ROCKLAND (Sep 12): Last week was a big one for Rockland, the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce and most importantly the Maine Lighthouse Museum. We were able to purchase the real estate (Unit One of the One Park Drive Business Condominium) that houses the museum, the chamber, our regional visitor center, the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Maine Lobster Festival. The deal is done.
Five years of planning, fundraising and physical labor culminated with a few signatures on a closing statement that allowed us to purchase a 15,500 s.f. facility for $250,000. (A great deal when you consider that an M.A.I. appraiser just appraised the facility for $1.675 million). We’re grateful to Bank of America for the final settlement, to the city for closing the deal quietly and professionally, and to Mr. Charles Cawley and other former MBNA executives who helped to make Ken Black’s vision a reality.
More than 60,000 people will come through the Discovery Center this year. The facility has served to preserve the nation’s largest and most important collection of Fresnel lenses and lighthouse artifacts. It has helped us to strengthen the regional chamber of commerce (now an 800 member organization) and has already been a factor in generating economic development in Knox and Waldo counties. We are blessed as a community to have such a facility.
Now we're working to eliminate the debt. Our second phase of a development campaign is underway. A number of prominent local businesses and individuals have already stepped up for a second time to support this worthwhile project. With the help of more businesses and the generosity of a few special people with capacity, we will complete the original vision that put us on this path. So when the fund request comes, please realize that our campaign is not yet at an end. With your help we will have a facility that will serve our community for decades to come. –H-
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