After donation, Healey says Pink House is safe from demolition

The Pink House, an iconic historic landmark on Plum Island that is a popular subject for artists, will no longer be demolished this week, Gov. Maura Healey announced Wednesday.

Healey's office announced that the demolition of the abandoned building in Newbury was put on hold pending conversations between the governor's office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other stakeholders. An anonymous donor pledged up to $1 million last week to save the landmark, contingent on halting the demolition, Boston.com reported.

Rochelle Joseph, the president of Support The Pink House, told Boston.com that the donation was "a game changer."

The Pink House was built in 1925, located on a salt marsh on the island on the North Shore. Local folklore surrounds the landmark and how it came to be built, most stories suggesting the house's uninhabitable location on the salt marsh came about as a result of a messy divorce.

The story goes that the wife demanded she wanted an exact replica of her former home, but failed to specify where. Her ex-husband built it on the outskirts of town in the marsh, where brackish water in its pipes made it unusable, myths say.

The abandoned house is now owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is a popular tourist destination off the Plum Island Turnpike and a favored subject for painters and photographers.

Community members, the North of Boston Tourist Bureau, cultural and art organizations, the Newbury and Salisbury Select Board, and elected officials on the state, local and federal levels have all supported the efforts to stop the demolition of the structure.

"The Pink House has a storied history and is an essential piece of the fabric of our North Shore community," said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. "We’re hopeful that by bringing everyone together at the same table, we can move forward on solutions to save The Pink House and benefit our environment and our economy for the long-term."

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr of Gloucster and Rep. Kristen Kassner of Hamilton also released statements celebrating the pause on the Pink House's demolition, both stating that the landmark contributes to the region's economy and culture.