The remains of Springhill, an 18th century Mathews home which had been heavily damaged in a 2003 fire, were demolished on Saturday.

Doris Lennon, owner of the property on Put-In Creek just south of Mathews Court House, said “I was sorry it had to come down,” but indicated that too much time had passed to attempt any repair, if it had been possible.
The 2003 fire was attributed to electrical causes, which Lennon said were caused by squirrels getting into the structure and chewing the wires.

Lennon said the property had previously been listed for sale and that three couples had separately shown interest in buying it and attempting repairs, but could not get financing, in the years immediately after the fire. Her husband, Dr. William K. Lennon, had also hoped to start over but she said the project was overwhelming. Dr. Lennon died in 2012.

The original part of the rambling frame and brick structure was constructed in 1774 by Richard Billups for Samuel Williams, according to a history in the Gazette-Journal after the fire.

Shepard G. Miller purchased the property in 1932 and it remained in his family until the Lennons bought it in 1972. They carried out extensive renovations including addition of a brick façade over the old frame front of the home.

Bob Warren of Redart, a descendant of Shepard Miller, took a few photos of the piles of rubble to send to his cousins. He spent many summers on the property when he was growing up and said, “What a tragedy for a grand old place to come to an end like this.”

Doris Lennon, who lives elsewhere on the property now, expressed a lingering regret at the loss. “I loved it so much … It was a beautiful home and I was sorry it had to come down,” she said.