Last modified: Thursday, November 13, 2008 2:05 AM EST The Campbell House in Norton. Is a restoration in store for it? (Staff photo by Mike George) Historic Norton restoration? BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTON The historic home of one of Norton's founders is eyed for restoration and, possibly, reuse. The historical commission wants input from selectmen and Town Manager James Purcell to develop and implement a master plan for the vacant Campbell House on Route 123, commission Chairman Christopher Cox said. Among the options are renting the late 17th-century property, or turning it into town or rental office space, Cox said. Historic preservation restrictions would be suggested in both cases. Grant funds would be explored, Cox said. The home of Silvanus Campbell is a "national treasure," according to two state- and nationally recognized preservationists who toured the site with the commission Sunday, Cox said. Swansea Historical Society President Carl Becker and Randolph Historical Commission Chairman Henry Cooke IV said the home has "a lot of unique features that don't exist in homes of that time period," according to Cox. "They both came to the conclusion that this house is a national treasure," Cox said. The four-corner gunstock posts are adorned with "fancy woodcarving," he said. "You don't find it too much in houses past 1660, 1670," Cox said. The original raised paneling is around the fireplace, another rarity, he said. And while it's in "immediate danger of being torn down," the home is structurally sound, Cox said. Such post-and-beam homes were built to last about 800 years, he said. A modern home lasts 50 to 60 years. The home dates back to about 1696, Cox said. Silvanus Campbell built it after immigrating from Scotland, Cox said. Cox believed Campbell was interested in an iron forge less than a mile away. The iron forge was among the first in the nation. Chartley Pond is there today. Houses as extravagant as the Campbell home were more common in village communities, which were wealthier, Cox said. "It was unique back then for a house this far out in the country," Cox said. The Campbell House occupies town land in front of the Norton Middle School. The home became vacant during the early 1990s, when the Jackson Nursery sold it to the town in the school property sale. The historic site has been looked at periodically since then. In July 2007, preliminary plans for a skate park were developed by a Wheaton College student interning with the Norton YMCA. Moving the school administration there to alleviate a space crunch was suggested five years ago by Selectman Robert Kimball Jr. MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.