A condemned historic schoolhouse in Addison Township is on the verge of being burned to the ground, and one local resident is on a mission to stop that from happening.
Connie Corbin, a resident of Addison Twp., said she was appalled when she learned the 151-year-old Arnold Auditorium, located on the northwest corner of Lakeville and Hosner roads, might become part of a training burn for the Addison Twp. Fire Department.
‘To me, it’s a (source of) great American pride to have structures left (standing) like that,? she said.
Township Building Official Mike Boisvert said the Arnold Auditorium, which served as a schoolhouse until 1957, has been deemed unsafe since April of this year and that he informed the owners, the Addison Township Community Church (ACC), about the dangers posed from the leaning building.
Addison Fire Chief George Spencer said he contacted the elder board of the ACC to get them to either stabilize the building or to dispose of it.
At a June 13 meeting between the elders and the fire chief, the board decided to formalize letting the fire department use the building for a training burn.
George Newbegin, a member of the elders at ACC, said the church has ‘exhausted? finances and their historical resources in trying to save the building.
‘Back in the 1990s, we had people out there looking at it and asking what can be done to restore it, and the point is, right now, that there is no restoring that building,? he said.
Corbin said she’s not asking the church to be financially involved, but that she would like them to stop the fire department from burning it down, though there isn’t a set date as to when that would be.
‘They could shore it up (brace it on both sides to keep it safe) until we figure out what to do with it,? she said. ‘I want to get the word out and see who we can get together to start fund-raising.?
The fire chief agrees.
‘It’d be a great building to refurbish if somebody had the financial means to do it,? he said, noting he mentioned the board could even advertise the building on eBay’s website to see if someone would purchase it. ‘I would hate to see this one have to be demolished, but something has to be done because it’s gotta be safe.?
Corbin said part of the charm of living in Addison Twp. is the ‘quaintness? that the rural landscape and the buildings, like Arnold Auditorium, has to offer.
She said another resident removed the old school bell from the atop the building and is preserving it with the hopes it may one day ring again.
If restored, Corbin said the building could eventually be used to start Addison Township’s first historical museum. ‘I’m really into keeping our history alive,? she said. ‘I just want to know I tried to save it.?
Corbin said anyone interested in saving this historical building or who has more information or photos of it can contact her at (248) 628-1573.