I'd think the brick in that chimney (there's actually a full hearth in there, right?) from 1940 would be enough to bring out someone to take it away for free, whether Habitat for Humanity or someone else. Just make sure you're not liable if one of them breaks a leg or something, and insist that if they want the brick then they've gotta take everything else usable.

I don't know if you have any antique stores in the area, but those might not be bad places to ask if anyone's come in expressing an interest in old brick or piping. It's unlikely that they have, but people in the antiques buisness may be a bit more likely to know people in the antique materials buisness than most.

If you've got pipes under the ground (whether lead or not, whether they date back to the 40's or not) why not ask around to see if someone would take them too? Just don't agree to be responsible for digging them up and disconnecting them.

If the house winds up getting stripped before being demolished, it would be good to have an arrangement set up with a local contractor to come in and demolish ASAP after the stripping. Even in a small town, half-demolished houses almost seem to invite teenagers and druggies to hang out, do something stupid, and sue you if they wind up getting hurt.

FWIW, I've seen similar properties and heard similar tales in the Hill Country of Texas. One nice thing about small town area local contractors is that you'll find at least one who knows exactly what kind of trouble to look for in houses there whether it's lead paint, asbestos, various residues or whatever. Even back then, houses tended to be built in batches and building rushes.

The (former) house next door ; an example of the fun you can have with an excavator