After restoration, Bucksport’s Wilson Hall shines like new
‘I don’t want to see these old buildings disappear,’ says business owner after seven years of renovations
After careful renovation, Bucksport’s Wilson Hall once again looks like it did in the mid-1800s. Photo by Emily Baer.
March 4, 2026
By Emily Baer
After nearly seven years of work, the renovation and rehabilitation of Bucksport’s historic Wilson Hall is nearly complete.
The hall, built in 1851 by the Eastern Maine Methodist Conference, was purchased by local businessman and historian Larry Wahl in 2019. The town sold it to him for $1.
The Methodist conference owned the building until 1933, when it was sold to Roman Catholic Oblate Fathers, who operated St. Joseph's Seminary there until 1971. Despite being named to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the property changed hands several times but remained vacant.
By 1999, the building had fallen into disrepair and was listed on the “Most Endangered Places” list of Maine Preservation, a statewide nonprofit that promotes and preserves historic buildings and neighborhoods. The town of Bucksport acquired the building through a tax foreclosure in 2008.
Wilson Hall’s deteriorating exterior, prior to renovation. Photo courtesy of Rich Rotella.
Wilson Hall’s first floor interior prior to renovations. Photo courtesy of Rich Rotella.
“The building hadn’t been used since the 1970s,” said Rich Rotella, Bucksport’s community and economic development director. “The town had done what it could to stabilize the building but it was in very bad shape after sitting for 40 years.”
After failing to find a developer for the site, the town voted to demolish the building if a new buyer didn’t come through. Wahl knew he had to act.
“When they decided they were going to tear it down, that was it for me,” Wahl said. “I couldn't stand to see that.”
The town offered Wahl an interest-free, $65,000 forgivable loan to help with repairs.
“Larry has the reputation of being someone who can really get the job done,” Rotella said. “But this was a very big project.”
At the time, Wahl was beginning to think about retirement. The former owner of Bucksport’s famed Dairy Port Ice Cream shop, Wahl had become increasingly interested in historic preservation over the years.
“I don’t want to see these old buildings disappear,” he said. “There’s an elegance in their simplicity.”
By the time he bought it, Wilson Hall was “basically a shell,” Wahl said. He estimated the project would take about five years to complete.
Then the pandemic hit. Supply chain disruptions drove up costs and slowed progress, stretching the timeline—but the work never stopped.
The hall is one of three buildings constructed on the property in the mid-1800s. At the time, the Methodist Conference intended to create a sizable campus in Bucksport, with several additional administrative and residential buildings, a chapel, and formal landscaping.
Today only one other building, now Gardner Commons, still stands.
As work progressed on Wilson Hall, Wahl made several unexpected discoveries, including that the building did not have access to town water or sewer.
“That was the biggest surprise,” he said. And an expensive one, he added.
He also had to deal with the unexpected expense of putting in a sprinkler system as required by code.
Wahl worked diligently with local contractors to save as much of the original structure as he could. Today its original brick work, wide-plank floors and support beams are on full display. The skill and care of the original craftsmen can be seen throughout the building, alongside modern elements like heat pumps and energy efficient windows. Even the two-story square belfry has been restored.
The hall is now home to several offices, a community gathering room and senior apartments. Each space has been designed to be energy efficient, comfortable and accessible.
“I think the [original craftsmen] would be happy with what we’ve done,” he said.
Wahl’s love of history is apparent throughout the building, particularly in the gathering room. The walls are covered with historic maps, signs from bygone businesses, and photographs from the town's past. There is a wooden standing desk from the old town hall, signs, encyclopedias, and–of course–a collection of vintage ice cream scoops.
Wahl gives a tour of the building’s residential units and office spaces. Photo by Emily Baer.
Signs from local landmarks and bygone businesses decorate the building. Photo by Emily Baer.
“Larry has really given the town a gift,” Rotella said. “A lot of times we lose these old buildings and there’s nothing to replace them.”
Architecture enthusiasts and historians around the state have taken note. Last spring, Maine Preservation awarded Wahl a 2025 Honor Award. In their announcement of the award, Maine Preservation noted Wahl’s “herculean effort[s]” in saving the hall, as well as his emphasis on transforming the historic landmark into senior housing.
Shortly thereafter, Wahl received an award from the Ramassoc chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for the “excellent historic preservation” of Wilson Hall.
As work on the hall enters its final stages, Wahl says he’s looking forward to turning his attention to personal projects and his continued involvement with local organizations like the Bucksport Historical Society, the Bucksport Area Cultural Arts Society, the cemetery committee, the economic development committee, and others.
Even with just a short list of remaining to-dos at Wilson Hall, Wahl knows that the work will never truly be finished.
“There’s always something to be done on an old building, but I’m happy that we’re almost there,” Wahl said. “This wasn’t what I had planned for retirement, but I don’t regret any of it.”
