A group of volunteers did the trimming, mowing and landscaping work at the old Goodall Mansion this past weekend, taking time out of their schedules to beautify this historic property, which had been left unattended all summer.
The grass was knee-high, among other unsightly results of property inattention, and a few folks decided they were tired of looking at it.
It’s this kind of attitude that makes Sanford a strong community. The cleanup effort, led by City Councilor Fred Smith, who was joined by interim Mayor Maura Herlihy and others, is an old-fashioned approach to keeping the city as nice as possible.
Those who turned out on Saturday don’t own the property or have any financial stake in it; they just want it to look nice so passersby won’t see the place as an eyesore. People like these volunteers are the ones who make communities strong because they are willing to put their money where their mouth is when they say they want to live in a nice community.
On the National Trust for Historic Preservation list since 2000, the mansion is owned by the bank now, after its most recent owner was foreclosed upon. Many residents still have an emotional stake in this site, however. The Goodall Mansion has long been a source of pride for Sanford, as it was built by the man whose investments in textiles helped build the city itself.
The Goodall Mansion Society is looking to purchase the property from the bank and turn it into a cultural and educational center ”“ an improvement that would benefit all area residents. But even if that project does not come to fruition, the mansion will also have a place in the hearts of those who know Sanford’s history as a textile town. Back when it was built, in 1871, Thomas Goodall’s textile manufacturing operations were keeping the town alive and bustling, and even though his empire eventually fell, he is remembered for building up Sanford as a major hub in this region.
The mansion, of course, is not the only foreclosed property in town that has been overrun by grass or left to deteriorate, and while the city is finding enough interest from volunteers to maintain this historic site, that’s not likely when it comes to the average abandoned house on the average street, bringing down property values and disgusting those who live nearby. Those properties need maintenance, too, and it likely won’t be done for free. Trespassing and insurance concerns can keep away even the most eager would-be lawn mower.
To that end, Rep. Anne -Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, and some other legislators are looking into legislation that would allow municipalities to be reimbursed for performing basic maintenance, such as mowing, on a foreclosed property. Once the property is sold, the town or city would be paid off for their work via a lien on the property. Such legislation sounds like a great compromise to the problem of unsightly foreclosed properties, and we hope to see it drafted and passed.
In the meantime, it’s a testament to Sanford’s pride that the Goodall mansion site was cleaned up this past weekend with no expectation of reward other than to see this iconic property restored to respectability.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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