Can the past come alive? Of course it can. Especially when it comes to resurrecting the Bayley House. Tonight at 7 p.m. on KVIE Channel 6 the Central Valley Chronicles is scheduled to air "Then & Now: Bayley House Restoration" when the question is posed - can the battle be won to preserve a once grand, 1860s era mansion?

Abandoned for decades, the 139-year-old red-brick building is located a few miles north of Coloma on Hwy. 49, in Pilot Hill. A historical landmark, the ancient inn, along with 10 acres of land, was purchased for $1 by the Georgetown Divide Recreation District from El Dorado County in 1989.

Primarily purchased for adding 10 acres to the Georgetown Divide area, the GDRD board members have also inherited all the problems of the once magnificent mansion. Some of the problems that have hurt the Bayley House are vandalism, wind, rain, neglect - time has taken its toll. One of the paramount concerns of saving the Bayley House is to arrest the crumbling brick wall on the north side of the inn.

In an effort to save the house, a small group of concerned individuals had their first ³brainstorming² meeting on how to go about restoring the approximately 10,000 square foot building. The casual meeting held at the Nugget Cafe in Cool identified the greatest concerns and the risk of delaying action could cause the north exterior wall to totally collapsed - if that happens the roof will also fall which means even more damage to the historical building that was completed in 1862. Afterwards, the group visited the Bayley House to see the current status of the mansion - it was noted by Crane that more of the bricks on the north wall have crumbled.

Among other areas of discussion were ideas of how to raise community awareness as well as fundraising and seeking grants from the state were also shared between the group that consisted of Penny Humphreys, county supervisor, John Crane, member of GDRD, Jack and Barbara Carrerow, Kathleen Keohane and Roberta Long - all were interested individuals who wanted to learn more about the future and the resurrection of the Bayley House.

From an article in the Mountain Democrat dated Aug. 11, 2000 Crane estimated about $300,000 is needed to ³shore up the walls² just to stabilize the structure.

Crane also said it is his wish to save the historical mansion, to band together with a group of people who want to launch a dream of complete restoration, combined with a down-to-earth plan that will bring the big, old red-brick mansion back to life - once again brimming with style.

Another issue brought to attention during the breakfast meeting was what would the renovated building be used for?

Ideas presented were a museum, library, office space, art gallery, conference center, community garden, park, habitat preservation, physically disabled nature trails, baseball field, tennis and basketball courts, picnic area, playground - just to name a few.

One of the key questions was how to go about getting committees formed with ³can-do² volunteers - people who are willing to preserve the county's history before it crumbles into the past. One of the suggestions was to put a large banner across the front of the Bayley House to raise awareness and inform people driving by of the restoration project and direct attention to the house's Web site. Also, a letter writing campaign with a Bayley House letterhead or logo. Additionally, the committee brought up the proposed state historical preservation funding that the Bayley House would more than likely qualify for - grant writers would be key assets to the restoration project as well.

The second meeting for the Bayley House Restoration Project has been set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 - those who are interested in volunteering for the project are encouraged to meet at the Bayley House, in Pilot Hill, located on Hwy. 49 a few miles north of Coloma.

The project needs a spearheading committee, grant writers, public speakers, event coordinators, secretarial support, researchers, cost estimators, building contractors, interior decorators, landscape professionals and a whole host of other professionals.

Information about the Bayley House and the restoration project can be found at www.thebayleyhouse.com, a Web site designed and donated by ComSpark of Placerville.

"The Web site has volunteer sign-up forms and a list of current project contributors," said Donna Reddin owner of ComSpark. "Viewers can also submit their comments and suggestions online. It's a quick and easy way to keep everyone updated on the progress of the project and to get important feedback from the community."

Crane of the GDRD asks that those who plan on attending the April 28 meeting at the Bayley House register online at www.thebayleyhouse.com/register.shtml. . . .