|
Irish Heritage Center (formerly St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church) - Portland (c. 1888) Year listed: 1997
the church and adjacent school building were unknown. The city of Portland stepped in as interim owners while a permanent adaptive use solution presented itself. That solution appeared when the Maine Irish Heritage Center purchased the building from the city in January 2003 with the goal of providing a facility where the Irish culture can continue to thrive and spread across Maine. Maintaining a library and genealogy collection of the Irish who moved into and through Maine, as well as providing space for events and conferences will accomplish this. The sensitive rehabilitation and restoration of this building is of utmost importance to the non-profit owners. John J. O’Dea, Executive Director says, “The Maine Irish Heritage Center recognizes the importance of the historic building and has made its protection a cornerstone of our mission.” Exterior and interior work is well underway, with an emphasis on combining the new with the old. Current exterior work is focused on restoring the exterior masonry and slate roof. Since the non-profit took ownership, over $900,000 in contributions has been raised ands invested in the building. The renovations have been thoughtful, meeting the terms of state and local historic preservation guidelines, and they have been steady in their progress. In addition to grants and individual cash donations, in-kind contributions of labor and materials have been ongoing. And, even as the building has been renovated, hundreds of events have occurred including weddings, concerts, theatre performances, a St. Dominic’s school reunion, private functions, lectures, fundraising events, Celtic holiday celebrations, meetings and the popular John Ford Film festival. On May 8, 2006, the former St. Dominic’s Church bell fell more than 50 feet within the bell tower. The structural engineers and contractors are working now to stabilize the tower, which is NOT at risk of falling. The contractors are in the process of removing debris and can then determine the condition of the bell and recommend an approach to preserving the bell tower for the next 100 years. Fortunately, insurance has covered some of the costs of the calamity, but funding is still needed for an engineering study, exterior masonry repair, and cosmetic restoration. The building is also in need of a new furnace for the second floor. To find out more, or to make a tax deductible contribution to the Maine Irish Heritage Center , visit their website at www.maineirish.com or mail P.O.Box 7588 , Portland , ME 04412 , (207)780-0118. Learn about Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties success stories! 2004 Endangered List | 1999 Endangered List 2003 Endangered List | 1998 Endangered List 2002 Endangered List | 1997 Endangered List 2001 Endangered List | 1996 Endangered List |
Saved!.
Closed by the Diocese in 1997, the future of