Historic home needs help to be saved

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- A historic home in New London destined to be demolished could be saved form the wrecking ball. A local furniture maker is working furiously to save it but he can't do it alone.

"This is the finesse part where you have to be very careful," Richard Humphreville said.

Humphreville is a cabinetmaker by trade and a history buff by choice. Passion fuels this latest project to save an Ocean Avenue home.

This part's going, this part's staying," Humphreville said.

The 20 by 21 foot front section of the classic Greek Revival built in 1829 is being stripped so it can be dismantled, each board numbered and then reassembled elsewhere.

"Metal tags so that we take it apart it's very systematic," Humphreville said.

Humphreville has done this a few times before but he can't do it alone. He is hoping volunteers will help save this historic home set to be demolished so the owner of Ocean Pizza next door can extend his driveway to the parking lot in back.

"If it weren't for him this building would have been torn down. He's been very patient. He has legitimate business needs to take this down," Humphreville said.

Time is running out before the wrecking ball takes over. Volunteers are asked to come for four hours at a time. They don't want to overwork them because they want them to return.

"I love old houses, this is great. I don't get to do this too much anymore," Andy Derr a volunteer said.

"It was built by Isaac Thompson and he was a prominent New England citizen," Humphreville said.

A piece of the past, this cabinetmaker says it is also an important part of the city's future.

"The rebirth of New London. It's a very difficult arduous task so I want to make it happen," Humphreville said.

He is hoping to be able to move it near his shop in Fort Trumbull, an area where many homes once stood.