The University of Southern Maine Art Gallery in Gorham.

GORHAM — The University of Southern Maine Art Gallery on its Gorham campus retains its federal historical status after passing a recent review by the Maine Historical Preservation Commission.

The university successfully restored its art gallery following a publicly denounced renovation. An outcry in 2014 claimed a renovation had stripped away significant architectural details.

The historical status of the building appeared in jeopardy when a Gorham citizen at that time requested a commission review of the project.

A state review recently concluded restoration work undertaken since 2015 enables the building to remain on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places. The university has invested $500,000 in work that included restoration of column bases and window shutters. It asked the commission to defer restoration of some vintage window sashes.

Kirk Mohney, director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, which oversees the national registry in Maine, notified the university in a Feb. 15 letter about the commission’s decision that the structure, built in 1821, would remain on the national registry.

“We very much appreciate the Maine Historical Preservation Commission working with us to resolve this issue in a way that satisfies everyone,” said USM President Glenn Cummings, who inherited the boondoggle from previous administrations.

The commission’s decision stipulated some conditions, however. They are:
In calendar year 2019, a round, arched sash on top of a rear window will be restored and reinstalled; all window sashes removed will be stored to prevent damage; and the commission will be consulted about restoration of windows, if the building is re-purposed.

“We are now moving ahead in doing the agreed upon work, and look forward to working with the commission in the years ahead to ensure that the gallery’s historical status is maintained,” Cummings said.

The building once was a religious hall and later used for town meetings. After the town no longer needed it,  it was given by heirs of a private owner to Gorham State Teachers College, a university forerunner, in 1961. The town’s Civil War monument is on the site.

Mohney’s letter to the university said, “It is our understanding that the university has taken steps to ensure that future renovations to historic buildings for which it is the steward will be planned and undertaken in consultation with the commission. This is a positive step that will, hopefully, avoid the missteps that occurred on the art gallery project.”

Robert Lowell can be reached at 780-9089 or email rlowell@keepmecurrent.com.