FALL RIVER — The Preservation Society of Fall River on April 24 released its 2025 list of the city’s “Most Endangered” properties — including one historic building that’s literally undergoing demolition after being nearly destroyed by fire.
The nonprofit group marked the 20th anniversary of its revival with a meeting open to the public held in The Historic Abbey at 100 Rock St. — the former Central Congregational Church, itself a historic property that the Preservation Society once helped save from the wrecking ball.
“Fall River is home to one of the most diverse varieties of historically significant art and architectural styles in the United States,” said Preservation Society President Alex Silva, adding that the city’s inventory of historic buildings has taken for granted in the past and slowly dwindled.
“The Most Endangered list was born out of an effort to increase the awareness of these resources, to stimulate creative problem-solving and to assist in clarifying which properties should be kept at the forefront of Fall River’s preservation efforts.”
‘Not worth risking anybody there’: Fall River’s dilapidated former Silvia School fire
The former Silvia School, damaged in a fire in March 2025, undergoes demolition on Hartwell Street in Fall River on April 28, 2025.
Former Silvia School, damaged in fire
The former school on Hartwell, built in 1902, was in use for about a century before being replaced and sold to developer David Hebert. But redeveloping the old school proved challenging. After Hebert’s plans never materialized, the Preservation Society urged the city to retake the building and put it on the market again.
However, just before a viable bid process could begin, the long-vacant school was hit by a devastating fire. Four juveniles have been arrested and charged with arson. One portion of the school complex is undergoing demolition.
“The remaining half, the multi-story brick portion on the left, will be spared for now as the city issues a new request for proposals to dispose of the property,” Silva said.
He said before the fire, the Preservation Society had been working with the city to tweak an RFP to “maximize the chances of redevelopment — we were trying to change some language to make affordable housing more enticing to developers.”
‘Get that building down’: Time’s up for Fall River’s old police station
Former Fall River police station on Bedford Street Thursday Oct. 5, 2023.
Central Police Station could have a date with a wrecking ball
The city has spent years unsuccessfully trying to unload its decrepit, contaminated police station on someone — anyone — with a viable plan to redevelop it.
Built around 1915, the city has sold the Neo-Classical brick building on Bedford Street multiple times to developers who saw the property degrade even further. Now surrounded by chain-link fence to protect passersby and prevent squatting, Fall River has reclaimed the building and may be close to demolishing it.
“The Preservation Society continues to advocate for the redevelopment of this building over demolition, suggesting that the city should handle remediation and stabilization efforts rather than expecting a private developer to do it,” Silva said.
If the building is torn down, however, the society “has requested that the city deconstruct, rather than demolish, and preserve historical elements of the façade, like the eagle and such.”
The Durfee Mill complex on Plymouth Avenue in Fall River is seen on April 28, 2025.
Durfee Mill: Group says complex is under-used
The massive mill complex on Pleasant Street isn’t vacant, being home to several businesses — but, Silvia said, “various parts … are in a state of neglect.”
The complex, which is adjacent to the nearby Union Mills where PrimaCare has its home, was built between 1866 and 1904, and most of its original buildings survive. According to its listing in the National Register of Historic Places is “the finest granite industrial complex in Fall River, outstanding in its styling, scale, site plan, use of materials, detailing, craftsmanship and intact quality.”
“Only sections of the complex are in active use every day, which makes the potential for redevelopment more enticing,” Silva said.
The Davol Mill complex on Plymouth Avenue in Fall River is seen on April 28, 2025.
Davol Mill: Dilapidated brick building ripe for redevelopment
The complex on Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street with the mansard roof was built in 1867, the oldest brick mill building in the city. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Corky Row Historic District — but is severely dilapidated and largely unused.
“Potential redevelopment of this mill would have an outsized impact on the city,” Silva said, citing its prime location in an economically depressed neighborhood.
The former William Connell Elementary School is on Plymouth Avenue in Fall River, seen on April 28, 2025.
William Connell School suffering from neglect
Another former school building at 450 Plymouth Ave., the Connell School was built in 1893 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prominent local architect Joseph Darling built the school as a twin of the Davol School in the Flint, which according to the National Register application are “fine examples of the type of sturdy late 19th century brick schoolhouses which in their design and detailing rises above the level of simple functionalism.” It was closed in 2008 when the School Department closed an assortment of smaller neighborhood elementary schools and consolidated students into larger buildings.
It’s also open to the elements, Silva said, “especially in the upper levels, and it’s decaying by demolition via neglect at this point.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Preservation Society of Fall River: City’s 5 most neglected properties