Lewiston refers to the area where the two buildings were located as its western gateway.
LEWISTON – It has been about a year and a half since city officials last spoke with Richard Hollis about their interest in buying his two buildings at the corner of Main and Lincoln streets.
At the time, Hollis wasn’t interested in selling his radiator shop or the white building next door. And the city wasn’t ready to press him.
So city officials put on hold their interest in buying and demolishing the buildings.
They decided that one day, after other downtown projects were finished, more complete plans were in place and more money was available, they would go back to Hollis and ask again.
That day may come sooner than expected.
Hollis’ two buildings were the site of Monday’s massive explosion. Both buildings were heavily damaged by the blast and the fire that followed.
People driving toward Lewiston over Longley Bridge Tuesday morning were greeted with a dramatically different view – a view that the city has envisioned for years.
Western gateway
City Administrator Jim Bennett said it was no secret that city officials would eventually move to acquire the two buildings as part of their plan to clean up that entrance into the city.
The two buildings – Lewiston Radiator Works and the former Hotel Holly, which Hollis used for storage – were at the center of an area that the city refers to as its western gateway development district.
The district runs southwest and north from the intersection of Ash and Canal streets. It includes Bates Mill No. 5 and the Libby Mill.
Over the past few years, the other, smaller buildings in the area, except for the two owned by Hollis, were bought and demolished by the city.
According to Bennett, a decision was made months ago to leave Hollis’ property alone and to concentrate on lower Lisbon Street, the city’s other gateway, until a more concrete plan was in place for Bates Mill No. 5.
That building is directly behind the site of the explosion, and it has been identified as a possible site for a conference center.
The future of Bates Mill No. 5 is uncertain. But, given the outcome of Monday’s explosion, city officials likely will not wait much longer to approach Hollis again.
“When the dust settles, we’ll talk to the owner of the property to see if there is a willingness to make a sale,” Bennett said.
Ironically, Bennett said, city officials decided last week to set more money aside to buy more real estate.
Hotel Holly
The property has been in Hollis’ family for more than six decades.
His grandparents bought the former Hotel Holly in the 1930s. Back then, people arrived by train on Lincoln Street and walked up the hill for a night’s lodging. The lounge downstairs hosted comedians and performers.
During prohibition, a secret room in the cellar was used for drinking and playing cards.
In the 1970s, the club scene changed and Hollis’ father, Henry Hollis Jr., brought in exotic dancers that the hotel would be associated with for years to come.
The hotel closed in the mid-1980s.
Shortly after, Hollis started using the building as an office and warehouse for the radiator shop that he ran next door.
Hollis couldn’t be reached during the day Tuesday for comment on his plans for the properties.
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