Future of Guilford building to be decided at town meeting

GUILFORD – A special town meeting will be held next month to decide the fate of the so-called J.K. Edes building on Water Street.

Town officials had tentatively planned to demolish the old building, which is in need of serious repair, but that move was halted when town officials were presented a petition from the Guilford Historical Society. The building, former home of Burt’s Bees, was donated to the town by KeyBank.

The petition, signed by more than 100 residents, asked that the town give the Edes building to the historical society for restoration, as well as the adjacent Braeburn lot. The residents also asked voter approval for the design, construction and expenditures of funds for the Elm Street revitalization project.

Selectmen agreed Tuesday to hold a special town meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 17, at Piscataquis Community Middle School to act on the Edes building request. The Elm Street project will not be included on the warrant, Town Manager Tom Goulette said Wednesday.

Goulette said the Elm Street project was decided at the March 15, 2004, town meeting, and on the advice of legal counsel, this article would be illegal because of prior contractual agreements.

Robert Shaffer, historical society president, said members of the society want to restore the 1850s building because it blends well architecturally with its surroundings, including the Scales Building across the Piscataquis River and the Guilford Memorial Library down the street. Shaffer said Roxanne Quimby, who operated Burt’s Bees from the building, has offered a matching $50,000 grant to the society for the restoration of the building.

The downtown revitalization committee, on the other hand, had hoped to remove the neglected building to allow for multiple downtown retail development that would cater to the needs of local residents, such as a dentist’s office.