NORWAY — The Gingerbread House Steering Committee will meet Monday morning to finalize its plans to move the house in the spring.

Andrea Burns, president of Norway Downtown which oversees the committee, said members will be looking at the logistics of the move and waiting for a decision by the owners of the building about the proposed move.

Ed Snook, chief financial officer for C’s Inc., a holding company of the Sun Media Group, publisher of the Sun Journal and Advertiser-Democrat, told the group earlier this year that he would consider delaying the demolition of the historic 1851 building if the group could raise at least $100,000 toward their planned move of the house just down the street near Butters Park.

The committee is hoping the owners will allow them to move it in the spring. To make the plan work the committee must also have a final agreement on the proposed new site of land that involves the town of Norway, C’s Inc. and the Maine Department of Transportation.

“That will be the decision we’re looking for,” Burns said.

Last month, the Gingerbread Task Force reached its goal to raise $100,000 when an anonymous donor stepped forward with the money during the fundraising efforts that have also garnered another $7,000-plus and a promise from the Davis Foundation of $20,000 if the group can raise $150,000 in the next two years.

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Originally known as the Evans-Cummings House, the Gingerbread House, with its octagonal tower, has graced the entrance to Norway from the north since 1851. Its builder was Richard Evans, who was considered an important contractor and also built the Nash house on Pleasant Street and the passenger railroad station at South Paris. The 80- by 20-foot building house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plans have been under development for the past several years to save the building by various organizations including Norway Downtown, the Norway Historical Society, the Gingerbread Task Force, Steering Committee, the town of Norway, Norway Water Department, Maine Department of Transportation and others.

If the committee is successful, long-range plans will be determined, but members have already agreed the building must be self-supporting.

ldixon@sunjournal.com


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