Gingerbread House location surveyed

NORWAY — The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments is preparing a survey and map of the proposed site for the historic Gingerbread House in hopes of winning the owner's approval to turn the building over to the Norway Historical Society.
Last year, C's Inc., a holding company for the Sun Media newspaper group which publishes the Sun Journal and Advertiser-Democrat, agreed to hold off on plans to demolish the 1855 home if the Historical Society or town wanted to move it off site. A collaborative public and private task force was formed to move ahead with the project, but no town funds will be committed to it.
Norway Downtown President Andrea Burns said Thursday that Ed Snook, chief financial officer for C's Inc., has asked the Gingerbread House Task Force for a survey showing the precise location. The house sits on the west end of the downtown National Historic District.
Because there is limited space at the western point of the triangle of land that is included between Main Street, Pikes Hill Road and Water Street, C's Inc. has been asked to give up an unspecified amount of land to make the move possible. The town owns land in the upper part of the triangle by the dam.
"Our maps to date have not located the house precisely because everything hinges on C's acceptance of the proposal," Burns said. Snook has told the task force that C's Inc. wants to give up as little land as possible to make the move work.
The task force estimates it will cost $184,382 to move and stabilize the building, plus another possible $42,000 to relocate the water main. The effort will not use any taxpayer money to pay for the project.
Task force members represent various groups, including the Historical Commission, Norway Downtown, Western Maine Arts Group and other local businesses and organizations.
The work by AVCOG and Coastal Enterprises is being paid for by Norway Downtown, which is concerned with maintaining a viable western entrance to the downtown district.
ldixon@sunjournal.com