The Historic Main Building at St. Paul’s is not safe for human entry because of the presence of high levels of lead and dust in the air, announced Mayor Robert J. Rothschild at the October 1st meeting of the Garden City Board of Trustees.

The Garden City Historical Society had requested the Village allow public tours of the building. “Unfortunately, the air samples that we got were not good, to a point of they’re at a level that we cannot allow tours of the building,” the Mayor said.

He added that only firefighters trained in the proper use of breathing apparatus can now enter the building if necessary due to fire or life-saving efforts. Any developer interested in the building will have to look at it from the outside, the mayor said.

Resident Bill Bellmer said he was surprised the air quality samples did not reveal a high presence of mold.

In other St. Paul’s news, Brian Pinola, president of the Garden City Historical Society, asked when the building’s fire sprinkler system will be drained. Village Administrator Robert L. Schoelle, Jr. responded that the system in the building will be drained as soon as possible so the pipes won’t freeze and possibly burst. Pinola suggested that the system remain on until at least December to help prevent a hazardous situation in case of fire.

Thomas Pinou, president of the Western Property Owners’ Association, said he has toured the Historic Main Building in the past and has more than 60 photographs he would be willing to share. Mayor Rothschild said any resident who would like to share photos of St. Paul’s, or have anything else of possible historic value, should contact Brian Pinola at the Garden City Historical Society by sending an e-mail to info@gardencityhistoricalsociety.org.