PITTSFIELD, MA - "I lived in this house myself. I lived here when I went to high school, and so the house has special meaning," said Blayne Whitfield.

This house has special meaning to Whitfield, but not just because he lived in it. It's also because his great great grandfather, a renowned equal rights activist named Samuel Harrison, also lived here.

"He was a social activist. He believed in civil rights before civil rights was a term. He believed in equal justice for all," said Whitfield.

That's why the Samuel Harrison Society held a groundbreaking ceremony in Pittsfield on Friday. After years of planning, the home in which Harrison lived in the 1800s is about to undergo a $500,000 restoration.

"We have here in Pittsfield, a National Register of Historic Places landmark and we want to restore it and use it as a place for civic pride," said Samuel Harrison Society President Linda Tyer.

It's a civic pride that dates back well over 100 years. But now, thanks to some generous state and local contributions, the doors of this historic home will soon open back up to the public.

"It is our hope that within 18 months we will complete restoration and open our doors for visitors," said Tyer.

The earliest stages of this preservation began all the way back in 2004. But one family member here says once the renovation is complete, the message this house will send to the public will make it well worth the wait.

"In the world today, there is still a lot of social injustice that goes on. People are still treated differently for whatever reason and so it's an important message. It's a timeless message," said Whitfield.

It's a message that's been spoken since the turn of the century. But once these doors open back up, it'll be heard again, right from the source.