The careful dismantling of Ancaster’s Hermitage ruins is underway, the first stage in rebuilding the main building’s three walls with internal steel supports.

Contractor Matt Kuhlmann of Rock Solid Natural Stone Masons Ltd. said he expects it to take about a month to disassemble the 160-year-old remnants of the fire-destroyed stone mansion, acquired by the Hamilton Conservation Authority in 1972.

To maintain historical accuracy, each stone has been photographed and digitally copied, and will also be numbered when removed to ensure it is put back in the same place when the walls go back up, he said.

“It’s definitely a special project,” said Kuhlmann, whose Ancaster firm was awarded the $460,000 untendered contract in January to restore the main walls and three outbuildings that served as a nursery, laundry room and chicken pen.

“My expectation is that it may be a little easier taking the stone down than we would have hoped.”

“It’s going to be really nice. We’re excited.”

Kulhmann said once the walls are taken down, the mansion’s footprint will be excavated to allow for construction of a new foundation for the three main walls and installation of the internal steel braces.

If all goes as hoped, the restoration will be finished by the end of the year.

“It may not happen, but we’re going to try,” he said.

The restoration work ends a lengthy debate over what to do about the Sulphur Springs Road ruins, closed to the public for years because its main walls lean precariously in places and require external wood bracing to keep from toppling over.

The authority initially proposed to lower all but the front wall’s distinctive arched entranceway to a height of 1.2 metres, but the plan was opposed by two city heritage advisory committees and Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson.