From the Herald-Mail Friday February 18, 2011

MERCERSBURG, Pa. – Right now Dr. Paul Orange owns $49,500 worth of stone and dirt.

The Franklin County resident envisions those materials being formed piece by piece to rebuild Mercersburg’s Smith House, which is being dismantled to allow the local fire company to expand. He and other preservationists say the house played a role in the “Black Boys Rebellion of 1765″ uprising of settlers, the American Revolution and the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“It’s American history. It’s the story few people know,” Orange said. (more…)

These are from Tuesday Feb 15, 2011. Photos by Ed Beecher. Click the “FS” button for Full Screen and bigger images. And the “SL” button to start and stop the Slideshow.

These are from Monday Feb 14, 2011. Photos by Ed Beecher. Click the “FS” button for Full Screen and bigger images. And the “SL” button to start and stop the Slideshow.

Here’s some from Fridays work. Photos by Ed Beecher. Click the “FS” button for Full Screen and bigger images. And the “SL” button to start and stop the Slideshow.

Here’s a photo sequence of last weeks work submitted by Dan Guzy.

A few more from Thursdays work. Photos by Ed Beecher. Click the “FS” button for Full Screen and bigger images. And the “SL” button to start and stop the Slideshow.

From WHTM ABC27.com

One of Franklin County’s oldest homes is being demolished this week, but thanks to a local doctor, it will be rebuilt.

The William Smith House has stood along Main Street in Mercersburg since 1750, but last year the Mercersburg Fire Department purchased the property in an effort to expand.

Local historians fought to keep the Smith House intact, but couldn’t come up with the funds to move it.

Now Dr. Paul Orange of Chambersburg has fronted $50,000 of his own money to salvage it.

“The house is painstakingly being taken apart and moved to the other side of the road, and our plan is to build the house on another piece of property in Mercersburg,” said Orange.

The new location is still to be determined.

Orange said he plans to build a museum inside the home when it is finished. The entire project will cost approximately $250,000.

From the Public Opinion February 12, 2011

by Roscoe Barnes III

With the Smith House now almost gone from its site on Veterans Way, the Committee to Save the Justice William Smith House is switching gears to prepare for fundraising efforts and the building’s future home.

“We’ve changed from controversy to creativity,” said Jerry Ross, interim president of SJWSH. “The Committee to Save the Justice William Smith House has served its purpose. It was a rallying cry. Now we’re going to move on.”

On Friday, the demolition work was down to the first floor of the building. Another day or two and there will be nothing but a hole in the ground, said Ross.

“Very exciting. Very exciting,” he said.

Earlier this week, the committee hired Mark Dofflemyer of Mercersburg, a local stone mason, to assist R&D Enterprise Contractors Inc., Chambersburg, in dismantling the house so that it can later be reconstructed. (more…)

As of about noon. Click the “FS” button for Full Screen and bigger images. And the “SL” button to start and stop the Slideshow.

Here’s a few from todays work. Click “FS” for Full Screen and bigger images. “SL” for Slideshow.