(March 26, 1896 – March 10, 1976)
During the early stages of the Charles Street Project and Urban Renewal, organized opposition came to a forefront. When plans were introduced to the public regarding Charles Street and Temple Street demolition proposals in the early 1960’s, many Waterville residents had businesses in the demolition area. Numerous owners were opposed to having their buildings demolished in exchange for money, and leading the opposition was Rose Warren. She became a major figure who represented the organized opposition to the Urban Renewal movement in Waterville. The URA claimed to have the right to demolish her property and offered her $48,000 for the land, but she refused the URA’s offer and took the case to the Maine Supreme Court instead. The case was known as the Warren v. Waterville Urban Renewal Authority and the URA ultimately won the court case, resulting in the purchasing and demolishing of Warren’s property. The Maine Supreme Court ruling also gave the Urban Renewal Authority the capability and legal precedent to continue their demolition plans with less legal opposition.
In terms of Warren’s involvement in the Waterville community, she was a Waterville native. Warren attended school around the Waterville area, graduated from Mt. Merici Acadamy, lived on 4 Spring Street, and owned property in the project area that was acquired and demolished. Warren was also active in the community as she was a member of St, Francis de Sales Church; the ladies of Ste. Anne of the parish and the Mt. Merici Alumnae Association.
Willard Arnold Ronald Brown Richard “Spike” Carey Malcolm Fortier Cyril Joly Jr. Raymond Lemieux Donald Marden Paul Mitchell Robert “Bob” Thomas Bradford Wall Rose Warren Works Cited