Rockland board votes to sell GAR Hall

ROCKLAND – The city-owned GAR Hall, also known as The Shore Village Museum, but probably most widely known as Maine’s Lighthouse Museum, will be sold for a minimum bid of $169,600.

City councilors voted unanimously Monday night to solicit bids for the Limerock Street building, which houses one of the largest lighthouse collections in the country.

According to Councilor Brian Harden, the primary reason for selling the building is the cost to operate the facility.

The Civil War Memorial Association originally donated the building to the city with the idea that the Grand Army of the Republic organization could remain there and hold meetings in the building, Harden explained after the council meeting.

In 1977, when the structure was turned over to the city, the Rockland Historical Society was formed and the U.S. Coast Guard was seeking a spot where it could display its lighthouse artifacts, Harden said.

So, the three groups took up residence at the 104 Limerock St. location and have remained there until recently.

When the new Rockland Public Library renovations were completed, the GAR and historical society collections were moved to the library basement.

In the beginning, the lighthouse collection was lent to the city, Harden said, and it evolved into a museum that has grown extensively, while the GAR and historical society collections have shrunk.

In the late 1970s or early 1980s, the city hired a full-time director, but soon the council decided not to fund the position.

Retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Ken Black soon offered his services.

Today, the lighthouse museum is a feature attraction for visitors to the midcoast and Black remains as its volunteer director.

Initially, the cost to run the museum was $3,000 to $4,000 per year, Harden said, but it is now $10,000. Last year, the operation was $20,000 in the red, he said.

If the city were to hire a full-time, year-round director for the lighthouse museum, it could cost in excess of $100,000 annually for the operation, Harden said.

The minimum bid sought is $169,600, which is the assessed value of the property.

If the property sells, the cost to move the Civil War monument to a new location would first be deducted from the proceeds, Harden said, noting that a new home for the piece has not been selected.

The remainder of the proceeds would be split, with half going to the city’s general fund. The other half would be divided equally among the GAR, the historical society and the lighthouse museum if it remains in Rockland.

The city would to find a site closer to the water to house the lighthouse artifacts.

Should the lighthouse museum move outside the city, its share would go to the general fund, he said.

“The best thing is that it would go on the tax rolls,” Harden said, referring to the sale of the property.

In other business, the council voted 5-0 to change the rules of procedure at its meetings so councilors do not have to stand when speaking.