DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — New house owners of the Masonic Temple Constructing in downtown Dover-Foxcroft plan to revive the more-than-century-old construction and convert it into enterprise and housing area.
Years in the past, the constructing had giant storefront home windows and housed native outlets — one thing brothers Kevin, Robert and Steve Jankunas plan to carry again to reinforce the downtown. They purchased the construction at 54 East Important St. in March.
The brothers’ plan saves a historic constructing and gives retail area and much-needed housing in Piscataquis, Maine’s poorest and some of the rural counties.
Like others opening new companies and flipping areas in Maine, the Jankunas brothers noticed a possibility for a modernized, mixed-use constructing that additionally preserves distinctive architectural options. They plan to remodel the Masonic Constructing — in-built 1869 and devoted in 1870 — into retail and workplace area on the primary ground and residences on the second and third flooring, Kevin Jankunas mentioned.
The Masonic Temple on East Important Avenue in downtown Dover-Foxcroft, pictured on Tuesday; {A photograph} dated February 2021 reveals an inside space and distinctive architectural components of the Masonic Temple in Dover-Foxcroft. Credit score: Valerie Royzman / BDN; Courtesy of Kevin Jankunas
“Once we met with the Realtor, we had been like, ‘Wow, this constructing is fairly wonderful and has some nice potential,’” he mentioned.
The brand new house owners plan to replace the facade and renovate the primary ground, which might doubtless home three companies, within the subsequent 12 months. That features updating vinyl siding that’s in poor situation and opening up home windows on the decrease degree, plus electrical and different upkeep work, Kevin Jankunas mentioned.
Renovating the second and third flooring requires some creativity as a result of the third ground options a big, open area, he mentioned. A large luxurious loft would possibly work there, however the Jankunases are nonetheless brainstorming and can work with contractors and designers to establish the very best use of the area, he mentioned.
Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston organized for inmates to assist take away furnishings from the previous constructing, which wrapped up final week, Dover-Foxcroft Masonic Affiliation President Tom Boone mentioned.
The earlier proprietor of the constructing, who acquired it about 5 years in the past, didn’t make any enhancements to the historic construction, he mentioned. The person then died, so the Jankunas brothers purchased the constructing from his property.
The Masonic Affiliation paid roughly $10,000 a 12 months for heating and electrical energy as a result of it used the area for lodging and different functions, Boone mentioned.
A newspaper clipping from 1869 previews new companies and a Masonic Corridor to be in-built what at this time is called downtown Dover-Foxcroft; A newspaper clipping from 1931 tells readers about new shops coming to the Masonic Temple. Credit score: Courtesy of Courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Historic Society
“It comes right down to economics for us,” he mentioned. “It’s a huge constructing, and it is rather, very costly to warmth. We’re all getting older and we’ve got plenty of stairs to climb.”
Years in the past, the affiliation had a number of hundred members, Boone mentioned. Now there are between 70 and 80, together with some youthful members.
The constructing, constructed by Isaac Meder, was dwelling to workplace and retail outlets on the primary ground and docs’ and legal professionals’ workplaces on the second ground, mentioned Chris Maas, a director on the Dover-Foxcroft Historic Society. The third ground was the Masonic Corridor, he mentioned.
“Initially, and for a really very long time, George Meder had his watch store there,” he mentioned, noting the constructing has seen many tenants over time. “Subsequent door was Elmer Cole’s drug retailer. On the opposite aspect, often outfitters [and] typically grocery shops.”
The Charlotte White Heart — an company that supplied social providers to folks affected by cognitive or developmental disabilities, psychological well being challenges and mind accidents — made a house there within the late Nineteen Seventies.
The masonic affiliation has briefly moved throughout the road to an area above the Dover True Worth Ironmongery store. Members will meet there for about two years whereas they work on elevating funds to construct a brand new single-floor lodge in Dover-Foxcroft, Boone mentioned.
“I feel that it [the Masonic Building] has gone to superb possession,” he mentioned. “It might take a while, however down the street you’ll see an enormous enchancment.”
The brand new house owners are taking a downtown revitalization plan, accomplished in 2003, into consideration as they pursue the venture. The examine mentions the Masonic Constructing as a robust focus on the town, noting “each effort ought to be made to revitalize and restore this constructing as a historic downtown aspect.”
The constructing’s second and third flooring have distinctive traits, similar to inlays on the hardwood flooring, that the Jankunases will attempt to protect and incorporate into their venture.
“You are feeling a way of duty to ensure to do the precise factor and produce the constructing again to life,” Kevin Jankunas mentioned.
