In a captivating twist for real estate enthusiasts and history buffs, a historic residence in Bath, Maine, affectionately dubbed the “City of Ships,” is now up for grabs with a seemingly unbelievable price tag of just $1. However, this bargain comes with a significant caveat—the new owner must relocate the house or it will be demolished.
This week, shipbuilding giant General Dynamics Bath Iron Works dropped the news, announcing that it plans to part with two residential properties, including the early 20th-century gem known as the Deering House, located at 606 Washington St. in Bath.
The critical stipulation is that the prospective buyer has until November 20, 2027, to relocate the structures to a site that meets legal requirements, ensuring their preservation.
Deering House carries with it a rich history. It was once the home of Gardiner G. Deering, a notable figure in the shipbuilding world, whose work greatly contributed to Bath’s esteemed status as a shipbuilding powerhouse in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Currently, the house serves a different purpose. It operates as office space and remains occupied by tenants, who hold leases lasting until November 2027, according to a report by WMTW.
Bath Iron Works says the buildings are being sold “as is, where is,” with no warranties of any kind.
The buyer will be responsible for “all relocation costs, including permits, approvals, licensed structural movers, transportation, site prep, foundations, utilities, and related services.”
The Deering House will be demolished to make room for a new Bath Iron Works facility if no buyers step in to save the historic residence.
“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, WMTW reported.
“The hope is that there is somebody that has a viable lot to move this to, and that it’s financially feasible for somebody who is interested in the house to relocate it and preserve the historic nature, which the community is very excited about,” Nickerson added.
Bath was once known as the “City of Ships,” and ranked third in the US in wooden-hulled vessel production in 1854, behind New York City and Boston, according to the city’s government website.
Deering built 99 vessels during his career and operated a shipyard along the Kennebec River that helped make Bath a leading center of wooden shipbuilding before the Civil War ended the boom and “changed. the face of the industry.”
Jack Martin, archivist and special collections librarian at the Patten Free Library, said saving the house would give its new owner a unique piece of Bath history.
“You would have a one-of-a-kind home and a great story,” Martin said, according to WMTW.
“Not only do you have the history of the house that comes with it, then you also have the story of being the person who moved and saved a historic home — and that’s fascinating.”
Bath Iron Works said it has already received several inquiries about the buildings.
The idea of moving a historic Maine house is not unprecedented.
In May, a 6,200-square-foot, three-story house designed by architect John Calvin Stevens in 1899 was moved about one-third of a mile through Augusta, the Kennebec Journal reported.
The 120,000-pound building was split into two sections and transported to a new lot — with the overall project costing more than $500,000.