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Log inMaine's endangered historic sites identified
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Maine's endangered historic sites identified
by Outspoken on Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:57 am
Maine's endangered historic sites identified
BY DAVID HENCH
Blethen Maine Newspapers
GRAY -- Karen Taylor was a little embarrassed that Maine Preservation's announcement Tuesday of its list of endangered historic resources was made from behind red caution tape blocking the original entrance to Pennell Institute, the school she graduated from in 1961.
The 1876 brick Italianate school building is a local landmark, but among those listed by the group as a threatened.
The location was, however, a fitting venue for the announcement by Maine Preservation Maine Preservation on Tuesday announced 11 pieces of the state's heritage that are threatened by neglect, or in some cases, progress. This year's list, the 13th the organization has produced, has a "green agenda."
It's an effort by the statewide advocacy organization to recast the debate over preserving the state's architectural and cultural heritage. "Preservation is recycling on a large scale, and we can reduce our impact on the environment and save energy by adaptively reusing buildings and their durable historic materials rather than carting them to the landfill," said the group's executive director, Greg Paxton. "This is good old Yankee conservatism at its best."
Promotion of cutting edge energy efficiency in new construction often fails to consider the durability of the old growth lumber used a century or more ago. Another example give was how old, wooden window frames can outlast their vinyl or aluminum counterparts and be almost as efficient when used with storm windows, said Camden architect and Maine Preservation President Chris Glass.
Community landmarks represent an irreplaceable cultural heritage, Glass said.
"We talk about endangered species. Every historic building is an endangered species of one. Once it's gone, it's gone," Glass said.
This year's list includes buildings, such as an old church in Bowdoinham, old railroad depots in Greenville and Hallowell, and Portland's Masonic Temple, where the 1762 charter for the fraternal organization was signed by Paul Revere.
It also includes old municipal tax lists, often the only record of when properties were built or when the first radio or car was purchased by a town resident.
Past years' lists have included St. Dominic's Church and St. Lawrence Church in Portland, the Proprietor's Meeting House in Buxton and the Walker Art Building at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
Preserving historic resources maintains a connection to the culture and history of a time and place, said Valerie Cunningham, a member of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. Cunningham is trying to preserve Rocky Rest in Kittery, a guest house popularized by African-Americans during the mid-1900s when segregation was commonplace in tourist destinations.
In many cases, preserving such properties means finding new but compatible uses that will respect and protect the historic value of a structure.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5274982.html
BY DAVID HENCH
Blethen Maine Newspapers
GRAY -- Karen Taylor was a little embarrassed that Maine Preservation's announcement Tuesday of its list of endangered historic resources was made from behind red caution tape blocking the original entrance to Pennell Institute, the school she graduated from in 1961.
The 1876 brick Italianate school building is a local landmark, but among those listed by the group as a threatened.
The location was, however, a fitting venue for the announcement by Maine Preservation Maine Preservation on Tuesday announced 11 pieces of the state's heritage that are threatened by neglect, or in some cases, progress. This year's list, the 13th the organization has produced, has a "green agenda."
It's an effort by the statewide advocacy organization to recast the debate over preserving the state's architectural and cultural heritage. "Preservation is recycling on a large scale, and we can reduce our impact on the environment and save energy by adaptively reusing buildings and their durable historic materials rather than carting them to the landfill," said the group's executive director, Greg Paxton. "This is good old Yankee conservatism at its best."
Promotion of cutting edge energy efficiency in new construction often fails to consider the durability of the old growth lumber used a century or more ago. Another example give was how old, wooden window frames can outlast their vinyl or aluminum counterparts and be almost as efficient when used with storm windows, said Camden architect and Maine Preservation President Chris Glass.
Community landmarks represent an irreplaceable cultural heritage, Glass said.
"We talk about endangered species. Every historic building is an endangered species of one. Once it's gone, it's gone," Glass said.
This year's list includes buildings, such as an old church in Bowdoinham, old railroad depots in Greenville and Hallowell, and Portland's Masonic Temple, where the 1762 charter for the fraternal organization was signed by Paul Revere.
It also includes old municipal tax lists, often the only record of when properties were built or when the first radio or car was purchased by a town resident.
Past years' lists have included St. Dominic's Church and St. Lawrence Church in Portland, the Proprietor's Meeting House in Buxton and the Walker Art Building at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
Preserving historic resources maintains a connection to the culture and history of a time and place, said Valerie Cunningham, a member of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. Cunningham is trying to preserve Rocky Rest in Kittery, a guest house popularized by African-Americans during the mid-1900s when segregation was commonplace in tourist destinations.
In many cases, preserving such properties means finding new but compatible uses that will respect and protect the historic value of a structure.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5274982.html
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