Maine Preservation honors Augusta, Bridgton, Hallowell, South Paris projects

Projects in Augusta, Bridgton, Hallowell and South Paris, as well as Renys Inc., have been awarded 2019 Maine Preservation Honor Awards.
The awards recognize projects that find ways to reuse historic buildings, making them relevant while also preserving their history.
For full descriptions, as well as all the winners, visit mainepreservation.org.
Renys Inc., Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. Preservation Champion: The first Renys opened in October 1949 in Damariscotta. The company now has 17 stores, 11 in downtown areas and 13 in historic buildings. A 14th building was donated to a nonprofit. The Damariscotta and Farmington stores were renovated using historic preservation tax credits, and the one in Gardiner is slated to be.

Augusta, Hartford Fire Station: 1 Hartford Squar, is the primary fire station for the city of Augusta. It was designed by Bunker and Savage, built in 1920 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Renovations included a 11,600-square-foot addition, built to match the character of the historic station. The renovation is cited for “creative thinking helped rejuvenate this 99-year-old community resource through a combination of rehabilitation and new construction that restored this landmark and brought it up to modern safety standards.”

Bridgton, Webb House — Rufus Porter Museum. Two historic houses showcase the work of Rufus Porter and other New England folk artists. The house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, but had deteriorated. The Rufus Porter Museum acquired the house in 2011. Much of the renovation work was done at a discounted rate or in-kind or done by volunteers.

Hallowell, Stevens Hall, Maine Industrial School for Girls: The building was built in 1938 and is the largest structure on the campus at an imposing 4,700 square feet and it features an octagonal wooden cupola, a concrete portico and two-central chimneys. The Stevens School closed in the 1970s and was later used for state offices. In 2003, the state put the campus up for sale, and it remained vacant until 2016, when Mastway Development bought the complex for the redevelopment. Using state and federal historic tax credits, the owners have rehabbed the building to provide student housing for the University of Maine at Augusta. The work was completed with guidance from Sutherland Conservation & Consulting.

South Paris, Mildred M. Fox School: The Mildred M. Fox School has been an anchor of community life in Paris for 125 years. Avesta Housing of Portland bought the building in 2016 “and undertook the challenging task of transforming the building into critically needed affordable housing for seniors.” The town had the vision to save the school so it could benefit the community, Maine Preservation said, and Norway Savings Bank, a key partner, facilitated the acquisition of funding and championed the project, said Maine Preservation. The $3.2 million Avesta project will enable local seniors to age in place safely and affordably; the majority of the units are occupied by residents of Paris and Norway.

TOP PHOTO: Renys in Farmington, one of three of the chain’s 17 stores renovated using Historic Renovation Tax Credits. (Maine Preservation photo)
Hartford Fire Station in Augusta. (Maureen Milliken photo)
Rufus Porter Museum in Bridgton (Maine Preservation photo)
Stevens Hall in Hallowell (Maureen Milliken photo)
Mildred Fox School senior housing in South Paris (Maine Preservation photos)