The Saco City Council’s recent decision to put the old Thornton Avenue fire station on the real estate market is a move we believe may lead to its demolition ”“ and that would be a shame.
Demolition has been proposed to the city as an economically feasible option for the 1930s building, by a real estate investment firm they consulted, and it’s surely a thought that will be considered. It is estimated that the fire station alone will cost between $338,000 and $563,000 to renovate, while tearing it down would only cost about $100,000.
Unfortunately, the old building is tied by deed to the newer administration building that sits alongside it. An earlier offer from a local businessman was $40,000, which wasn’t palatable to the council, since the administration building alone is worth more than $200,000.
The fire station is no longer suited for today’s fire service and no one would argue that point. That’s why the city voters agreed to approve construction of the brand new fire station on North Street, into which the firefighters are moving this week.
However, just because the station can no longer be used for fire service does not mean it has no value, and it certainly has historical significance to the community. Nestled in the heart of downtown, the station still sports horsehead embellishments over the bay doors, for example, harkening back to a time before mechanized fire engines. The fire station building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but has not been placed on the registry yet, and so is unprotected.
The building needs a lot of work, no doubt, which is one of the reasons why Saco firefighters have moved out, but it’s also the main reason why the building will be endangered if it’s sold to the highest bidder.
City Councilor Margaret Mills attempted a compromise Monday, asking that the building have a condition placed upon it that would prohibit demolition, but her effort unfortunately failed.
A new proposed joint venture between Saco Spirit and Thomas Merrill could save the building, though. Merrill would purchase and lease the building to the downtown revitalization group, allowing for the creation of a community center featuring a fire center museum, offices for Saco Spirit, and space for community projects ”“ maybe a public market.
Merrill has come out and said that he does not consider his investment a “business venture,” and that his main interest lies in preserving the fire station. Merrill has told the city that he would share ownership with Saco Spirit and assist in the procurement of local and state bonds to support the renovation of the space.
The area has long sought a fire museum to house the artifacts of not only Saco, but Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach as well, if not other area departments. This station would make the perfect venue, preserving not only an actual old fire house, but also providing a place for antique engines, equipment and photos.
In our rush to make a quick buck, let us not forget that history fades fast. Those of us who remember the days of open top fire engines and box alarms on lampposts are becoming fewer and fewer. Before we know it, even our current 911 system will become a thing of the past, replaced by a more comprehensive system that will more readily accommodate cell phones and as-yet-unconceived technologies.
Who knows what other changes may occur? Time moves quickly, and without a reference point it can be hard for the young to understand the past. How queer it seems now for us to imagine a horse-drawn carriage pulling up to a burning house and laying hose to the nearest reservoir while men dressed in little more than rain gear attempt to quell the flames!
Saco is faced now with the perfect opportunity to step up and take the lead in preserving this bastion of public safety ”“ and providing a space where the public can learn about the progress of the fire service.
With the proposal from Saco Spirit and Merrill, the station would also do much more than that, serving the community with space for non-profit organizations or possibly a youth center. Surely, providing a space for those services in the heart of the downtown is more valuable than the short-term influx of money that the town would receive for the property’s sale.
While Councilor Eric Cote’s concerns about the building falling into serious disrepair would be valid under normal circumstances, the city has already been told that there are people interested in maintaining the property for community use, so that does not seem to be a danger.
The only danger we see is losing the building entirely. If a bidder can be found to renovate and repurpose the building for the city’s asking price of $299,000, that would be an ideal situation, with the historic building preserved and the city getting a return. But that scenario is unlikely given the building’s condition, and we would urge the city to seriously consider the Saco Spirit proposal before it’s too late for this historic landmark.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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