To the Editor:
I was recently asked to render my professional opinion on the Curley House in Damariscotta Mills that is currently slated for demolition. My conclusions:
• The house was built as a single 50-foot long building with a large center chimney.
• The house sills are the largest on record in Lincoln County (10 by 11 inches) and are an indicator of great age.
• The original kitchen fireplace was as large as the largest fireplace in Lincoln County (the Pownalborough Courthouse at 7 feet plus).
• The ceilings were originally exposed downstairs – another indicator of a very early structure.
• The partial cellar under one-third of the house is an indicator of a very early house.
• The fact that the house does not face squarely on the road indicates the house was built before the road.
• The form of the house – three rooms long and one room deep indicates an early house, built by someone who did not adhere to the common forms of local building practices.
• The universally hewn timbers indicates a very early structure, perhaps predating the nearby sawmill, since sawn timbers were used, if available. If the frame does not predate the sawmill, then it was likely erected by a group with more available labor than money.
• The large unheated east room with sheathed walls indicates use as some sort of meeting room or commercial use. As someone who examined numerous buildings with Connie Curley looking for the original Roman Catholic Church building (St. Mary’s Under the Hill), this room is by far the most likely candidate for that building (particularly if the priest’s living quarters were part of the building).
• The building is in reasonably good structural condition.
As an expert in this field with 37 years experience repairing early frames, I am confident that necessary repairs could be done for less than $15,000. The existing building adds substantial value to the parcel. It makes no economic sense to remove it. Tearing it down is the equivalent to taking $30,000 out of the bank and burning it.
• The building cannot be economically moved – either whole or taken apart.
While I strongly support property rights, I think the owner will regret exercising his right to demolish the Curley House. Not only will he be wasting tens of thousands of dollars, but his new house will be surrounded by neighbors who profoundly disagree with his action. The usual result in such cases is that the owner winds up quickly selling his new at a loss and moving away.
The solution is for the current owner of the Curley house to buy a vacant lot in Damariscotta Mills for $80,000 (what he has spent), then sell the Curley house to the person who wants to buy and preserve it.
(Les Fossel is the proprietor Restoration Resources, based in Alna, http://www.oldhouserestoration.com/index.html.)
