Love was in the air Monday at the former Bristol County Superior Courthouse in downtown Fall River, as members of the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River’s board gushed over the strong possibility that the museum may soon find a permanent home at the ornate former courthouse. And, for many city officials and the Bristol County Board of Commissioners, which owns the courthouse and must approve a lease, the feeling appears to be mutual.
Located at 441 N. Main St., the well-maintained granite and marble structure built in 1889 in the Romanesque style has been vacant since the new Fall River Justice Center opened last year. With high ceilings and 48,000-square-feet of available space on four floors, it offers plenty of space for large and unique exhibits that would draw families from miles around. "What kid wouldn’t want to play in a castle?" asked Children’s Museum Founder and Executive Director Ray Gordon, referring to the palatial structure.
The timing could not be better for all involved either. Talks regarding the Children’s Museum proposal to purchase and move into the former Highland School have been stalled with the city for more than a year. While the courthouse has been vacant during that period of time, it had not been considered as a possibility. But the ball got rolling downtown thanks to the collaboration of many people, including former state Sen. Joan Menard, who proposed the idea to the museum’s president, Jo-Ann Sbrega, after reading a Herald News story about the county’s desire to lease the courthouse.
It’s a perfect fit for the museum, which has been functioning as a traveling museum, operating out of city parks, schools and the waterfront, since it was founded back in 2001. While the lease agreement is not quite a done deal, as the county must put requests for proposals out to bid on the public building, the proposal has strong support from the Board of Commissioners.
Although state and city agencies have the first opportunities to use the building, county commissioners have not heard of any other interest. The maximum leasing allowed by law is five years. If the project moves forward, museum officials would form focus groups, devise a master plan with architects and decide how to phase in the exhibits, which would initially be on the building’s first and second floors.
With a permanent home, the Children’s Museum has the potential to become a major educational resource and a tourist draw to the city’s downtown.
Furthermore, the Children’s Museum would allow children and families to appreciate and preserve the spectacular architecture that this historic building offers. The timing also coincides with exciting plans for more interactive, "kid-friendly" exhibits at nearby Battleship Cove and more momentum and interest in development along Fall River’s nearby waterfront than the city has seen in decades. It looks as if everything is falling into place. Let’s hope that this is the start of a beautiful partnership and the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River can live happily ever after in a beautiful castle.