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Time is running out for historic house in Central Pa.

Options are shrinking and time is running out for a small citizens group seeking to keep the historic Justice William Smith House intact and in Mercersburg.

Bids to demolish -- or possibly relocate -- the building will be opened Oct. 28.

Among the bidders is likely to be an outdoor museum in Northern Ireland that would like to disassemble the structure and ship it to Europe. Under that scenario, the stone house would be rebuilt on the grounds of the Ulster American Folk Park in County Tyrone.

"I think we are getting close to the end of the line," said Karen Ramsburg, president of the Committee to Save the Justice William Smith House.

Folk park curator Phil Mowat has said that relocation of the Smith House to Northern Ireland would be a last resort if the building cannot remain in its original spot.

The regional fire department that owns the land on which the 18th century house stands bought the property last year with an eye to expanding its own aging facilities....
Read entire article at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette