7 Portland landmarks listed in 'peril'
Seven of Portland's oldest landmarks are in peril and without any classification or legal protection to prevent new buyers from altering them, according to a list from Greater Portland Landmarks that made its debut this month.
The list reveals five buildings and two other properties — including the 344-year-old Eastern Cemetery — deemed to be in "peril" and in need of support to preserve their historical values.
In a press release about the new list, David Robinson, a real estate broker and trustee for the organization, said that the preservation of the seven sites provides more than aesthetic benefits.
"We've seen over the last 20 years how important historic preservation has been to the economic growth of Portland," Robinson said. "Saving these properties can only enhance the vitality of greater Portland."
GPL has drafted the list — a product of its new program called "Places of Peril" — to focus on endangered historical properties in Greater Portland. The effort, the organization said, is to build community awareness about the buildings, advocate for preservation and reuse of the historic properties and provide advice and amass resources for protecting and rehabilitating the sites.
Those historic properties currently for sale and listed as imperiled by GPL include:
- The Eastern Cemetery: Portland's oldest graveyard, at 344 years old. This property needs significant investments in order to prevent complete deterioration, according to GPL, and neglected burial grounds have been subjected to vandalism.
- The Abyssinian Meeting house, 73 Newbury St., Portland: Built in 1828, it has national importance as the third-oldest African American meeting house. This property is in desperate need of further investment in order to finish an ongoing renovation, GPL states, without which the dilapidated building will continue to deteriorate.
- The Portland Co. Complex, 58 Fore St., Portland: Built in 1847, it is one of the only industrial properties dating back to the 19th century that hasn't been completely destroyed, GPL states.
- The Grand Trunk Office Building, 1 India St., Portland: This is the city's only existing part of the Grand Trunk Railroad, which has survived since 1903. Complications from attempts to transfer ownership have prevented renovations on this building, the GPL list states, and continued delays could jeopardize that effort.
- The Portland Masonic Temple Grand Lodge, 415 Congress St., Portland: This 101-year-old building is one of the finest grand lodge buildings in the state, the GPL list states.
- The Maine National Guard Amory, Broadway & Armory streets, South Portland:Built in 1941, nearly approximately 30,000 travelers pass this historical South Portland spot daily, the GPL list states.
- House Island: This 24-acre island situated at the entrance to Portland Harbor, visible from Portland's shoreline, played an important role in American history, the GPL list states.
GPL was founded in 1964, following the demolition of Portland's Union Station.
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