A historical building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places is no more.
Bulldozers have demolished the old Bake House or Navy Building No 45 between the ANZ Bank in Fagatogo and the Department of Public Safety records building.
The building was built in 1919 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 as part of the US Naval Station Tutuila Historic District.
As early as 1913 the Naval commandant called for the construction of a new bakery as the old one was unsanitary and “a disgrace to the station.”
But not until 1919 did the Navy build a small, one story building as the Bake House.
The building has had a number of tenants over the years.
In the late 1970’s it was the Drug Store; it also housed Samoa Photo Express and Western Union. It later became the District Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.
But the historical building was reduced to rubble yesterday.
Historic Preservation Officer David Herdrich was asked about the demolition of the building yesterday during review of the Governor’s Office Budget.
Chairman of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee, Fagatogo faipule Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi posed the question.
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KHJ News was unable to find out why the building has been taken down without following the usual procedures for historic places.
That is for photos to be taken and drawings done of the structure so that any replacement building is constructed according to the original architecture.
It appears that a permit for demolition of the building was not obtained from the Project Notification and Review System Committee.
