The Thomas and Fanny Carlisle House, an original pioneer dwelling built in 1855 on what is now Main Street in Alpine City, was demolished on May 22, 2024.
The house’s fate, perhaps unintentionally, was sealed two years ago when the adjacent charter school purchased it for just under $1 million from a photographer who now sits on Mountainville Academy’s board.on what is now Main Street.
Kennedy recused herself “to avoid a conflict of interest” when the nine-member board’s other members voted to buy the land, Skousen said. “Unfortunately, due to its structural issues, its non-standard foundation, and multiple non-conforming additions that were done over time, wiring and other factors ... renovation would be prohibitively expensive and ultimately impractical,” board Chair Marisa Skousen previously told The Tribune.
“This proposal primarily aims to address traffic congestion issues on Main Street during student drop-off and pick-up times,” Merrill wrote. “Timing is extremely tight because the Carlisle was already supposed to be demolished last month,” Sleight continued at the time, adding that his hope was the City Council “can discuss and vote on this on January 9.”
“If we’re going to have to shift to a new location, that’s not as desirable because it’s not on Main Street, that’s fine, but it better be truly to protect this house and protect it for public use,” Sleight said. The historic Carlisle House, pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, one of Alpine’s few remaining original pioneer dwellings, will soon be demolished. The house built in 1855 was originally owned by Thomas and Fanny Carlisle.
Cadie Burton, an agent representing sculptor Dennis Smith, doesn’t exactly remember how she and Wadsworth connected. But when Smith heard about the children’s library idea, he saw it as the perfect space for a sculpture garden, a project that has been in the works for years, Burton said. The nonprofit would also sign a three-year lease with the city, paying $1 a year in rent. As part of the deal, The Friends of the Alpine City Library would have the option to buy the property for $762,000 within those three years, with the expectation that they would once they raised enough funds.