Historical Society purchases Maysville Grange Hall
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle Historical Society has raised the funds necessary to purchase the Maysville Grange building, located at the intersection of the Brewer Road and U.S. Route 1 (Caribou Road), thanks to the public’s generosity.
Photo courtesy of Kim Smith
CHECK PRESENTATION — The Presque Isle Historical Society was recently able to purchase the Maysville Grange Hall on the Caribou Road, thanks to generous donors. Pictured from left are: Kim Smith, treasurer of the Historical Society, accepting a check for $2,000 from Sandy Gauvin, on behalf of the Gauvin Family Lighthouse Fund for the Maysville project.
“We closed on the deal Thursday, Feb. 24,” said Kim Smith, treasurer and recording secretary for the Historical Society.
The structure, most recently owned by Travis Kearney, of Mars Hill, had been on the market for some time, for the asking price of $15,000. Realizing the historic value of the building, officials with the Presque Isle Historical Society had approached Kearney about purchasing the facility.
“He was receptive to the idea and reduced the price to $10,000,” said Smith.
Fund-raising efforts began in earnest after the New Year, with the organization receiving its first donation of just over $1,000 from Ken Hayden, an Arizona historian with Aroostook County ties — including a family connection to the Aroostook War.
“This building has the potential to tell the history of the Grange movement in Maine, to list the one-room school houses that were in the area, to tell the story of the Aroostook War and the story of Maysville,” explained Smith. “Ken Hayden is already at work to have the property declared a national memorial or historic battlefield for the Aroostook War, which took place in 1838-1839.”
Photo courtesy of Kim Smith
CLEANUP BEGINS — Volunteers began the task of cleaning up the Maysville Grange over the weekend. Pictured from left are: Craig Green, president of the Presque Isle Historical Society, and Phil Brown.
The Aroostook War was an undeclared confrontation in 1838-1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America (Canada) and Maine. The dispute resulted in a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.
Since that initial donation, Smith said a great deal of public support and donations have occurred.
“We got one big anonymous donation of $5,000. The Gauvins (Ray and Sandy) have given us $2,000, as well as a number of other donations in varying amounts,” she said. “Every single donor but one was a brand new donor to us (Historical Society.”
In addition, Smith said a local title company has offered, “pro bono (free) to do the closing. And a local engineering firm has offered its services free to put the building back together.”
Smith said officials have found a couple of grants for furniture and other materials, although it may take some time to work through the grant process before it’s known if those funds will be available.
“A local handyman has offered his services free as well,” said Smith, noting donations are also still being accepted.
“Donations of any type, including in-kind donations, are appreciated as well — windows, paint, etc.,” said Smith.
Smith said the purchase of the Grange Hall was made, in hopes of securing grants down the road to benefit the firehouse restoration project. She said there are funding options available for historical projects but unfortunately there are often strings attached.
“There’s one grant out there that, in order to obtain it, you have to have a fully-operational museum, with staff. We couldn’t get it for the firehouse without having the firehouse open to the public. But in order to have it open, we needed the funds to finish the work. It was a Catch 22,” said Smith.
“To bring the Grange Hall back to life, we wouldn’t have to do much. We could then use it as a museum, with tours. It would have a different donor base and supporters than the firehouse,” added Smith. “Once it’s open and operating, we can then apply for the grant for the firehouse.”
To date, the Historical Society has raised nearly $300,000 to restore the firehouse. Smith said to finish the project will take about $1.7 million more.
Smith said the Gauvins expressed interest in helping the Historical Society purchase the Grange Hall when they heard, by doing so, the organization might then qualify for funds to help restore the firehouse.
“We’re honored to be able to help support the renovation of the Maysville Grange Hall. This project is important, not only for the hall itself, but for the continuation of other local historical endeavors,” said Sandy Gauvin.
The Gauvins appreciate what the organization is doing to keep the city’s history alive for future generations.
“As lifelong residents of Presque Isle, we are excited about the work that the Presque Isle Historical Society does to preserve the community’s past. We’re also excited that these monies can be used as a stepping stone to the future preservation of the fire station in Presque Isle,” said Gauvin.
“(The purchase of the Grange) will give us leverage in looking for other funds for the restoration of the firehouse,” said Smith.
Members of the Historical Society spent part of last weekend at the Grange Hall, looking over what work needs to be done.
“We visited the site to get a handle on what needs to be done in the weeks and months ahead,” said Smith. “We’re really excited about getting started.”
FMI on the Presque Isle Historical Society or to make a donation, contact by mail: PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769, phone 762-1151, e-mail pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com or visit online at www.pihistory.org.
