Days are numbered for the iconic Plum Island landmark known as the Pink House, and dozens of people gathered in Newbury, Massachusetts, Sunday to bid farewell to the century-old structure that has captured the hearts and imaginations of locals for generations.
The house, a beloved subject for artists and a fixture in the community, is slated for demolition by U.S. Fish and Wildlife by the end of the month, despite years of efforts by a local nonprofit to save it.
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"I've been coming to the Pink House ever since I was a child," said Peyton Searles, an Amesbury resident who has the building tattooed on her arm.
The nonprofit Support the Pink House fought to preserve the structure for more than a decade, but numerous land trade deals fell through. The decision to demolish the house has not only sparked public outcry, it's drawn dozens of people to the Plum Island Turnpike to say goodbye.
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"There's constantly someone here," said board member Kelly Page. "No matter what time of day, people come at night do their night shots."
Rochelle Joseph, another board member, expressed disappointment with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
"What we're really sorry about is that Fish and Wildlife didn't do the right thing by this community that they ask to support them through donations, through volunteers," Joseph said.
Gov. Maura Healey had paused demolition plans in October, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife recently reaffirmed its decision to proceed. The government agency even turned down an anonymous million-dollar offer to restore the house.
"They'd rather demolish it using everyone's tax dollars," Searles said.
The government acquired the nine-acre property and the Pink House for $375,000 in 2011. Environmental officials cite asbestos as the primary reason for demolition, but organizers argue that the asbestos has already been remediated.
"We were able to see all the reports and even the remediation folks said wow it was way overblown," Joseph said.
As demolition looms, the Newburyport Turnpike has become a site of pilgrimage, with people taking final photos of the beloved landmark.
"It makes us realize the fight we took on — not the fight, the mission we took on not knowing it would be a fight — was really on behalf of all these people," Joseph said. "And it shows us that it was worth it all."
NBC10 Boston has reached out to U.S. Fish and Wildlife for an exact date of demolition but has yet to receive a response. It is expected to come down by the end of March.
