AUGUSTA — An interactive “newseum,” focusing on freedom of speech and freedom of the press, is on track to move in next door to the Blaine House.

The state Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of a bill authorizing the negotiation of a lease with the Gannett family, whose publisher ancestors built the Mediterranean revival-style building at 184 State St. in 1911.

The lease would allow the Gannett House to become an interactive museum after it undergoes more than $800,000 in renovations. The proposed museum would have a particular focus on teaching about freedom of the press and freedom of speech, and document the work of the Guy Gannett family in Maine’s media industry.

It would also help preserve, and potentially provide income from a now-vacant state building in need of repair.

“This is a wonderful idea,” said Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford. “I’m thrilled about this whole proposal.”

The Gannett House, which is next to the governor’s residence, has been vacant since the State Planning Office moved to a new location on Union Street in 2010.

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The house was built in 1911 as a wedding present from William Gannett to his son, Guy P. Gannett.

Guy Gannett and his family lived in the home for about 10 years before moving to Portland when his publishing company bought the Portland Press Herald.

William Gannett, born in Augusta, was an entrepreneur who sold patent medicine and founded Comfort magazine.

He and his son, Guy, founded The Gannett Publishing Co., which first bought the Waterville Sentinel, followed by the Portland Press Herald, The Portland (Maine) Sunday Telegram, The Portland Evening Express and The Daily Kennebec Journal.

The family business expanded to include broadcast media, including WGAN radio and WGME television. Guy Gannett’s daughter, Jean, continued to expand the company until she died in 1994. The house was sold in 1998.

Genie Gannett, president of the Gannett House Project, a nonprofit corporation established with Gannett family members and others to turn the building into a museum, said the building needs a significant amount of work, which her organization would take on at no cost to the state.

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“Our intent is to obtain a lease agreement with the state whereby the Gannett House Project will be able to fund capital improvements to the house in order to open and operate a museum dedicated to the understanding and practice of this cornerstone of American democracy,” Gannett said during a public hearing Monday. “It was built by my great-grandfather and given to my grandfather as a wedding gift. It was my father’s boyhood home.”

She estimated the organization would put about $826,000 into restoring the structure and converting it for use as a museum.

The museum would include interactive exhibits of state, national and international issues, as well as a digital archive of Maine’s historic newspapers. And the family has proposed lecture programs, workshops, seminars and outreach programs to help promote the practice and understanding of the First Amendment.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was acquired by the state in 1973.

Bill sponsor Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, said the vacant building is a drain on state coffers as the state heats and maintains it, and is in need of a lot of work.

“Fortunately the Gannett family, including Genie Gannett, has stepped forward with a terrific, well thought-out, and financially viable plan,” Katz said. “The family has formed a nonprofit, non-partisan organization to open a vibrant museum — a newseum and culture center in this building.

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“From my perspective this would be a perfect use for a building so close to our Blaine House and capitol and would be a further draw for school kids, Maine citizens and tourists as we try to attract them to our State House, library and state museum practically next door.”

Earle Shettleworth Jr., chairman of the Capital Planning Commission and Maine State historian, said the commission endorses the proposal.

He said the building is significant not just historically, but also because it is prominent at the entrance to the complex of state buildings in Augusta.

Katz said he expects the new attraction to be of statewide, regional and national attention. He said the proposal has the support of Gov. Paul LePage.

Katz noted the bill does not set the terms of the lease, which would be negotiated.

The resolve approved by the committee Monday, if approved by the Legislature, authorizes Department of Administrative and Financial Services Commissioner Sawin Millett to enter into negotiations to lease the Gannett House to a nonprofit organization for use as a museum.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com


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