A stay of execution was granted on one of Chilmark’s few remaining pre-Revolutionary houses at a well attended meeting of the historical commission Wednesday.

The so-called Tilton-Weckman house, set off from North Road, is a shingled, gable-roofed building flanked by a high curving stone wall on a two-acre lot, part of property owned by Diana and Roy Vagelos.

The principle structure dates back to the mid-18th century and was owned by the Tiltons, a family whose Vineyard history is long and storied.

And according to a report submitted to the town by West Tisbury engineer Kent Healy, via Island contractor John Abrams, it is in very bad shape.

“All of the visible carrying members from the cellar to the attic are infested and seriously weakened by powder post beetles,” wrote Mr. Healy. “This house can’t be rebuilt and is not inhabitable. I recommend that any removable hardware be saved and the house be torn down.”

Through his West Tisbury design and construction company South Mountain, Mr. Abrams has done much of the contract work on the Vagelos North Road properties. His company is listed as the main contractor on a demolition permit request filed with the town on April 15. Mr. Abrams acted as the owners’ representative at the meeting, sitting with the board members at the request of chairman Jane Slater.

Mr. Abrams began by reading Mr. Healy’s letter and added that the Vageloses consulted Mr. Abrams when they purchased the property about what to do with the old house. He advised that a restoration would amount to replacing every element of the property.

“This house is falling down and it’s a hazard,” he concluded.

“Who is it a hazard to?” queried Tony Horwitz, a Vineyard Haven resident.

“Only someone who goes inside,” Mr. Abrams said.

Vineyard Haven resident Geraldine Brooks asked if it would be possible to do the minimum work required to maintain the integrity of the structure, leaving open the possibility for future landowners to undergo a thorough restoration for the property. “To have 250 years of history taken on one dusty morning and carted off the Island, all of us alive today will be in some way culpable,” she said. “People kept it for us with great hardship.”

Mr. Abrams suggested Ms. Brooks was barking up the wrong tree.

“Your sentiments are sweet and it would be great to apply to things that can actually be saved,” he said, adding: “[The beetles] have eaten through the floorboards, the joists have fallen through. The house is falling down, it’s mush — and it’s incredibly beautiful, but it’s mush.”

Ann Allen, an Island historian, asked whether the structure of the house could be saved by a process known as flaking (taking a building apart in pieces for reassembly at another location).

“Could it be flaked?” she asked.

“Anyone who would like to move or flake the house, that would be wonderful,” Mr. Abrams said.

“I don’t think you’re being clear,” said Ms. Allen. “You imply that the house can’t be saved, and then you’re saying if anyone wants to fix it, great.”

“We’re not the experts,” said Mr. Abrams.

“I think there should be more opinions,” she said. “I know Kent, and the history part of it is not of terrific interest to him.”

Mr. Abrams said that several historic buildings on the Vagelos property have been restored and the decision to demolish the Tilton house was made following serious reflection.

“It’s not a choice that was made mindlessly,” he said.

“No one is suggesting that,” said Mr. Horwitz.

“It’s not something they feel has value,” said Mr. Abrams.

“That’s why this commission exists,” Mr. Horwitz shot back.

Ginny Jones, a West Tisbury resident who works for the Chilmark harbor master, argued that a debate over the house’s fate would be more productive if it included the owners.

“It would be good if the Vageloses could be made aware, hear the comments of the public, in a non-confrontational way, it would help. They’re clearly publicly-spirited people,” she said.

Mr. Abrams re-emphasized the dire condition of the building in question.

“When they bought, it was the worst house I’ve ever seen. Now, it’s much worse,” he said. “Ann, you know a lot more about this than I do, but I’ve noticed there were thousands of these houses, and the ones left were cared for through the years; this isn’t one of those. It’s been allowed to deteriorate.”

Tony Higgins, a retired West Tisbury builder, said that he has restored some seemingly unsavable houses and he was curious to see the inside of the property for himself.

“I’m suspicious when I hear engineers say a house can’t be saved. You’ve got to get in there, fiddle around, and get it back again. But it’s amazing what can be done,” he said.

After the meeting Mr. Higgins said one place he worked on in West Tisbury had three floors, one simply stacked on top when the one below wore through.

“They were farmers who built the houses themselves and did things to just keep them going,” he said.

After the meeting Mr. Abrams further underscored his argument that the owners of this building, who have a record of philanthropy on the Island, should not be told what to do with their money.

“I’d feel kind of weird telling you what kind of beer to drink tonight,” he said. “Because they have enough money they shouldn’t be able to decide how to spend it? They decide what they want to do with it.”

There are 29 pre-Revolutionary structures listed in the town’s latest master plan, done in 1985. But according to Ms. Allen the real number of endangered pre-war houses left intact today, rather than half-house structures or thoroughly renovated buildings, is likely nearer to seven.

Ms. Slater said the vote to delay action on the demolition was a reaction to public interest in the building.

“When so many people show up it tells us we should vote for a delay,” she said.

The historical commission is a body with few regulatory powers,

As one of its only possible recourses, the commission will place advertisements seeking interested parties to move the house.

If no solution is found at the end of the six-month period, the commission must send the case back to the building inspector with a recommendation to demolish.

“The historical district doesn’t have the teeth it needs to do what it needs to do,” acknowledged Ms. Slater at the meeting. “And it’s suddenly come to the time when [the buildings] all need to be saved.”