Kentucky widow, 76, sobs as she fights to save home she’s lived in for 55 YEARS from heartless developers who want to knock it down to widen highway

An elderly widow pleads to save her home of 55 years before it is demolished to widen a nearby highway.

Janet Arnett, 76, bought the 23-acre property in 1969 and after decades of living in mobile homes, built the house in 1998 with her husband Lowell.

Four generations of her family grew up or spent large portions of their youth at “Mamaw’s House” in Magoffin County, Kentucky.

But decades of memories could be wiped away as plans move forward to expand the Mountain Parkway, which cuts through her land.

Arnett bought the 63-acre property in 1969 and after decades of living in mobile homes, she built the house with her husband in 1998.

Arnett with her daughter Lanessa DeMarchis and granddaughter Zoe Parker

“It’s a small house, but to me it’s a country house,” she said WYMT through tears.

‘I’m 76, I won’t be around much longer, why can’t I stay here, in the house, my house?’

Arnett said developers had offered her money to sell the land to make way for the constructed road, but said the memories in the house were priceless.

She and her family appealed to local officials to change plans to build around her home, but were told this was not possible.

Also, moving the house was not considered feasible, as there would be no possibility of building a new septic tank.

Arnett kept the house after her husband Lowell (pictured together) died in 2015 and her family said it was the center of their social life

“Growing up, Mamwa’s house was always a sanctuary that I could go to,” said Arnett’s granddaughter Zoe Parker (left)

Arnett with her great-grandchildren on her property that is threatened by the highway

Four of Arnett’s grandchildren, who spent much of their lives on her property

“If they want to build the road, that’s fine. But just leave me alone. Build it for me; build it behind me. “I just want to stay in my house,” she said.

Arnett kept the house after her husband died in 2015 and her family said it was the center of their social life.

“Growing up, Mamwa’s house was always a sanctuary that I could go to,” said Arnett’s granddaughter Zoe Parker.

“We cooked together and this is where I grew up playing in the creek, catching crabs and catching lightning bugs.

“This is the epicenter of our family and Mamaw’s house will always be Mamwa’s house, whether it’s in the right place or down the street, but it’s hard when it’s bulldozed.”

A sign on the wall of Arnett’s home with the nickname the family has called it for decades

Plans for an extension of Mountain Parkway run straight through her land

Arnett’s daughter Lanessa DeMarchis is campaigning with family, friends and locals to convince state officials to reconsider the highway route.

‘They’re forcing her to move. They will raze her house to the ground,” she wrote in a petition.

“This is the house we raised our children in. This is the house where we hid Easter eggs, celebrated birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“This is the house we all escaped to when life got too complicated. This is where our children ran barefoot, grew their own vegetables and caught lightning bugs.

“This is the house with a porch swing out front where very meaningful conversations took place.

‘Yes, they ‘buy’ it from her. But it’s not about the money for her. She wants to spend her remaining years in her home.”

Four generations of her family grew up in the house or spent much of their childhood in the house