Diane Walden is reporting for The Columbia Paper Ancram's Stiehle House, thought to be one of the oldest structures in town, is no more. The wood frame building, located at 2407 Route 82, was condemned and demolished August 5, after being run through by an alleged drunk driver. Joseph P. Martino, 27, of Ancram was the driver of a Subaru Forester traveling southbound on Route 82 when he failed to negotiate a turn at the County Route 7 and State Route 82 intersection, and plowed into the north side of the west wall of the building. He continued through the structure and exited through the south end of the east wall, one-story above grade. The house was situated very close to the road. The driver and his two dogs escaped the crash unscathed. Martino was charged with driving while intoxicated and other related charges. Following the crash, Ancram Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Edward Ferratto brought in Taconic Engineering that found the building was “unsafe and in imminent danger of collapse constituting a clear threat to human life and safety.” Ferratto condemned the building based on Taconic's findings. The building was owned by the Ancram Preservation Group and was under renovation at the time of the crash. The preservation group had hoped to renovate the Stiehle House for use by the Ancram Opera House as an office and housing for interns and artists. “This will be an irreparable loss for Ancram. With the Stiehle House gone, the hamlet will have no physical center. It is the first building seen on entering the hamlet from any direction. Its absence will be vividly apparent..." said Ancram Preservation Group President Christopher White. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.