Shame on all of us, including myself, for standing by silently while we await the demolition of the historic building that once housed Saint Francis de Sales Church.
The building was constructed in 1872 and has been a centerpiece of Waterville. Our children, and our children’s children, will someday look at vintage photos of Waterville and this structure and wonder why it was not preserved.
I understand that there are fewer practicing Catholics, myself included, and therefore the building is no longer needed as a church. This is no reason to tear down this historic structure.
We have found alternate uses for other equally important, yet seemingly useless structures. We found a use for the old Post Office, the Sterns Building, the Hathaway building, the former Waterville High School on Gilman Street and for the former Christian Science Church on School Street. None of these success stories included demolition.
The diocese says this destruction is acceptable because the building will resurrect itself as senior housing, thus the greater good. I don’t buy it. I would guess someone is making money on this transition, and it is at the expense of my heritage and that of our community. Do we really need more senior housing? And if we do, then let us find a vacant lot and build. Do not demolish this magnificent and historic structure.
Have we given up on preserving our history and our architectural prizes and then, in another breath, lament the fact that our children leave to live somewhere else? Preserving our community includes preserving our history and the Saint Francis de Sales Church is our history as well as being architecturally significant. Let it not go quietly into the night.
Charlie Giguere
Oakland
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