BRIDGTON – Two aging structures in Bridgton, along with 10 others across the state, were placed on Maine Preservation’s annual list of the state’s most endangered historic properties released last Thursday.

The 1870 Goddard House, located on 3.9 acres in the rustic village of South Bridgton, and the Narramissic Farm, now a historic house museum and event location located on 25 acres of land, made the 16th annual list, according to Greg Paxton, Maine Preservation’s executive director.

At Narramissic, also known as the Peabody-Fitch Farm and derived from the Abenaki word, “hard to find,” the 1797 farmhouse and barn built in the 1830s have deteriorated over time due to deferred maintenance on the property, Paxton said.

“There aren’t many hilltop farms left,” he said. “A lot of the farms tend to be in the valley and you can’t see the kind of vistas that this farm presents. It’s a challenge to maintain large buildings like these over a long period of time. It’s really a question of constant maintenance.”

Water run-off is taking a toll on the structures at Narramissic Farm.

“The major problems have resulted from the drainage of water down the side of the hill. Over the years, the granite foundation has moved significantly,” said Ned Allen, director of the Bridgton Historical Society. “You wouldn’t know it if you looked at it, but we have to be careful not to have people in there [the barn] until we can get it shored up.”

As the historical society works to get a temporary support beneath the structures by next summer, the Narramissic farmhouse and barn will not be open to the public for safety reasons, Allen said.

“One of the walls in the foundation of the house is in pretty desperate need of attention,” Allen said.

The Historical Society became aware of the farm’s condition last winter after Christopher Closs, a field service adviser for Maine Preservation, identified the problem during an inspection of the property.

“For the last nine months or so we have had a growing awareness of this, but we didn’t realize the immediate threat. We knew we were facing a multi-year restoration,” Allen said on behalf of the society.

The same applies to the Italianate Goddard House, the other Bridgton structure that made the list.

“The fellow who owns it has wanted to restore it but he has not had the means to do so. He had gutted the interior to restore it, leaving a lot of the features, in terms of the woodwork,” Allen said.

While the fundraising for the restoration hasn’t begun, Allen said he hopes the project “will strengthen the organization in the long-run.” The society will soon undergo an engineering study in order to determine the scope of the project and what it will cost, he said.

“There aren’t many properties like the farm, that are still publicly accessible,” Allen said. During the warmer months, the grounds and buildings at Narramissic Farm are available for social gatherings, such as weddings, shows, lectures, programs and art workshops.

“I seriously doubt it will fall down, but we are cautious. The house is still available for tours, by appointment,” Allen said.

Being placed on Maine Preservation’s most-endangered list, he said, helps to focus attention on the society’s needs and spreads the word that preservation of these key structures are important for community revitalization and economic development.

According to Paxton, “while historic preservation has done relatively well in the recent challenged economy, we must continue to wisely manage and use our existing buildings, bolster our tax base and provide a firm prosperity and quality of life.”

On local endangered properties on this year’s list include the Stackpole Bridge in Saco, a 165-year-old dry-laid stone bridge that is closed to vehicle traffic due to its condition, and St. Joseph’s Church, the first Catholic church in Lewiston.

The 1870 Goddard HouseNarramissic Farm, at right, have deteriorated over time due to deferred maintenance on the properties.