Demolition update

    Demolition of the house on Yarrow's property nears as the Commission of Fine Arts, which is composed of three architects, met on October 18 and found that the house "was allowed to deteriorate excessively over many years and recently damaged by a fallen tree such that its architectural integrity has been lost."  The city preservation office said in an email that based on this ruling it must issue a demolition permit.

From Yarrow's Obituary

     The house itself was not the one Yarrow lived in, but there may be items from his occupancy on the land.  For one thing, Yarrow was buried there.  For another thing, the bricks that make up the cellar are older than the house. In fact, they are handmade and probably date from his time.  Since Yarrow was a brick maker, he may have made them.  In addition, the floor of the cellar could contain items from his time and so could the yard.  The yard has an overburden of up to five feet of dirt dumped there when a swimming pool was put in another section of the yard.

Bricks in cellar are handmade

      Whether demolition of the house will disturb the grave, bricks, and other artifacts is unclear.  It depends on whether the demolition permit allows the cellar to be bulldozed and yard torn up.