The “haunted house” at 28 Catoonah Street is beyond saving, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Monday.

That’s the judgment of Virgil Rollins, the preservation contractor who had disassembled the 1700s Scott House from its location on Catoonah Street in 1999, labeled every beam and board, and re-assembled it all in 2002 on Sunset Lane, where it now houses the Ridgefield Historical Society.

“I called Virgil. He looked at it and said it’s so far gone it’s dangerous,” Marconi told the selectmen Monday, Dec. 7.

Marconi said later that Rollins told him the house was so deteriorated he’d be reluctant to ask someone to work with him taking it apart.

“He was down here two weeks ago, and his recommendation is that the house come down and I’m awaiting a letter from him stating that,” Marconi said. “It’s in such an unsafe condition that demolition is the best that can happen there. It’s too risky and not worth trying to save.”

Selectman Steve Zemo said his son Shawn, a fourth grader, would regret the loss of what he views as “the coolest haunted house” in town.

The property is owned by the firm that owns the shopping center anchored by CVS, but is leased long-term to the post office.

So demolition plans will have to go through some Washington bureaucracy — something Congressman Jim Himes is trying to help with.

“The post office is completing its federal regulation 106 review,” Marconi said. “They’ve sent paperwork to the state. They’ve sent it to the town of Ridgefield — we’ve signed. As soon as the paperwork is approved by Washington I’d assume the demolition would begin.

“Congressman Himes’ office has assigned one of his attorneys to this, and we’ve been working and gotten good cooperation.”

Marconi told the selectmen the plans for the lot were to create “a pocket park out front, to preserve the streetscape” and to put additional parking — for the post office — in the rear.

Marconi took the occasion to mention Helen Cummings, the last resident of 28 Catoonah.

“Mrs. Cummings was born across the street, got married and moved into that house, died in that house,” he said.

Even then, she finished her earthly travail with a funeral at Kane’s and Mass at St. Mary’s — both on Catoonah Street.

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