The vacant and derelict Wilson Hall had long-loomed over the Town of Bucksport, calling out for someone to champion its resurrection.
Completed in 1851, Wilson Hall was the first of three seminary buildings constructed by the Eastern Maine Methodist Conference. The austere composition of the Greek Revival-style building commanded attention from its hilltop position overlooking the Penobscot River. The rapid rise of Methodism in the area had spurred the idea for the co-educational school, which operated until 1933. After briefly serving as a high school for the town, the Roman Catholic Oblate Fathers purchased the campus for the St. Joseph’s Seminary. Following their departure in 1971, Wilson Hall would sit vacant for nearly 50 years! Its disuse and decline landed it on our list of Most Endangered Places in 1999.
After efforts to revive the building by an out-of-state developer failed in 2010, the Town of Bucksport acquired the property and began weighing options, ranging from redevelopment to demolition. By that point, the 20th century front porch had been removed, and the roof had declined to the point where it was feared that a portion of the belfry would collapse into the building. Years of water infiltration destroyed the interior floors, permitting clear views from the basement to the sky. What remained was a brick shell.
Enter local businessman Larry Wahl, who saw Wilson Hall’s potential and put together a persuasive proposal for the Bucksport Town Council. Wahl–no stranger to old buildings, owning the c. 1824 Haywood House and having overseen the extensive restoration of the Buck Memorial Library–advocated for Wilson Hall alongside other community leaders, cultural organizations, and residents. In January 2019, following several close votes to order its demolition, the Town Council approved Wahl’s proposal to sell the building for $1 along with a $65,000 forgivable loan. The value of the loan matched the demolition and site cleanup cost but was just a fraction of what Wahl would end up investing in Wilson Hall’s renewal.
The priority was to stabilize the structure and secure it from the elements, which included repairing the foundation and rebuilding the roof and belfry base. Wahl quickly discovered that the building had not been serviced by town water and sewer, which was essential for future use. Along with clearing unkept trees along the primary sidewalk, two massive granite slab retaining walls had to be rebuilt.
Bonin Masonry carried out a comprehensive repointing campaign of the entire brick exterior, including the façade pilasters and wraparound entablature. The windows that were destroyed by vandalism were replaced. The interior build out, led by Restorations Unlimited of Maine, required half of the floors and walls to be replaced, including new stairs. This provided a near blank slate for framing, drywall, trim, and insulation in order to create six apartments, a multi-purpose room, and a laundry room. With the help of Chaffee Plumbing and Heating, Ross Electric, and Maine Fire Protection, new plumbing, electrical, and a fire suppression system were integrated into the historic shell, now serviced by nine heat pumps. The entire project team lives within a 25-mile radius, making this a truly local success story.
The herculean effort not only saved an important part of Bucksport’s built heritage, but it generated much-needed housing. Half of the new apartments in Wilson Hall are leased, intended for those 60 years and older.
The cherry on top? Wahl was able to track down a Revere bell cast the same year that Wilson Hall was built. He had it installed in the belfry, and you can now hear it ringing whenever he makes the climb to the top.
Project Participants
Lawrence Wahl, Zion’s Hill Properties, LLC
Town of Bucksport
Restorations Unlimited of Maine
Chaffee Plumbing and Heating
Ross Electric
Drywall Connection
McIntyre Trucking
Maine Fire Protection
Bonin Masonry, Inc.
Photo Credits: Lawrence Wahl; Maine State Archives
