ROYALSTON – A new development has arisen regarding the future of Fire Station #1, located next to the Congregational Church on the Town Common, as it turns out the site doesn’t have one owner—it has three.

At Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, discussion continued on possible uses for the vintage 1852 station. Board member Rick Martin read a letter sent by Stephen Chase, vice president of the Village Improvement and Historical Society of Royalston.

“The Village Improvement and Historical Society…is interested in the possibility of taking control and use over the Old Fire Station on Royalston Common,” the letter read. “Uses would include storage and the display of large items, such as wagons, sleighs, farm and fire equipment. Control would be ownership, repairs, and upkeep.”

Board Chair Deb D’Amico described this as a “great opportunity.”

“It’s what we were hoping for,” D’Amico said. “I think our next step is to let them know they can get in and take a look inside the building.”

However, transferring ownership may be more complicated than initially thought. When discussions about the station began in August, the board assumed that the town-owned building sits on property owned by the First Congregational Church. However, D’Amico revealed that the station actually sits on portions of three parcels—one owned by the church, one by the town, and one by abutter Werner Bundschuh.

Martin informed the board he had also received a letter from Bundschuh asking that he be kept apprised of any action taken by the board regarding the building.

In addition, Martin said there isn’t any documentation proving the town’s ownership. He said a survey of the records at the Registry of Deeds in Worcester could be arranged.

“So, I don’t know if we spend money on a surveyor or do we go through (Town Counsel) K.P. Law, and have them go through the (records)?” he asked the board. “We’re going back through time, to 1852 – where is the ownership?”

The Selectboard began weighing the future of the old station after it was determined that repairs to the roof would cost about $50,000, which members said the town does not have. The station is now being used to store an antique fire truck and other miscellaneous equipment.

Asked if permission from all three property owners would be needed before the building can be sold, D’Amico said, “The fact that the property is such a little hodge-podge, maybe we should consult the lawyers. Because it sits on three different parcels of land, rather than have a surveyor research the deed – that will tell us who owns the building, if we own it – but what do we do about that funny little parcel?”

Martin said that as long as all parties agree on the transfer to the Village Improvement and Historical Society, there shouldn’t be a problem. Martin added he would contact a surveyor to find out what a deed search would cost, while D’Amico agreed to speak with K.P. Law along those same lines.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com