemeade.

With her driveway cluttered, Stemler’s vehicles often were partially in the street, where Marzina said they had been hit.

“They’re happy she’s finally getting help,” Marzina said of his grandparents. “Now, hopefully, everything changes, she gets some help and it doesn’t happen again.”

Neighbors are hopeful that Stemler will continue to be receptive to help.

“She’s going to need some therapy to curb her desires to go out and recollect this stuff,” Wilson said.