Officials with the City of Washington are attempting to work with the owner of the historic Mayo House at 312 Water Street to begin refurbishing it.

The city enacted its Demolition by Neglect Ordinance in 2012 to remove the historical house. The city had ordered the house to be torn down, but now wants to begin working with the owner to make it livable once again.

“The city is attempting to work with the owner,” said Jennifer Brennan, Washington community development planner.

In Oct. 2013, the city pursued tax liens and penalties against the homeowner, William Henry.

Recently, the structure was boarded up and the front porch was torn down to keep the house safe.

“It is a process with many steps and several city offices were involved,” a city newsletter stated. “Throughout the process, the goal is to get the owner to keep their property in good order, for the benefit of their neighbors and the district as a whole.”

In early 1999, Alton McCurley Wright purchased the property, but died later that same year. He left the house to his nephew, who currently still owns it, but he has let it sit vacant, and as time has passed, the property has deteriorated.

“However that (fixing it) happens, whether this owner does it or if this owner decides to sell it and get somebody else into the house to fix it up,” Brennan said. “That would be the idea to get somebody back into the home.”

According to the newsletter from the city, the house was sold several times throughout the years before Wright bought it. Throughout the houses life, it was mostly used a rental property.

Historical records showed an empty lot where the house sits and was owned by Anna MacNair. MacNair sold the property to T.I. and M.A. Warren in February 1887.  During the four years the Warren’s owned the property, a selling agreement indicates a house was built at some point.

According to Brennan, the exterior of the home is original with renovation made to the inside the building through the years.