ATHOL - The banks said no. The insurance money didn't stretch far enough.

But that's not stopping Howard White.

In a quixotic effort, the owner of the Saddle Up Grill Steakhouse that burned down in 2008 is rebuilding his livelihood one load of lumber at a time.

The wind-bitten days this week found the 55-year-old where he has been for the past two months: On the site of his Athol restaurant, where he's personally constructing a new frame with a handful of volunteers.

"We're going on a wing and a prayer," White said Tuesday.

The insurance money that came through last year didn't cover the reconstruction of the restaurant, White said.

Of the roughly $250,000, nearly all went toward repaying the lien on the property, he said, and the rest to clear up the debt he and his wife accumulated during their year of joblessness.

The banks refused to finance the construction, he added.

So White settled on the only option left.

Start from scratch.

After raising a few thousand dollars with a barbecue benefit, he started construction this February by himself, falling back on his building background.

He has been joined by about six others, just friends and fans of his barbecued ribs, who pitch in for free.

"They work during the week and on their days off they'll come and help," White said. "It's unbelievable. I'm just shocked they would care so much that they would do that."

Even with his experience, he admitted the construction hasn't been easy work.

He started working out at the Kroc Center about a month ahead to get into shape, he said, and now exercises daily at 5 a.m. before heading to the construction site.

"I've lost probably 35 pounds over this period," he said with a chuckle. "So that helps."

But there's so much left.

The crew has yet to start on the building's siding, roofing, electrical and plumbing, not to mention flooring and interior.

Every weekend he holds another barbecue fundraiser at the restaurant site, where he throws ribs and burgers and hot dogs on a smoker by the building frame to raise enough to take him through the next week's construction.

"I'm hoping once I get to a certain point the banks might say, 'Oh, OK. You've got three quarters of a building there, we can help you out,'" he said.

White had owned the Saddle Up Grill for about three years when it burned down in December 2008. He had worked as the restaurant's cook while his wife waited tables.

"It was our livelihood," he said.

White holds barbecue fundraisers from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday and Saturday at the Saddle Up site at 5751 East Highway 54.

"I just keep going," he said. "God will make a way to see us through. That's kind of my attitude."