Home dismantled, but repurposed

An iconic home located in the heart of Harrison has been dismantled this week. The house at 1402 Speer Drive was built in 1874. It has been standing tall in a clearing surrounded by virgin timber for generations — a quiet reminder of years gone by, as the town has gone through much growth and many changes around it.
The Harrison School District purchased several acres of land, which included the structure, last fall. Due to concerns over safety, the district elected to have the deteriorating building dismantled. Superintendent Stewart Pratt told the Times that the structure was too much of a safety hazard to leave in place, as the roof and floor had begun caving in.
The dismantling project went to bid in December, with three bids being submitted. DSR Excavations won the job.

Dean Shatwell of DSR Excavations has made an effort to see to it that the materials pulled from the building are not simply discarded. Shatwell is a lifetime resident of the community and knows first hand how the house has long been a fmiliar site for many. Regarding preserving as much of the materials as possible, Shatwell shared, "That was our main purpose of taking this job, to repurpose as much as we could."
Arrangements have been made with many local citizens to repurpose items from the building — such as windows, trim pieces, and more. A local school teacher will repurpose an old stone well cap from the property in her own garden, where it can remain in use for many years to come.