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WILKES-BARRE — The city’s oldest house needs a little help from well-wishers.
A bingo party fundraiser has been set for Saturday evening to generate cash for the ongoing restoration of the Zebulon Butler House, a relic of one of the city’s earliest families that dates to 1793.
The event will be held at King’s Pizza and Restaurant, 49 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top. Doors open at 4 and bingo begins at 4:15 p.m., with a $25 donation covering 11 games of bingo and prizes of Initials, Inc. products such as bags, totes and purses.
Pizza and soft drinks also are included and a cash bar will also be available.
Joanne Joseph, an independent creative partner with Initials, Inc. is hosting the fundraiser. In addition, the Shawnee Fort Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will have a variety of cookbooks on hand for sale.
Tony Brooks, Director of the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society and Curator of the Zebulon Butler House Museum, will speak about its history
What’s special about the house on South River Street?
Col. Zebulon Butler, a leader among Connecticut settlers in Wilkes-Barre, initially built a log cabin for his family in 1773. Twenty years later his son, General Lord Butler, built the current frame house incorporating parts of his father’s log cabin.
Four generations of the Butler Family lived in the house at its original site until 1868, when it was moved from Northampton and South River to Ross and South River.
Brooks and others saved the home from demolition in 2017.
He gives much credit to Rebecca Schmitt, supervisor of the Osterhout Free Library South Branch whose husband overheard workers talking about the demolition and then called Brooks.
“I think we are defined as a society not just by what we build but by what we tear down,” Schmitt said Monday.
Brooks said some exterior painting and landscaping have been done, together with some interior demolition. The plan is to restore the house to its 1810s appearance so it can be enjoyed as a museum with interpretive and community space.
Tickets for this weekend’s event can be purchased from Linda Joseph by calling 570-823-0626.