The Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted 10-4 Dec. 12 to publicly review the proposed demolition of a secluded house in West Chop that is believed to be older than stated in Tisbury town records.

The owners of 125 Massasoit avenue have applied to the town for permission to tear down the building, which is recorded as dating from 1930.

The Vineyard Haven Historical Commission, however, submitted evidence indicating the house had been moved to West Chop in the early 1930s from Lambert’s Cove, where it was known as Red Lodge as early as 1917. 

The building’s interior contains architectural elements that may date from the 18th century or earlier, such as dark wainscoting and gunstock-style corner supports, according to a report from Martha’s Vineyard Commission staff.

Commission approval is required for demolitions when the structures are at least 100 years old.

“Our job is to determine whether this has historic validity,” said chair Fred Hancock, in his final meeting as a commissioner.

“Without a really deep dive, it’s difficult for anyone to know what the history … is,” Mr. Hancock added.

Commissioner Doug Sederholm favored a public hearing on the demolition as a development of regional impact (DRI), while Brian Smith expressed strong opposition.

“Whatever happens on this property has nothing to do with the character of the Island … because nobody can see it,” Mr. Smith said of the building, which is not visible from Massasoit avenue.

The owners should not be penalized with a DRI hearing when they relied on information from the town about the building’s age, Mr. Smith said.

Countering his assertion, commissioner Kate Putnam said it’s not hard to tell when a building is older than property records claim.

“I bought a house that Edgartown said was built in 1930 [and] I knew it wasn’t built in 1930. It didn’t take a whole lot of effort to figure that out,” said Ms. Putnam, who dates her low-ceilinged home to the 1850s. 

“There are certain accommodations that you make to an old house because you want to preserve it,” she said.

Mr. Smith, Mr. Hancock and commissioners Clarence (Trip) Barnes and Michael MacKenty voted against the DRI review for 125 Massasoit avenue, which will begin in the new year.

Thursday’s meeting was the last for Mr. Hancock and Mr. Barnes, who did not run for re-election to their seats in November.

Mr. Barnes’s place will be taken by newcomer Bernadette Budinger-Cormie of Tisbury, who was elected in November.

Carole Vandal, elected in 2023 to represent Aquinnah, and longtime Chilmark appointee Joan Malkin of Chilmark also chose not to seek another term.

Write-in candidate Jannette Vanderhoop was elected to represent Aquinnah.