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By Staff
YARMOUTH – A building owned by the town of Rumford and another that’s in both Lisbon and Sabattus are on the 2018 Most Endangered Places list by Maine Preservation.
The organization recently released its 20th annual list of endangered places, which aims to raise public awareness of endangered and threatened historic property and materials.
Since 1996, 158 places have been included on the list, of which 55 have been saved, 44 are in motion and 18 have been lost.
The latest list includes the Clough & Pillsbury Building, 109 Congress St., Rumford, and the Cushman Tavern on Middle Road in Sabattus and Ridge Road in Lisbon.
CUSHMAN TAVERN
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the house is a significant example of late Federal-style, but its most remarkable features are the Orison Wood painted murals in the first and second story hallways and stairwell, according to Maine Preservation.
Wood painted murals in the area before 1830, including at least four houses in West Auburn, Lewiston and Webster Corner. The rarity and remarkable condition make the murals important examples of early American art, Maine Preservation said.
The tavern was constructed in 1825 and owned for many years by Captain Samuel Cushman. In 1840, when Sabattus split from Lisbon, the property was divided between the towns. The building is at 921 Middle Road in Sabattus and 420 Ridge Road in Lisbon. It is privately owned, vacant, has a failing roof and significant interior water damage, Maine Preservation said. The towns recently issued a demolition order.
A contractor has approached the towns about disassembling the building (while securing the murals) and removing it from the site, but Maine Preservation said it’s willing to work with the towns and owner to preserve the house without demolition or removing it from the site. The organization is urging the towns to delay demolition — until stabilization and rehabilitation is explored — and to work with the owner or find a new owner to preserve the building.
CLOUGH & PILLSBURY BUILDING
The former hardware store, built in 1916, is vacant, but there are still historic hardware displays and inventory on the upper floors, including cutlery, stoves, tinware, paints, fishing tackle and sporting goods.
The town took ownership through tax foreclosure in 2009, and since then, a snow plow struck a back corner, causing structure and basement water damage.
“There has been some interest in the building, but there is also talk of demolition,” Maine Preservation said. “If this building comes down, it will remove the opportunity for more commercial and residential development in downtown and leave a gaping hole in the historic streetscape.”
The organization urged Rumford to secure a commitment from a developer “to rehabilitate this vital structure so it can once again contribute to Rumford’s economic future.”
Maine Preservation is a statewide nonprofit membership organization that promotes and preserves historic places, buildings, downtowns and neighborhoods. For the full description of buildings and others places on the list, visit www.mainepreservation.org/most-endangered.
