 Most Endangered |
1998 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties Learn about Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties success stories! This year's Saved! properties: Peabody Tavern, Stephen Coffin/Dixon House, and Limington Town Hall Governor Abner Coburn House - Skowhegan
For information, contact Tom Marcotte, Skowhegan Planning Director at (207) 684-4111.
Agamenticus Schoolhouse - York
To add your voice, write to the York Town Hall, 186 York St., York, ME 03909, or call (207) 363-1000.
New Sharon Iron Bridge #2608 - New Sharon Endangered.Two attempts to pass legislation to have this bridge placed on Maine's Historic Bridge list did not pass. Subsequently this bridge remains extremely vulnerable. The 1916 thru-truss bridge in New Sharon, spanning the Sandy River and highly visible from Route 2, was included in the 1998 list of Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties. It is considered the earliest and most intact of its kind, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge was closed to local traffic a few years ago due to needed repairs exceeding $1,000,000 that the small community of New Sharon is unable to fund. Both Maine Preservation and the Maine Historic Preservation Council are committed to the rescue of this important bridge, and will be continue working with the community towards a solution.
In the works. Little River Light Station was built in 1847 on Little River Island at the entrance of Cutler Harbor. It was the last protected harbor on the Maine coast before Canada and a much sought after assignment for keepers because of its short distance from the mainland. The light was automated in 1975 and the Fresnel lens removed in 1980 when the lighthouse was replaced by a light on a skeleton tower. The property deteriorated over the years, although some concerned residents of the area had done some painting and repairs. In 2000, the Little River Light Station became the first lighthouse in New England to be transferred under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) started a lease of the property that same year. One year later the ALF had restored and relit the lighthouse tower. ALF plans to restore the entire station. The restoration of the keeper’s house alone will cost $300,000. The entire property consists of the lighthouse tower, keeper’s house, oil house and boathouse. In addition to the deteriorating structures, limited access to the island because of the lack of a boat dock makes it difficult to reach. A fundraising campaign continues and volunteer efforts are ongoing to utilize the island as a wildlife refuge, and possibly the keeper’s house as a limited educational facility. Tim Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse Foundation, says that over one third of the restoration is complete, with $180,000 still needed. Fundraising has been successful. The Little River Lighthouse is part of the Campaign to Save Nine Maine Lights, which just received a $15,000 charitable donation in June of 2004 by the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation. A portion of this donation will help contribute to the creation of nature trails and a public park on the island’s grounds, helping to make the light station accessible to the public. To learn more about the Little River Light Station you can visit the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Friends of Little River Light at www.LighthouseFoundation.org or write to P.O. Box 889, Wells, ME 04090. Calls can also be made to (207) 646-0245.
Captain Samuel Holden House, Moose River
In the works. The Captain Samuel Holden House was built c. 1829 by the area’s first settler, a Revolutionary War veteran. It is reportedly the oldest remaining structure along the historic Canada Road, now designated as the Kennebec-Chaudiere Corridor. The Jackman/Moose River Historical Society is in urgent need of funds to restore and interpret the structure, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For more information or to make a donation, contact the Jackman/Moose River Historical Society, P.O. Box 471, Jackman, ME 04945, or call (207) 668-3171.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Scarborough and South Buxton
However, thanks to a New Century Community Program Grant, stabilization and sill work was completed in 2000 at the Proprietors Meetinghouse. The Friends group has reorganized and is raising funds and awareness of the restoration needs for this 1839 Meeting House. For more information on this property, contact Friends of the Proprietors Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 956, Buxton, ME 04093.
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Each year, significant historic buildings and sites across Maine succumb to deterioration, disuse and demolition. Community character is being lost while bulldozers level historic buildings for expensive redevelopment. In order to help raise citizen awareness and demonstrate by example, Maine Preservation selects threatened historic structures and sites worth saving or worth recycling with a new, adaptive use. Our goal is to keep community buildings preserved and occupied - and out of the landfill or salvage yard. Maine Preservation is joined by citizens statewide in calling for an increased appreciation of our historic built environment – our irreplaceable community landmarks that deserve a better future.
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Endangered.
This significant Greek Revival home of former Governor Abner
Coburn (1862-1866) is privately owned and remains in peril due to significant
deferred maintenance. Skowhegan has no local historic preservation ordinance.
The differed maintenance combine with no minimum maintenance requirements
under current zoning regulations has created an ever worsening situation.
Endangered.
The last one-room schoolhouse in York, this building
was last occupied as a seasonal residence, and is now vacant and deteriorating.
Efforts to urge the out-of-state owner either to rehabilitate or sell
the building have been unsuccessful. The Town of York, a Certified Local
Government (CLG), has a historic preservation ordinance and minimum maintenance
standards for locally designated historic properties. However, the Town
has been unsuccessful to date in appealing the ordinance or standards
to rescue this historic resource from further decay and demolition by
neglect.
In
the works. This c.1839 Gothic Revival meeting house
and the adjacent c.1914 bungalow-style parish hall are only used on occasion,
as the church no longer has parishioners. Both buildings have a great
deal of historical integrity, each exhibiting remarkably intact interiors.
However, the church is in need of urgent structural repairs and both resources
lack a comprehensive long-range plan for maintenance and use.