Work begins on decaying ‘pink house’

CORNWALL — Work has begun on the restoration of the “pink house.” 

The notable home in the center of West Cornwall has been vacant since a fire in January 2008 that caused moderate damage. Some stabilization work was done and the roof sealed, but water damage inside was left to molder and the historic home was eventually condemned.

A dumpster is parked on the front lawn and is quickly filling as new owners Libby Mitchell and Jim Herity began late last week removing the rotted front porch, as ordered by the building official. A back deck is soon to follow.

“It’s become a safety hazard,” Mitchell said. “We have a facade grant from the town that will pay for much of the work, as long as we get it done by Nov. 1.”

The grant is a reimbursement. 

The couple is forging ahead despite the resistance of former owner Maura Smithies, who claims the Dec. 30 sale from Landmark Trust was illegal. She has not filed a threatened lawsuit. 

She does maintain lifetime use of the property. After the fire, she moved to a barn apartment on the property and has since declined an offer to live there expense-free if she would give up any use of the main house.

Smithies called the State Police last week when work began. A trooper had already investigated her prior complaints that the couple was trespassing and found no reason to open a new case. 

Mitchell and Herity, who live nearby on River Road, plan to move their West Cornwall Publishing Company to the pink house and to host public events there.