PRINCETON — The future of a rare Princeton house and the history of the region hang in the balance of Circuit Judge William Sadler’s decision.

Representatives of the Mercer County Historical Society, Princeton property owner Elizabeth “Betty” Cutlip and the City of Princeton met in Mercer County Circuit Court Wednesday to weigh the potential benefits or loss of heritage if the historic Pearis-Johnston House is demolished.

“This house has housed some people who have made Princeton and Mercer County what they are today,” Mercer County Historian Patricia Smith said. “To lose this house would be a travesty.”

The City of Princeton’s Code Enforcement office, headed by Director William “Bill” Buzzo, has condemned the home, citing a potential safety hazard to the community, and Cutlip, the property owner, has contractors in place ready to rip the home apart, leaving almost two acres of land available for some sort of development.

The Mercer County Historical Society, however, has filed a motion for an injunction, asking the court to stop the demolition in the name of historical preservation.

“I feel like I’m in the fight for my life to save history right now,” Mercer County Historical Society President Lois Miller told the court, pleading for help.

Sadler has pledged to rule on the matter next Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 2:30 p.m., but he encouraged the three parties involved to attempt to reach a resolution amenable to all parties before that time.

•••

The Pearis-Johnston House, originally built as a log cabin by Rebecca Clay and George Pearis in 1834, is the oldest house still standing inside the city of Princeton. In fact, a portion of the cabin was lost in 1862, when Confederate troops and sympathizers burned the community to keep the Union troops moving south from Flat Top from gaining access to the stores of resources housed inside the structures.

A rear segment of the cabin and the foundation remained in place, until approximately 1870, when David Johnston added onto the original portion of the cabin and sided the entire house.

In addition to its shear longevity, Smith and the Mercer County Historical Society argue that the home’s inhabitants add to its historical value.

Rebecca Clay Pearis was the granddaughter of Phoebe Belcher and Mitchell Clay — Mercer County’s first settlers. Through the years, the home remained in the hands of Clay descendants, and when the Johnston family added on to the house, it became the home of a state legislator, a town lawyer and the man who helped found what is now the Princeton First Baptist Church, First Community Bank, a legendary historian and more.

The home was also allegedly the site of a visit from either Frank or Jesse James as the notorious bank robbers planned a heist. As the tale goes, whichever James brother made the trip opted not to rob the town after visiting with Johnston and possibly enjoying dinner inside the Pearis-Johnston House. On version of the fable includes a brief interlude in which Frank James allegedly played a piano inside the Pearis-Johnston home.

Increasing the heritage capital on the property, Smith told the court that one of the Pearis descendants built the city’s first post office on the property behind the home.

•••

Historical preservation consultant Michael Gioulis also testified during Wednesday’s hearing, telling the court that he has not had the opportunity to examine the interior of the structure but would be willing to do so in a bid to gauge the integrity of the structure and the feasibility of restoration.

Gioulis is very familiar with the Princeton community. He was an integral part in the revitalization of East Mercer Street and worked alongside Miller and the MCHS as they attempted to save the 1880s-era Peck House that was ultimately demolished to make room for more parking adjacent to the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home on Honaker Avenue.

He estimated that he has worked to help save between 500 and 700 historic structures, including several that were situated in otherwise residential neighborhoods, like the area surrounding the Pearis-Johnston House.

During questioning by MCHS attorney Henry Sanders, Gioulis emphasized that he has not been allowed inside the house, but from the outside, he believed the home could be rescued.

“From the exterior, it looks similar to hundreds I’ve seen,” he said.

“Hundreds that have been saved?” Sanders asked, to which, Gioulis answered, “Yes.”

If permitted to do so, Gioulis estimated he could do a thorough inspection and analysis of restoration efforts within a month.

•••

Although Cutlip has reportedly hoped to sell the property and the home for several years, neither she, nor her late husband, Richard, accepted any offers that were extended.

Miller testified that Richard Cutlip once quoted the Historical Society a price of $400,000 for the home, the outbuildings and the four lots of land included at the site. After Richard Cutlip’s death, Miller testified that Elizabeth Cutlip contacted her and increased the sales price to $500,000, a price Miller said her organization thought was “a little steep.”

At various other times, Miller told the court that she believed Cutlip had been offered $200,000 for the Pearis-Johnston House and approximately half of the land that surrounds it; and $110,000 for the house, the post office and one fourth of the land on the lot.

According to Miller, none of those offers were met with agreement.

“There were four offers that I’m aware of,” she testified.

Cutlip did not testify during Wednesday’s hearing, and she was not available for comment afterward.

County Commissioner A. Gene Buckner was called to the stand, where he emphasized he was not speaking for his two fellow commissioners nor making any statement binding for the governing body.

His questions focused on the Mercer County Commission’s willingness to seize the property through eminent domain rules — under which Cutlip would be reimbursed only the value determined by an assessor.

Such seizures are usually employed to build roadways, dams or other infrastructure that will improve the quality of life for the community. In this instance, the Historical Society argued the move would preserve the past for future generations.

However, he said, “I think there’s no problem with me saying we would take this under consideration.”

•••

Cutlip’s attorney was not present for the injunction hearing, but a brief he filed was referred to once during the hearing, during which a court official indicated he believed the Historical Society had ignored the home’s deterioration for years and made no efforts to save it prior to the demolition order.

Miller countered during her testimony that was not true, since another preservation society reported in 2009 that its members planned to preserve the house for their meetings, events and a museum.

“We’ve always wanted somebody to preserve that house,” she said. “We would’ve loved to have had that house years ago.”

The City of Princeton Code Enforcement Department inspected the Pearis-Johnston House in August 2011, at which time, Buzzo reported that Cutlip hoped to sell the property. In December 2012, when the property had not sold and the home had continued to deteriorate, Buzzo said the house was condemned.

“The city didn’t order her to tear it down,” Buzzo clarified. “Condemnation means one of two things: Either fix it up or tear it down.”

He said he believed repair and restoration were unrealistic, given the cost of repairs.

Princeton Attorney Paul Cassell asked the judge to dismiss the motion for injunctive relief filed by the Mercer County Historical Society, arguing that the MCHS has no right to tell Cutlip what to do with the real estate that has reportedly remained vacant for decades.

“This is private property owned by Mrs. Cutlip. It’s not public property,” Cassell said, adding that the MCHS belief that it could raise  enough funds through grants and sales to save the house is “purely speculation.”

He said the historical society has “no legitimate interest of any kind” in the property, no matter the history of the home.

Additionally, Cassell repeatedly questioned Historical Society representatives whether the house had ever been placed on the National Register of Historic Places or with the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. It has not, reportedly because doing so requires the consent of the property owner, which Cutlip has allegedly declined.

Countering Cassell’s request, Sanders asked the court for a stay of demolition spanning at least 90-120 days — enough time to allow Gioulis to inspect the home, the Historical Society a chance to seek out potential funding sources and Cutlip an opportunity to change her mind.

“This is a structure that cannot be replaced,” he said.

Sanders recognized the fact that the house may be beyond repair.

“If that’s the case, it puts an end to it right there,” he said.

Sanders urged the court to consider the historical significance of the property, which would be lost forever, if the house is demolished.

Regarding the reality that the home and property have been for sale for years without success, Sanders replied, “That may be because she’s pricing it as though it was the Taj Mahal.”

•••

While the property debate was waged, Miller said MCHS has established a fund at First Community Bank, where supporters may contribute to the effort to save the house and property.

She estimated Wednesday that the fund contained between $20,000 and $50,000, but she was not positive.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.