Façade repairs start on historic Bourne library. Future of building remains uncertain.
BOURNE — Scaffolding has gone up and work is underway to replace porous red bricks on the old Bourne Elementary School, now a library, near Trading Post Corners.
The nearly 100-year-old building, home to Jonathan Bourne Library, with its distinctive whaleship cupola has become a reconstruction worksite.
Voters approved replacing the front facade of the Sandwich Road structure, including one day of lead abatement. Masonry work will be done after window and roof fixes.
New bricks will closely match those removed, and new mortar will resemble the old, according to the plan. Steel supports will be installed and there will be loud noise at times that may disrupt the library patrons inside.
Kenney Masonry LLC of Holyoke, a custom masonry and tile firm, was hired for the job. The project, a decade in consideration, is expected to be completed by Dec. 22. Work will be done between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. When difficult weather threatens, workers will shift to weekends. Two will reside in a local motel.
Library trustees during their November meeting were optimistic the project would not interfere with Christmas in Old Bourne Village events.
Bourne library trustees anticipate some complaints
Bourne Public Library Trustee Chair Kristina Prodouz said on Nov. 16 that library staff anticipates patron complaints, especially when hammering and drilling are underway.
Prodouz credits Town Administrator Marlene McCollem and Assistant Town Administrator Elizabeth Hartsgrove for the project scope of the work toward assuring continued public access through the front entrance.
“They’ll be working earlier in the day,” Bourne Public Library Director Irja Finn said of the contractor. “The front entrance will be open at all times unless circumstances (falling bricks) dictate otherwise. The book drop has been moved to the (east) side of the building.”
Community Preservation Act Committee Chair Barry Johnson said $17,505 remains in a funding balance from 2014 along with $102,526 for repairs approved in 2021. He said there is also $60,000 worth of front door/entry replacement work.
Dueling arguments about future of Bourne library
Trustees say the work is significant and long overdue. Voters have wrestled with dueling arguments. The first is why rehabilitate the 1924 structure if the long-term goal is to either move out of it or replace it on-site; similar to the recent on-site reconstruction of the Sandwich Public Library.
Secondly, the library serves a town function and a widening constituency. As a town building it should receive periodic upkeep and repairs, which some trustees say have been lacking.
Where a new library project fits into the town’s capital construction plans is an open question.
Fiscal year 2025 will likely include a capital debt override to fund a southside firehouse project and possible funding to replace the leaking Bourne Middle School roof.
Select Board Chair Mary Jane Mastrangelo said the school roof has been discussed for years.
“One reason for delaying that project has been that there are additional costs if the solar panels have to be removed and/or taken offline during the solar contract period,” she wrote in a Nov. 15 email.
“The time is approaching when the age of the roof will help qualify roof replacement for MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) funding and the end of the solar contract will reduce extra costs related to the removal of the panels; or taking the panels offline during the roof project,” Mastrangelo said.
Bourne Public Library trustees said on Nov. 16 they support financing for a southside firehouse before capital-debt planning turns to the library.
Past elected trustees opted to maintain the status quo and not press for a new building. But Bourne Public Library issues this year have received more town hall attention after McCollem assigned library matters to Hartsgrove, who trustees credit with successfully guiding them through five-year strategic planning.
Bourne library feasibility study pending
All concerned say a library feasibility study remains in the municipal requests-for-proposals (RFP) phase. Prodouz says an architect will be ultimately retained to study the library and its needs, which includes meeting Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.
“We know the entire building is not acceptable to all,” Prodouz said.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne Library repairs expected to finish right before Christmas
