OXFORD TWP. — Two-and-a-half years after a semi truck drove the Oxford Twp. House from West High Street to Hueston Woods, organizers of that effort finally had a chance to celebrate the preservation of the historic home.

The Oxford Twp. House was dedicated in front of about 70 people at Pioneer Farm in a special ceremony with music, refreshments and plenty of reminiscing Friday, June 18.

“This Township House would have been torn down without volunteers,” said Diana Durr, a member of the committee who organized the move from 115 W. High St.

The community effort to save the house started several years ago, when plans to develop its lot threatened to demolish the historic property. The Oxford Museum Association came forward with a suitable use for the house as a learning center at Pioneer Farm, home to other 19th Century structures.

The re-use is “a major career change” for the building — as John Curry, president of the museum association, put it.

Thought to originally have been built as early as the 1850s as a gun shop during or after the Civil War, the house was used for 70 years as a meeting spot for the Oxford Twp. Trustees until 1960. After that, several businesses used the building until it was left vacant for its last years Uptown.

“This building will also greatly expand our on-site display capability,” Curry said. “The Museum Association is very grateful for this treasure.”

Getting the house to Pioneer Farm was no simple task. Weather delayed the move several times and there was an endless amount of paperwork and other problems.

Finally, on Dec. 20, 2007, a semi truck took the house from 115 W. High St. to Hueston Woods — where it was repurposed with pictures, a display case, meeting table and more.

“It took a lot of elbow grease and donations,” said Laura Henderson, who served on the preservation committee. “It’s still amazing to me that we did it.”

“We were sad to lose it when we moved it, but we’re very happy it’s found a new home here,” said Michael Smith, committee member.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or mengle@coxohio.com.