The Hobson House is not only a beautiful Italianate home, it is also a very special place that is steeped in history.

The home, which overlooks the Barren River and has a beautiful lane leading up to it that is lined with mature trees, is an important part of our town’s history.

Construction on the hilltop house was begun by Atwood Hobson in the late 1850s but was temporarily halted by the Civil War. The partially completed home became a munitions magazine while the Confederates held Bowling Green during the winter of 1861-62. The house was completed in 1872 and became a centerpiece to the surrounding 400-acre horse and cattle farm.

Hobson family members lived in the house until the early 1950s. Subsequent owners put tenants in the house, which soon slid into disrepair.

A fire further damaged the house in 1965, and the city acquired the home for $1 and adjoining property to build the park and golf course that now surround the home. Not long afterward, the building was slated for demolition, but the nonprofit Hobson House Association formed in 1966 and began work to restore the building with the help of federal grants.

As part of the restoration, which was completed in 1972 when the house reopened as a museum, an artist repaired and repainted the ceilings covered with flowers, which are plaster on top of lath – thin strips of wood to which the plaster is attached. Cracks have developed over the years and have accelerated as the restored ceiling now approaches the 50-year-old mark.

It is of great concern that this historic house, which hosts some neat events and offers opportunities for a walk back in time, has fallen into disrepair.

It has been reported that the cracks in the ceilings in the walls are looking more pronounced and that staff have had to move valuable items from underneath the cracks in case large chunks of plaster were to fall from the ceiling. It also appears that the hardwood flooring has recently developed about a one-inch gap between floorboards.

Given the age of the house and the nature of construction technique during the era in which the house was built, it is going to take a technical preservation professional to see what steps are recommended.

It’s quite obvious that help is needed to repair and preserve this historic house.

It was good news to learn that a meeting with city officials is in the works for later this month to discuss the issues.

Hopefully, something can be worked out to help get the ball rolling on these much-needed repairs.

The nonprofit Friends of Riverview, which helps run Hobson House, is also hosting a fundraising event March 25 called the Hobson Hop. The event, which starts at 6 p.m. at Bowling Green Country Club, includes a silent auction and a dinner and dance featuring the Ernie Small Blues Band. Tickets are $50 each.

We are very hopeful that a lot of people come out to this event to help raise funds for the preservation of this house.

We are very fortunate to have the Hobson House in our city. It is a piece of our history. At a time when so many people are tearing down historic houses, we have a chance to save this one so that future generations can view it and appreciate it as we have.

Let us all pledge ourselves to the preservation of Hobson House and do whatever necessary to ensure its continued existence and relevance.