Maine Preservation on Wednesday announced its annual list of most endangered Maine properties, including Stimson Memorial Hall in Gray and Old Town Hall in Bridgton.

The list, released annually since 1996, is intended to identify and raise public awareness of interest in preserving endangered historic properties across the state. Of the 113 places listed since 1996, 53 have been saved, 26 are in the process of being preserved and 18 have been demolished.

“Maine’s Most Endangered Historic Places List for 2015 illustrates the broad range of historic buildings and structures that are community assets across our state,” said Greg Paxton, executive director of the nonprofit organization. “Preservation of these key structures can be a catalyst for, economic development, community revitalization and continued quality of life for the citizens of Maine’s towns and cities. Through historic preservation, our communities can wisely manage and adaptively use existing buildings, bolster our tax base and provide a firm foundation for future prosperity and a sense of place.”

This year’s list includes:

– Vaughan Wood stone bridges, Hallowell: Seven dry-laid stone bridges built between 1890 and 1930 connect a network of trails in the Vaughan Woods, a preserve maintained by the Vaughan Homestead Foundation. Two bridges have been closed since 2014, one of which was deconstructed this year because of safety concerns. Each bridge requires critical structural repairs.

– Stimson Memorial Hall, Gray: Featuring a two-story temple front facade, the hall is considered one of the most architecturally prominent buildings in Gray. In late 2014, Gray began obtaining bids to demolish the hall with an agreement to list the property for sale for a short period of time.

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– Old Town Hall, Bridgton: The hall was built in 1852 as the town’s primary municipal and community center. Voters have twice defeated efforts to stop the town from continuing to invest in the building.

– Old Surry Schoolhouse, Surry: Built in 1872, the school served the town for 140 years as a school, firehouse and community center. It has been vacant since 2014 and is now under threat of demolition by practice burn if a new use and funds are not found for repairs and upgrades.

– Oak Grove Chapel, Vassalboro: Built in 1786 and listed in the National Register in 1977, the chapel was one of the first Quaker meeting houses in Maine. Fundraising efforts are under way to restore the property.

– Weston Homestead, Madison: After more than 225 years of ownership, the Weston family is looking to sell the house, which Maine Preservation says is remarkable for its unaltered condition and its connection to the early settlement of the area.

– James O. Crooker House, Norway: Built in 1865 by a noted tinsmith, the house and its neighborhood are key to continuing the revitalization momentum in downtown Norway, according to Maine Preservation. The house has been vacant for three years and is falling into disrepair.

– Jonathan Eddy House, Bangor: The 1855 house serves as a reminder of the wealth and ambition in Bangor in the early 19th century, according to the organization. It has been unoccupied for nearly a decade and will continue to deteriorate without maintenance.

– Keen Hall, Freedom: Built in the 1850s, the house has been vacant for five year and was acquired by the town due to tax foreclosure. The Freedom Historical Society recently purchased the building, but financial support is needed for its rehabilitation.

– J.M. Rice Block, Houlton: Built in 1897, it is a contributing building to the Market Square Historic District of Houlton, which was listed in the National Register in 1980. Rehabilitation efforts were put on hold when the owner’s financing fell through and the building has been vacant for more than a year.


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