Hammond Harwood House Scheduled To Receive TLC

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- You have to look no farther than Annapolis to find what is considered the best preserved example of a home from British colonial times.

But, as Mike Schuh reports, a 242-year-old house is in need of some expensive TLC.

A block away from the capitol, it was built to be an impressive party house.

"When this house was built, the man who built it, Mathias Hammond, was the Justin Bieber of his day: 25 years old, had more money than he knew what to do with," said Shawn Herne, executive director.

Hammond lived in Gambrils but during the time of George Washington, he entertained his colleagues in the legislature there. The conditions are perfect to view the home: perfect because it's wet and water is any home's enemy.

An authentic patina on the hand-carved custom everything is fine--unrelenting attack by the elements is not.

"We're having water infiltration, literally, because the mortar is disintegrating between the bricks and you can see powder," said Herne.

Inside, the sky is falling.

"Well, this is our kitchen, and it's actually facing one of our bigger challenges now because the plaster is, as you see, is starting to come down. We have these supports that are holding up the entire ceiling," said Herne.

It's a $15,000 job.

"They're original, 242 years old. They're starting to show real serious issues. This is a fascinating piece because this is called a jib door, and what you would do is you would open the window and then this piece down here opens up," said Herne.

The price tag to rebuild this mechanical and visual slight of hand--and the many other windows--is $150,000. And that's why there is a tent in place for Saturday.

"The garden party is one of our major fundraisers to address some of these issues," said Herne.

Preserving history isn't cheap; overall, $300,000 is needed.

That celebration party is $125 to attend. It happens Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Hammond Harwood House.