Amid one of the most daunting financial crises in American history, home ownership is at a premium. So, of course, when a home in Bath, Maine, also known as the City of Ships, became available for just $1, it caught the attention of several people.
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If the deal sounds almost too good to be true, that's because it is. You can technically own one of the Bath, Maine homes for just a buck. But the new homeowner would also assume the responsibility of having to move. And not just moving your things into the home. The new homeowner would be responsible for physically removing the home. From where it currently sits on Washington Street in Maine. And moving it to a new permitted location. In addition, the new owner would only have a little more than a year to complete the process. Or the home could be demolished.
Two Maine Homes List For Sale at Just $1 a Piece
Bath Iron Works, the company that built the two homes that are currently on the market, must sell. Because they need the homes removed immediately so that they can have room to build new ones.
"It's important for General Dynamics and Bath Iron Works to continue to be able to grow as a company. And employ thousands of Mainers. We're looking for ways to improve our facilities." Jolene Nickerson, director of facilities capital at Bath Iron Works, said, as caught by WMTW (via The New York Post).
"The hope is that there is somebody that has a viable lot to move this to, and that it's financially feasible for somebody interested in the house to relocate it and preserve the historic nature, which the community is very excited about," Nickerson added.
One of the homes was built by Gardiner G. Deering. A prominent Bath shipbuilder who was a major reason that Bath was once known as the "City of Ships."
Jack Martin, archivist and special collections librarian at the Patten Free Library, says that the new owner would have a historic piece of history in their possession.
"Not only do you have the history of the house that comes with it, but then you also have the story of being the person who moved and saved a historic home — and that's fascinating," he said to WMTW (via The New York Post.
