HILLSBORO, Ohio — A historic 1830s-era home known as the Mother Thompson House will be demolished for a new home to be built on its spacious lot.

Owner Greg Rand told the Times Gazette of Hillsboro his original plan was to build a new home inside the original exterior walls. He said he would build a new roof to replace the rotted roof and repair the foundation. That plan was abandoned after the house started to fall during construction.

“It’s just crumbling away,” Rand said. “It’s just too far gone.”

The house was home to an early temperance leader, Mother Eliza Jane Thompson. The house was built by her father, former Ohio Governor Allen Trimble.

Tax records showed the home was built in either 1831 or 1832, despite a plaque showing a different date in front of the home. Thompson moved out when she got married, but returned home in 1862 and lived there until her death in 1905. All of Mother Thompson’s children were born in the home, according to a local historian.

Pauline Rand said she did not want to demolish the building due to its local significance.

“I was born and raised in this town, and I couldn’t take the people being mad at me,” she said.

Several parts of the home will be salvaged including the stone foundation, front doors and metal nails.

First Published May 23, 2017, 3:08 p.m.