Demolition on hold for historic Johnston House

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January 31, 2013

Demolition on hold for historic Johnston House

By TAMMIE TOLER Princeton Times The Zope Gazette Thu Jan 31, 2013, 05:38 PM EST

PRINCETON — A piece of Princeton’s past will remain a part of its future, for now at least.

On Thursday, Mercer County Historian Pat Smith reported that Circuit Judge William “Bill” Sadler granted a brief stay in the demolition of the historic Johnston House on West Main Street.

The home, reported to be deteriorating rapidly without restoration work, was previously slated by the City of Princeton’s Code Enforcement Department and its current owner, Betty Cutlip, for demolition. But, the Mercer County Historical Society, represented by attorney Henry Sanders, filed a motion for an injunction, based on the building’s historical significance.

Descendants of Mercer County’s first settlers, Mitchell and Phoebe Clay, built the house.

Daniel H. Pearis and his wife moved to Princeton and made their home here, while Daniel Pearis served as the community’s first postmaster, beginning in April 1838. The area’s first post office was located on the lot across from the Princeton Presbyterian Church, on the same property now occupied by the Johnston House.

In 1862, when the Confederate troops set fire to the town to keep advancing Union forces from setting up a stronghold in Princeton, all but the foundation and a rear part of the Pearis house burned. The Robert B. McNutt House is the only other structure still standing that survived the Civil War fire.

After that, Daniel Pearis’s daughter, Sallie, married Judge David E. Johnston, who rebuilt the front portion of the previous Pearis House into what is now known as the Johnston House, sometime after 1870.

Judge Johnston was a central figure in the formation of the First Baptist Church in Princeton. He was also a founder, along with six others, of Princeton’s first bank in 1874.

It was at that bank that legend indicates Johnston may have met Jesse James’ brother, Frank.

There are several variations on the tale, but the most common version indicates Jesse James sent Frank east in search of more banks to plunder. Frank allegedly made a stop in Princeton, where he reportedly met with Judge Johnston and left town without robbing the bank.

Some say Frank took one look at the community still rebuilding from the war and decided there wasn’t enough money at stake to make a heist worth it. Others argue he learned of Johnston’s Confederate service during the Civil War and decided not to rob Princeton out of loyalty. And, still others claim he turned away because of the kind reception he received when Johnston invited him home for dinner and let the legendary outlaw tickle the ivories of the piano at the Johnston House.

Over the years, the home has fallen into several different owners’ hands, including several attempts by local historical organizations to purchase the home. Each time, however, the deals have fallen through.

In December, it was slated for demolition, and history buffs throughout the city sprung into action.

They’ll still have to prove, however, that the building can be saved and that there is funding to make such an effort feasible. Those are issues Sadler will reportedly take up next Wednesday, Feb. 6, during a 10 a.m. hearing on the issue.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.

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Demolition on hold for historic Johnston House

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