Bainbridge preservationists unhappy about plans to demolish 1918 building

BREMERTON — One of the island's largest and most storied historic buildings is set for demolition in the coming weeks.

Built in 1918, the four-story Manitou Park Boulevard building has housed a prestigious boys school, a naval academy and one of the island's first movie theaters. The building, owned by University Place-based Soundcare, has sat vacant for several years and has fallen into disrepair.

But it is a "terribly significant" part of Bainbridge's history, said city Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Will Shopes.

The commission called a special meeting on Friday to respond to the planned demolition.

"I wish they'd try to save it or, if they don't have the money, try to find someone who does," Shopes said.

While the commission has no authority to halt the demolition, it is drafting a letter questioning Soundcare's decision to go forward with it.

Soundcare owns and operates the Messenger House nursing home, which neighbors the old school building.

The Soundcare project manager could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Shopes said Soundcare has shown little interest in restoring the building, which could cost several million dollars.

"I think they said, 'It's ours, we don't want it and we can throw it away,' " he said.

Commission member Sandy Burke wants Soundcare to provide information about why it wants to tear the building down and whether it considered other options.

Soundcare's permit application gives no reasons for demolition, but the building shows visible signs of serious disrepair, likely making demolition a much cheaper alternative to preservation.

Portions of the exterior have sloughed off, exposing the building's rain-soaked wood frame.

The building also has suffered from vandalism for several years.

Soundcare raised the concerns of some preservationists when it ringed the building with a tall fence last year and then demolished an adjacent 88-year-old home in November.

According to Messenger House staff, there are no plans to build on the house or school sites.

The school building was part of a second phase of construction for Moran School, a military-style academy that served some of Seattle's wealthiest families.

The building housed a library, a study hall, a 30-bed dormitory, science laboratories, and a large stage and auditorium ringed by tall windows.

The campus became home to the Puget Sound Naval Academy in the late 1930s.

The building was a focal point for north island residents when it served as a movie theater.

The building has stood vacant for more than two decades, except for a brief period in 2000 when the independent movie "Farewell to Harry" was filmed inside it.