Thursday kicked off the first of many fundraising initiatives to save a historic home in Tuckahoe that is in danger of being torn down.

Residents gathered across the street from the Ward House for a reading of the Declaration of Independence complete with actors dressed in 1776 garb and fife drummers.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4 before it made its way to New York on July 11 where it was read at the Ward House for the first time.

The current owner of the Ward House is a developer who wants to knock it down.

"If this house comes down, then were just going to have to look at it on a piece of paper or a computer screen. But now if this when this gets restored and when this gets preserved, students, history buffs -- you name it, they can come and have hands-on history right here. Living history," said Sal Provenzano, of Friends of the Ward House.

Friends of the Ward House say they need to raise about $1 million to save the home.