The fate of one of Fulton’s oldest homes may be decided next week.

The Fulton Board of Aldermen will decide during their April 20 board meeting whether or not to accept a donation of the 150-year-old Gaither House on Main Street. The board discussed the proposed donation during their last meeting but agreed to table their decision in order to contemplate whether or not they wanted to assume ownership of the house.

If the board chooses to accept the house, it will allow local non-profit group Preserving Itawamba County’s Heritage to apply for grants under the city’s name. It will also place the house under the city’s blanket insurance policy.

If the board does not accept the home, it will likely be demolished.

“This is kind of a make-or-break point for us. We can’t afford to pay for both insurance and the money to move the house,” explained PICH president Joel Ewing. “We don’t want this home to be destroyed on our watch. It’s just one of those things, how you don’t even realize what you’ve lost until you’re unable to lay your hands on it … that’s why we want to save this house.”

The group is proposing the home be moved approximately 300 feet from its current location next to Fulton United Methodist Church, which owns the home. Although the property to which the house would be moved is also owned by the church, the extra space would allow for the future expansion of the church.

The church is willing to donate the house and property to the city should the aldermen choose to accept it.

The approximate cost to move the home is $20,000. Although PICH has already raised more than $10,000 through various fundraisers, the group needs the city’s help to apply for grants to secure the rest of the necessary funds.

According to Ewing, responsibility for the home’s upkeep would fall entirely upon the shoulders of the PICH, not the city. He said should PICH fail to raise enough money to maintain and improve the structure within three years, ownership would revert back to the church, and it would be demolished at no cost to the city.

“If the city is willing to take on this project, it’s really a no-lose situation,” Ewing said. “If we don’t preserve the home as we intend, then the property will revert back to the church, and they will have it demolished. No one has anything to deal with.”

After moving the house, the group plans to improve the basic structure and make it look pleasing. The building will then sit until the group has enough money to transform it into something viewable by the public.

“We want to get it where it looks nice when you drive by; it’s aesthetically pleasing to the community, and it just becomes a static landmark until we can do a full restoration,” Ewing said, adding that the proposed relocation destination is ideal. “It makes the most sense for us because it keeps the house facing Main Street and looking very similar to what it always has. If you’ve been gone for a while and came back, you probably wouldn’t even know it had been moved. So, it helps us maintain a lot of the historic perception of the home.”

Although the board seemed receptive to the idea of accepting the home, board members said they wanted a little time to consider. Several members expressed concerns about costs to the city, especially in the midst of a tight budget year.

“Are you asking for any upfront money,” Alderman Kevin Nolan asked Ewing, to which the latter responded, “No.

“We do understand that money’s tight right now,” Ewing said. “We will never allow this building to become a financial burden on the city. There will be very little cost associated with this.”

Ewing added that all expenses associated with moving, preserving and restoring the Gaither house would fall upon the PICH.

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141, by e-mailing adam.armour@itawamba360.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.