After five years of allowing the Lincoln Mill clock tower to rot on the ground, the City of Biddeford has finally taken the step of summonsing the mill’s owners for a “blighted vacant structure.”

We’re glad that Codes Enforcement Officer Roby Fecteau has brought the summons against mill co-owners Christopher Betjemann III and Greg Bennett, and we hope it spurs them to get this iconic tower restored and hoisted back to its rightful place atop the mill. It’s unfortunate that the city did not act sooner to enforce this code, as the tower looks like it’s getting nearly beyond repair.

The historic clock tower that sat atop the Lincoln Mill for more than 150 years has instead been sitting alongside the building for many years now. Its location just next to the Lincoln Street sidewalk makes it easy for all passersby to notice its deterioration. Frankly, it’s disgraceful to see a historic artifact like this, which is so representative of Biddeford’s history, unceremoniously discarded by the side of the road, stripped down and left to crumble away.

The mill’s previous owner, McMaq, LLC, removed the tower due to safety concerns and proceeded to sell off many of its parts. And though local historians tried to save it, not enough money could be raised to keep the tower clock intact and in town. The former owner’s plan was to fix the tower itself and restore it to the top of the building, but that never happened, either under them or the new owners.

Now the city has issued the summons due to multiple complaints about the tower and concerns that it could be vandalized, fall into further disrepair or even catch fire.

The city’s action is a timely push for the Lincoln Mill owners to ramp up their long-dormant efforts to renovate and restore the tower, even if the actual clock is forever gone.

According to City Manager John Bubier, he has discussed the possibility of a historic easement with the owners, which would cover the tower and the portion of the building where it would be located. Such an easement would allow that part of the building to obtain nonprofit status, accept tax-deductible donations and raise money for the restoration, he said.

We’d like to see such an easement be granted to give this effort a boost so the clock tower may eventually be put back where it belongs instead of sitting as a rotting blight alongside the street. Support of historic structures through such programs helps owners maintain them for the good of the entire community. Unfortunately, the City of Biddeford has not shown much interest in historical preservation in the recent past, having failed to save the Lincoln Mill clock tower in the first place, and also voted down bonds for repairs to the 1896 city hall clock tower twice now, this past November and in 2007.

Perhaps seeing the Lincoln Mill clock tower on the ground for so long, its decay up close and personal, will have made an impact on some folks and will spur more people to support its restoration ”“ and with it the restoration of the Biddeford skyline ”“ in the future.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.