With his hands, mason Pietro Pendola didn’t just build a house. Brick by brick, he created a bastion of patriotism, a sanctuary where fellow Italian immigrants could congregate and learn the language of their new land. Meanwhile, he laid the foundation for a family that would add to the ranks of local police and the U.S. Armed Forces.

With all that history, the dwelling — still solid and strong at 1011 NE Madison Ave. almost a century later — seems especially appropriate to serve as the city’s fifth Resident Officer home. BuildPeoria, a burgeoning not-for-profit, hopes to rehab the structure by the end of summer so an officer can be residing there in the fall, says Nick Yates, president of the group.