Mount Joy Historical Society didn't have to look far to find a historical restoration project.

When the small house uncomfortably close to society's museum, 120 Fairview St., went up for sale, the group bought it. The building, which had been a residence had fallen into disrepair and was sold as a distressed property.

"Our first idea was to buy the building and tear it down," Vera Albert, president of the Mount Joy Historical Society, said. "Then we thought, 'Now wait a minute. Historical societies don't tear down old buildings, they restore them.'"

So that's what supporters hope to complete in the new year, depending on fund raising efforts.

This week, the group's 160 members are scheduled to receive a mailing asking for financial support for the project, Albert said.

"The appeal will be hopefully you'll appreciate what we're saving for the town," Albert said. "That's what historical societies do."

Since May, when the historical society paid $32,650 for the property, it has been planning for an ambitious project to restore to what they had suspected, and recently confirmed, had been a one-room schoolhouse.

Uncovered deed information shows that the School District of Mount Joy sold the property in 1873 to a private owner for $125. Albert theorized that subsequently its owner gave land for the Macedonia AME church built in 1913, which then became the home of the historical society in 1974. This close relationship between the owner and the church is one explanation for why the two buildings are so close together.

Albert said the building was listed as a school in 1848, and that gave the historical society the idea to renovate it using general guidelines about what a school would have looked like.

The group has a circa 1856 school bell from the Brady Foundry in Mount Joy to put outside the building that would become a meeting room for the society and the public.

Supporters have gotten the necessary approvals, Albert said, but will need to comply with a variety of regulations during the renovation, including making it handicapped accessible.

Albert said there are areas inside walls where the walls are crumbling and the floor slopes.

"We really didn't realize what a big job we're getting ourselves into," she said.

She said determining repair costs will require help from an architect and estimates from contractors.

"We have to know what we're doing before we can get the costs," Albert said.

To donate, or for more information about the project, contact the Mount Joy Historical Society at 653-4718.