The Windham Historical Society did not meet its goal of raising $700,000 by the beginning of this summer to purchase the Parson-Smith House on River Road, the oldest historically-intact building in town.

The house is owned by Donald Dickinson, 77, and his wife Elaine, 67.

“We effectively took it off the market,” said Don Dickinson. He said he cares about the future of the building and will wait for the historical society to raise enough money to purchase it.

“We’re biding our time,” said Elaine Dickinson. She and her husband said they will keep the house off the market until the historical society gives up.

Members of the historical society said they are worried that a private buyer wouldn’t open the doors to the public like the Dickinsons do. Third graders from Windham Primary School are given tours of the building with the blessing of the Dickinsons.

“We enjoy the third graders going through and answering their questions,” said Don Dickinson. He said the youngsters will occasionally hear mention of their ancestors when the diaries of previous residents of the house are read.

Built in 1764 by pastor and Harvard graduate Peter Smith, the Parson-Smith house was passed down through the family for five generations.

In 1952, it was bequeathed to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and became a summer museum until 1991 when there was a dispute with the caretakers when they were informed they would have to pay taxes on the historic building.

In 1995, the Dickinsons purchased the 18th century home. They said they are now ready to move to a smaller home with a larger pool of neighbors in preparation for their twilight years.

The Windham Historical Society has only come up with about $57,000 so far. Linda Griffin of the Windham Historical Society said a new approach is needed to capture the other 90-plus percent of the funds.

“We still want a history museum, but we want to use the land as well instead of letting it just sit there,” she said.

“We’re trying an agricultural slant,” said Griffin. “And hopefully there’ll be more grants available.” Besides vowing to use the 124 acres of land to grow plants, the historical society has been selling calendars with pictures of historic Windham landmarks and pulled in $700 with a yard sale last week.

The Dickinsons currently allow neighbor Gary Winship, owner of Winny Knowl Farm, to make hay bales out of their grass. Elaine Dickinson said they get their grass cut for free and Winship gets to keep the hay.

Griffin said they’ll keep trying to raise money as long as the Dickinson’s agree to wait.

For now, Don and Elaine Dickinson are overseeing repairs to their old house. The kitchen floor is being refinished and the roof of the garage is being replaced following damage from the Patriots Day storm.

ParsonSmith1-3: Elaine Dickinson, 67, peels some old paint off the side of her house, which just happens to be the oldest historically intact house in town. The Windham Historical Society is trying to come up with $700,000 to purchase the building but has had trouble fund raising.ParsonSmith1-3: Elaine Dickinson, 67, peels some old paint off the side of her house, which just happens to be the oldest historically intact house in town. The Windham Historical Society is trying to come up with $700,000 to purchase the building but has had trouble fund raising.ParsonSmith1-3: Elaine Dickinson, 67, peels some old paint off the side of her house, which just happens to be the oldest historically intact house in town. The Windham Historical Society is trying to come up with $700,000 to purchase the building but has had trouble fund raising.