Fall River's Most Endangered Historic Properties
Preservation Society of Fall River announces their Most Endangered List of 2010
Fall River is home to one of the most diverse varieties of historically significant architectural styles in the United States. This very inventory is a natural resource for the city and is very frequently taken for granted by residents and past municipal administrations alike.
The Most Endangered List is born out of an effort to increase the awareness of these resources, to stimulate creative problem solving, and to assist in clarifying which properties should be kept at the forefront of Fall River’s historic preservation efforts.
1) Central Congregation Church at 100 Rock St c.1875, designed by Hartwell and Swazey.
No-one can argue the impressive beauty of this magnificent structure, famously known for hosting (arguably) Fall River’s most famously known resident, Lizzie. In the 1980’s, tough times led the congregation to sell the property. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy selling such properties in tough economic times. Discussion of razing the property arose. The property was listed on Massachusett’s Most Endangered Places. In 1989, a group of area residents organized to save the church from demolition. They formed an organization called SAVE (Save Architecturally Valued Edifices) and transformed the buildings into the Central Cultural Complex, an arts center for the city that operated at the site for eight years. Many residents recall when Aero-Smith rented the hall to video there in the early 1990’s.
George Karousos eventually purchased the property using it for the Abby Grill Restaurant, the IICA, and function hall for over 10 years.
The steeple’s bricks were falling, and it’s peak is protected in a mesh tarp, yet, it’s magnificent beauty still shines through. The property is again empty and for sale.
2) Second District Court at 45 Rock St, c.1908. The original building is built with granite and classic facade design. A later brick addition, mostly detracts from the aesthetics of the original. With the completion of the new court house on South Main St, this earlier District Court now lies fallow and empty, a situation that is almost always atrocious for historic buildings. Plans for re-use should already be in the works, and in fact, should have been planned before the new court-house broke ground.
3) Bristol County Superior Court House and Registry of Deeds at 441 North Main St, c. 1889 designed by Black and Corbett. Superior Court is built of granite in splendid Richardsonian Romanesque style, and is located at the site of where the LaFayette-Durfee House and Museum originally was before it was moved, twice.
Although the Registry of Deeds is still located in the newer 1930’s section of the addition, the older building, as is the Second District Court, remains unused, and without a re-use plan.
4) The Fall River Technical School, aka Kuss Middle School, now serving as the James Madison Morton Middle School at 290 Rock St 1929. Built of red brick in the common 1920’s functional Neo-Classical style. Certainly less beautiful than earlier architectural styles, it is still historically significant. Aside from it’s age and style, the school is home the impressive WPA mural paintings completely adorning the auditorium. In the murals, a pictorial history of Fall River, pre-colonial through the industrial revolution is painted and editorialized. The property is already on the National Registry Listing of Historic Places, but recent studies which suggest that the industrial revolution is responsible for many of our illnesses, especially cancer and diabetes, raises the significance of this history.
Currently, the Morton Middle School is located at the building, until the new Morton is completed.
5) The former Police Station at 158 Bedford St, c.1916. Built in common fashion of yellow brick and functional Neo-classical design, the station has seen it’s share of history within it’s walls as well. The Carl Drew Cult murders someday may even surpass Lizzie Borden for heinous crimes.
Controversy has been abound since the building was displaced by the new Police Station in 1997. Did the administration of the time purposefully favor a little known developer over a city favorite? Did the Real Estate Committee err in choosing cash over a more reputable developer who offered a lower bid? Either way, the city was swindled. But again, the real crime is that when forward thinking planning for our historic properties is not in place, our history suffers. Thirteen years of dis-use, and lack of maintenance has taken a tremendous toll on the old Police Station, to the point that many residents can’t even imagine an historic restoration and re-use of the property being viable.
By coincidence only, and not by design, most of the properties on this list are located within the city’s newly designated Arts Overlay District. We might hope that potential developers are able to take advantage of the district, which although has not been appreciated as of yet, would allow for much greater development potential, specifically, zoning which allows and encourages artist’s live, work, and sell space.
