TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Even though the most difficult part -- moving the three-story Spain House -- is already done, officials say their work is far from complete.
But now that it has been relocated to the corner of Carnation and Church streets, restoring the century-old home can begin once one crucial piece is finished.
"They have to finish the foundation. It's pretty well intact," Tupelo Historic Preservation Commission spokesperson Doyce Deas said. "There will probably be some additional pilings under the house."
Deas said the house's interior is far better preserved than what many see on the outside.
"Of course, when you have a structure that's been sitting empty for several years, deterioration does take place," Deas said. "It's so important now that it's all closed, it's dry, and we can -- as we have the funding -- go in there and do the work, but it's in amazing shape."
Not everything survived the journey, though. Those looming columns which could be seen on the front of the house broke apart after arriving.
Those will have to be replaced.
And the roof -- in part -- is compromised because the house had to be cut in two for the transport.
Deas said with the foundation nearly complete, they'll start looking at replacing that roof next, which means they'll have to figure out how to pay for it.
"We'll be searching for grant opportunities, but we do need our community to continue to help support this project," Deas said.
Deas added she hopes that response will continue to propel this project until its completion.
The project's completion date depends on how quickly the commission can raise the funds.
The Tupelo City Council is expected to turn over control of the house to the commission at its Tuesday meeting.
