As efforts continue to protect and preserve Wells College’s buildings and collections, one group is seeking its inclusion on an endangered sites list.
Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY) President Andrew Roblee told Finger Lakes News Radio that PACNY is nominating the college for the Preservation League of New York State’s 2025-2026 Seven to Save List. If selected for inclusion on the list, the Preservation League will provide technical assistance, advocacy, and visibility for the preservation of the Aurora-based campus.
“It’s our hope that by nominating Wells, we can attract that kind of attention to some of the things we’re concerned about.”
Citing financial challenges, Wells announced it would close its doors following the spring semester after over 150 years in the Village of Aurora.
Following the closure announcement, many questions and concerns were raised about the future of the campus and its historic collections. For example, the Wells Legacy Society was formed earlier this year and has been calling on elected officials to intervene and prevent the college from shutting off heat and water to the buildings during the winter, something the society says will cause “irreparable harm” to the historic buildings and the collections contained inside.
Roblee, himself a Wells alumnus, added that concerns include the immediate future of the buildings with winter weather approaching and the desire to keep as many of the historical artifacts and collections as close to the Aurora as possible.
“My hope is by nominating the campus to the Seven to Save [list], the league can lend its time and resources to help all of these groups and the attorney general’s office and the Wells College Board of Trustees to hopefully bring us all together so that we can find a path forward that protects these buildings and the legacy of Wells.”
The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 1. Nomination information can be found on the league’s website.
Additionally, Roblee said anyone wishing to write a letter of support for Wells’ inclusion on the list can email a letter to [email protected].
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