LEWISTON – Local historians are moving to protect the Dominican Block, a five-story building at Lincoln and Chestnut streets.

They’re asking Maine Preservation to put the building on its list of historic endangered properties.

“All we are trying to do is put a spotlight on this building and the fact that it’s in bad shape,” said Doug Hodgkin, local historian and member of the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board.

The building opened in January 1883 as the Catholic parish’s school. The second and third floors housed the classrooms, and a large community room occupied the fourth floor. Retail stores were located on the first floor.

The Queen Anne-style building was designed by Lewiston architect George M. Coombs. It is listed on the national Register of Historic Places.

Being named to the list is good for attention, Hodgkin said. The Maine Preservation group highlights 10 Maine properties in June each year.

“There is no money triggered, and no legal protection because of this designation,” he said. “It does raise public concern about historic buildings and hopefully brings it to the attention of people that might be willing to help save it.”

Maine Preservation has highlighted two buildings in Lewiston in the past 10 years: The two-story office building in the Bates Mill Enterprise Complex in 2005 and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in 1999. St. Mary’s was later taken over by the Franco American Heritage Center and renovated to be used as a performing arts space.