LEWISTON – The fate of the Bradford House on Pine Street has been foretold with one word painted on century-old bricks. The word is “Roland” and it promises that the historic building will be torn down by demolition expert Roland Chabot.

A month after a suspicious fire damaged the building, the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board voted to have it torn down. It was a narrow vote and one that followed passionate debate.

“It was a very good discussion,” said Gil Arsenault, director of code enforcement in Lewiston. “It was a very difficult decision for the board to make. It’s a beautiful building.”

The board voted 4-3 in favor of demolition and agreed to waive a 90-day waiting period. Damage to the building from the fire was estimated at $1 million.

Potential dangers in leaving the vacant structure standing prompted the waiver.

“Given the extent of damage, it was not seen that the property could be rehabilitated,” Arsenault said. “The consensus of the board is that the fate of the building has been sealed.”

Roland Chabot Demolition of Auburn marks buildings to be torn down with Chabot’s given name, and is expected to begin his work soon, though no specific date was available.

The future of the property on which the Bradford House sits was not immediately known. The building is owned by 8th District Court Judge Paul Cote and his mother, Joan. The building stands close to Pine Street between Bates and Park streets.

“It really frames that block,” Arsenault said. “It’s really going to leave a gap in the downtown. It’s sad to be losing such a nice building.”

The Bradford House, designed by architect George Coombs, was originally a private home and office space for homeopathic physician William Bradford in 1876. He practiced there for 50 years.

Before the mysterious Fourth of July fire gutted the building, three law offices worked out of the Bradford House. On the first floor was Cote, Hamann and Fournier; on the second floor was Chris L’Hommedieu; and across the hall, John Whalen.

The fire apparently started in the basement at the rear of the late 1880s-vintage building and burned a small portion of the first floor. Flames later made their way up a pipe chase to the third floor, which was used as a storage area.

Although police have not declared the blaze an arson, it has been treated as suspicious almost from the start. Police and fire investigators have been searching for potential witnesses who may have seen someone in or near the building shortly before the fire was reported.

By Friday, no arrests had been made and no official cause had been released.