Effort to save historic house falls short

City officials say the Tappan House, home of jewelry magnate Charles Tappan, will be demolished by year-end after plans to move it fell through. The three-story, 27-room colonial revival mansion built in 1901 belongs to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, which wants to tear it down for an expansion project. A deal was worked out to move the house to a nearby plot being sold by a jewelry firm. The company bowed out of the project about a week ago. Mayor Kevin Dumas told The Sun Chronicle he is heartbroken by the news. Historical Commission chairwoman Marian Wrightington says she is disappointed that the city will lose an architectural treasure. (AP)