Effort underway to save Newburgh's little red-brick house

NEWBURGH, Ind. (AP) - Unlike in fairy tales, a little red-brick house that sits along Jennings Street in Newburgh isn't the backdrop of the story, but rather, the main character - and no one wants to blow it down.

Some Newburgh residents have gathered together to save the red brick house at 519 W. Jennings St. and move it to another location. The property was sold earlier this year, and the new owner wants to make use of the land.

Historic Newburgh Inc. and the town of Newburgh are partnering to save what the Indiana Historic Architectural and Archaeological research database calls a "notable" house.

The one-room house is layered with sun-dried bricks on the inside. Historians believe the house could have been built as early as 1820, said Jim Renne, one of the people trying to rescue the house.

Renne said they believe the sun-dried bricks were preserved because the house also had an outer layer of red bricks.

"It probably represents ... the only example of sun-dried bricks still existing," Renne said. "It would be an example of one of the earliest buildings built here."

Additions were made to the house throughout the years, and the original brick structure wasn't visible, he said. From his understanding, Renne said a fire in the early 1960s helped unveil the original structure. Later, the family that owned the house tried to restore it.

Ice House, Tack House and the Mortuary Museum are some of the house's previous names.

The house will be moved to either by the Aurand Trailhead or by the Old Lock and Dam Park. Renne said it's more likely to be moved to the Old Lock and Dam location and will be taken as one piece instead of being disassembled. Renne has reached out to local contractors for quotes.

The house was donated to the town, contingent on the community coming up with the money to move it, Renne said.

Ken Oliver, who's organizing ways to raise money to move the home, said he thinks the community needs as much as $40,000 to save the home and move it to its new location.

"To me, there's no reason in the world we should let it be demolished, even if it's a lowly little shed," he said. "In Newburgh, we have something that's very unique in history because most of the buildings here are antebellum - before the Civil War. A lot of that architecture simply does not exist."

Oliver said the new property owner has given the community six months to raise funds and move the house.

If people want to donate to help move the house, they can contact Historic Newburgh Inc. The nonprofit organization has an account set up for the red brick house. All donations will be tax deductible.

___

Source: Evansville Courier & Press, http://bit.ly/1R1Kv4H

___

Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com