Several University of Maine community members attended the Nov. 3 Orono Town Council meeting to call on members for support in preventing the demolition of Crossland Hall on campus.
In an email from Interim Dean Andrea Gifford on Oct. 3, UMaine administration announced that the Franco-American Centre will be relocating– first to Libby Hall for 18 months, then permanently to the Environmental Sciences Laboratory.
For the past 30 years the Franco-American Centre has been inside Crossland Hall, a farm house that predates the university itself. Gifford shared that the building is to be torn down and replaced by a parking lot that administrators insist will address the need for more spaces.
As indicated in “History of the Maine State College and the University of Maine,” a book by UMaine’s second president, Merritt Caldwell Fernald in 1916, the Town of Orono might have a say in what happens to Crossland Hall.
Specifically, Fernald noted that the deed to this building and the land it sits on was granted to the university Board of Trustees by Orono. In this deed, there was reportedly a stipulation that it must be used for educational purposes, based on the act under which UMaine was founded. Fernald included that if the land is no longer used for such purposes, the university is expected to return it to the town or have it paid off.
Students who wish to preserve Crossland Hall and keep the Franco-American Centre in place suggest that the original clauses of the deed should still apply today. However, it remains unclear if the town council has the right to stop this project, and if councilors are willing to take a public stance on the matter.
The first to address the council was graduate student Lincoln Tiner. He requested that the Town of Orono initiate an investigation into its rights to the land and litigate against the university to ensure the building is preserved. He also insisted that there is misinformation surrounding the actual cost of deferred maintenance for Crossland Hall, and that the number of parking spaces that would be available from that land is no more than 70, as opposed to 200.
“This is not going toward students because you can see the location of the parking lot is not best to serve students. It’s going to be for those attending a sports arena game,” said Tiner.
President of the Franco-American Resource Opportunity Group Alex Emery asked the council to see the value of the work put into Crossland Hall by community members. Emery added that the space serves as a beacon for local residents of Franco-American descent and that he considers it “the most hospitable place on campus.”
Graduate student Tom Pinette stated that what he considers to be an “ill-planned destruction” of the building puts community-engaged research and projects at risk. He feels that with the town being a connected proprietor of the land, councilors should step in to stop the university from violating the original deed.
Student and Hudson Museum Intern Finnegan Christian expressed concern for fragile archival files that could become damaged or lost if moved to multiple locations. History Professor Liam Riordan shared a similar sentiment that there is no way to recover the rich history that would be lost if Crossland Hall is demolished.
Graduate student Paula Castiblanco said that the value brought by the Franco-American Centre within the building cannot be compared to a parking lot because those additional spaces will not bring engagement.
Student Gabriel Veilleux shared that his grandfather, as a child, was told he could not attend school as a French speaker. Veilleux feels that Crossland Hall helps process historical grief of this nature.
UMaine alum Michael Munson also addressed the council to say that he has a 45-year relationship with Crossland Hall and that it is intertwined with Maine’s agricultural heritage. Deborah Dean, another UMaine alum, expressed her and her family’s personal connection to the university and the building itself as previous students.
“Please don’t tear this down… It’s just not right,” said Dean.
Following these testimonials, Council Chair Dan Demeritt responded by saying that it would be “unexpected and extraordinary” for the town council, as an institution, to tell another institution to change paths. He also wants to know if there is any actual legal standing, ultimately expressing that more information is needed for any sort of case to be made.
Town Manager Clinton Deschene added that it is unclear how much an attorney would cost, even for the purpose of finding out if there is a case worth pursuing. He also stated that there are other factors to consider, including that it has been 160 years since the land was turned over to the university.
Councilor Leo Kenney added that he does not feel comfortable micromanaging another entity, and that moving the building to another spot sounds like a potentially viable option.
Councilor Matt Powers inquired about the possibility of the UMaine Student Government (UMSG) helping to prevent the demolition, given its access to an attorney. As of now, UMSG has not taken an official stance on the matter but senators are actively seeking more information in hopes of finding a solution.
Finally, Council Vice-Chair Sarah Marx suggested that the Orono town manager initiate an informal conversation with the university regarding this project. She believes that doing so could lead to a collaborative solution while still preserving a respectful relationship between Orono and UMaine. She added that it is not common for the council to be met with this number of people, and for that reason it is worth looking into the cause.
The next Orono Town Council meeting will be held on Nov. 17. Demeritt is open to reviewing any legal opinions or new information that may be presented on the topic. The plans to tear down Crossland Hall will be proposed to and considered by the Board of Trustees in the next few months, with the Franco-American Centre moving out over winter break.
