By Jay Davis
VillageSoup/Waldo County Citizen Senior Reporter

BELFAST (April 9): Belfast's historic Universalist Church on Court Street will be on the auction block May 7 as part of a bank foreclosure against the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped.

The church was constructed in 1839 for the city's first Universalist Society and was more recently home to Emmanuel Baptist Church. When that church built its new facility on Lincolnville Avenue in the 1970s, the building was for a time used for performances by the Belfast Maskers and then as a residence.

The white church constructed in 1839 is directly behind
the brick William J. Crosby School, which is NTWH's
Maine headquarters. (Photo by Jay Davis)

It was purchased by NTWH with an intended use as a center for fine arts training, though that program never materialized. John Spalla, director of NTWH, said this week from New York that the building has been “underutilized” in recent years.
“We are definitely trying to hold on to our delightful center in Belfast,” Spalla said, “and we'll do whatever we need to,” including getting rid of some properties.

Spalla said NTWH is “still raising money” for this summer's performance classes in Belfast and said it's “50-50” whether the season will be held.

The former Crosby School on Church Street that is NTWH's Maine headquarters will definitely be used in September for a writing program for Iraq veterans and in October for bakery training. NTWH sells baked goods through its Web site to help pay for its programs.

Spalla said Brother Rick Curry, founder of NTWH, is on sabbatical this year studying for the priesthood at Washington Theological Union and expects to be ordained a Jesuit priest by the end of the year. Curry has been a Jesuit brother for decades.

Tom Saturley of Tranzon Auction Properties said the church is being sold as part of a foreclosure by Camden National Bank.

A replica of the church's Gabriel weathervane glistens Tuesday
in the sun. The original was sold in 1980 by Emmanuel
Baptist Church to a Portland antiques dealer. (Photo by Jay Davis)

The 5,900-square-foot building will be offered at 2:30 p.m. May 7, with inspection dates of April 17 and 24.

In March 2005, Saturley auctioned off two Main Street storefronts during a foreclosure auction involving NTWH. The buildings were purchased for $700,000 by Ed and Judy Hemmingsen, who plan to convert them to a boutique hotel.

NTWH also sold a home on Miller Street and retains a home on Bridge Street that is used by Brother Curry when he is in the city.

The New York-based nonprofit arrived in 1995 in Belfast, after purchasing the William G. Crosby School for $200,000. The group spent a reported $2 million renovating the former high school, turning it into a center for classes in the performing arts for students with handicaps.

The annual showcase of student work has been a popular attraction. The Crosby auditorium has also been used occasionally for other productions, including the 15-Minute Festival.

VillageSoup/Waldo County Citizen Senior Reporter Jay Davis can be reached at 207-338-0484 or by e-mail at jdavis@villagesoup.com.