FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Fort Fairfield’s multi-use Farm Park pavilion, previously set for demolition, has been transferred to the Rogeski family known for hosting the County Bluegrass Fest at the property.
The Fort Fairfield Town Council voted Feb. 21 to convey the Farm Park to Stev and Nancy Rogeski, who’ve been running the County Bluegrass Festival at the West Limestone Road property and other venues for the last decade.
The Town Council previously voted to demolish the barn, due to repair costs estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars for structural roof problems. An engineering analysis concluded that the facility should not be occupied until the problems are fixed and the councilors decided that the annual revenue raised from property wasn’t worth the cost of repair.
“The major problem is the poles that some of the roof beams are on; the beams have shifted off the pole,” said town manager Jim Risner. “A lot of the poles, the beams are halfway off the pole.”
At the February meeting, councilors voted unanimously to convey the property to the Rogeski’s.
The roof of the pole barn at Fort Fairfield’s Farm Park Pavilion was in need of repairs that would run in the tens of thousands of dollars. Many of the structure’s roof beams have shifted off of their poles. (Courtesy of Town of Fort Fairfield)
The Rogeski’s could not be reached for comment and it is unclear if they intend to fix the pavilion.
The Farm Park’s 7,000-square-foot pavilion was built in 2006 by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and acquired by the town in 2009.
It’s hosted a range of events each year, including weddings and other private functions, the County Bluegrass Festival and the Maine Potato Board’s annual industry dinner.
The County Bluegrass Festival, held twice each summer at the Farm Park, is going into its 15th year in 2018 and often draws 1,000 or more people to the major summertime concerts, Stev Rogeski said in a previous interview.
