Letter: Beware: Hawthorne School could go the way of Longfellow

By The Standard Staff - 12/03/2007

Beware: Hawthorne School could go the way of Longfellow I have managed the Hawthorne Community Center Association, located in the old Hawthorne Elementary School, for the past 20 years.

My question is what is the mission and purpose of the National Park Service, which is in charge of the National Historic Register program? Do they help preserve the buildings on their register? Do they care if a building falls down around itself? Do they make owners step up and take responsibility for the preservation of these buildings? What do they do?

The Hawthorne and Longfellow schools are “sister” buildings. They were built in the same year by same person and same architect. Butte school district superintendent, Pete Carparelli registered them with the National Historical Society about 1987.

It does not take a long time for a building to deteriorate when left empty. The Hawthorne would be in the same shape if a group of concerned citizens didn’t step in and make a deal with the school district to make it a community center.

The purpose of the Hawthorne Community Center, according its incorporation, is “to preserve a historical building and provide activities for all ages in the community.” The renters in the Hawthorne are profit and nonprofit organizations that not only run an interest, but work to preserve the building. They pay all the expenses that occur and adjust their rent to do so. The Butte School District owns the property, but does not contribute financially.

Two years ago, the Hawthorne needed a new boiler. I contacted the state historical society in Helena and National Park Service in Denver. I was hoping for a low-interest loan. No help was available. So the association members started fundraising and looking for donations. We budgeted the balance and paid for it. Now it needs a roof.

If the Hawthorne should close tomorrow, the old school would follow the steps of its sister. It will be put up for sale as surplus property. The roof will fall in, and it will be vandalized and become a detriment to the neighborhood.

Likely, it would be torn down for the real estate it sits on. Does it matter it is on the National Historic Register? No! It would become history, just like the Longfellow. Hopefully, a file will be made in our wonderful new archives about these historical buildings that can’t survive.

There were no options but to tear the Longfellow down. I hope the new owners utilize the property with great success.

Susan Sayers 3205 Augusta Ave.

Butte