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The Friends of Captain Scott Committee had raised enough pledges by last week to meet a March 16 deadline to relocate the Captain Scott house, currently located at the corner of state routes 37 and 161.

Following a successful Civil War Supper and Auction March 10, which raised $9,300, the committee received $5,000 pledges from both American Electric Power and Park National Bank last week.

The pledges have made it possible for the Alexandria Community Council to sign the house mover's contract and meet the Ohio Department of Transportation's March 16 commitment to move the house, said Donna Herring, who chairs the committee.

The site where the home currently sits is included in phase two of the state Route 161 widening project.

An additional $18,000 still needs to be raised in the next month to complete the relocation, but Herring said the once grand Victorian home is no longer in danger of demolition.

"To make over $9,000 at the supper/auction, we were so pleased," Herring said. "Everyone had a good time, too. I think we'll get it done. The committee is really committed to this project."

The additional $18,000 that's needed will go toward relocation expenses including the last $3,000 of the house mover fee, expenses associated with the move itself and costs associated with the new site.

Preparation of the house for the move is expected to begin in the next week. Bill Dingey, of Dingey Movers, Zanesville, said prep work will take about two weeks. He anticipates his company will be ready to roll the house away from its present position in the first week of April.

Fence line trees must be trimmed or removed along the path to the new site and a police escort will be necessary on the short stretch the house will travel on state Route 37.

Plumbing, heating and air conditioning must be installed for the basement, according to Herring. Utilities for the historic part of the house will be planned during the restoration phase.

"But there wouldn't be any restoration phase to think about without the $10,000 seed money given to us by an anonymous donor earlier in the month, the AEP pledge that gave us hope and a renewed determination, and this Park National pledge that allows us to meet the deadline," she added.

The home was built about 1870 for Joseph M. Scott, an outspoken abolitionist and locally prominent farmer and historian who earned his captainship in the Civil War. Current plans for the home are to use it as a public museum and community center after its restoration.

The new site for the home, on the west side of the village of Alexandria, has been donated by Brookside Materials/Kurtz Brothers of Columbus.

Most of the construction of a basement and other infrastructure has been offered in-kind: Aebersold Construction of Johnstown for footers, Endsley Grading & Drainage of Johnstown for excavation, Hutchinson Materials of Alexandria for the floor, Gutridge Electric of Newark for electrical service, Baker's Acres for landscaping, and Z Architectural Services for siting and drawings.

Other in-kind donations offered to help in the effort include preservation consulting, landscape design, interior design, photography, financial services, grant writing, and Web site design services.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Alexandria Community Council, Friends of Captain Scott Committee, P.O. Box 234, Alexandria 43001. Information is available from Herring by phone at (740-924-0516), by e-mail at CaptainScott@AlexandriaOH.org, or see the Web site at www.CaptainScottHouse.org.