The Restoration Undertaking
Restoration has begun. Our first priority
was to secure the building and to make it safe. We then proceeded to remove the
asbestos – a job that proved to be time consuming and expensive, well beyond our
original estimate. That work alone took six months, concluding late 2005.
Concurrent with this work, an architect has been engaged to do the programming space requirements. All the constituents have been interviewed and alternate schemes have been reviewed. During these early design discussions, the focus has always been ensuring that the facility will continue to be a gathering place for the citizens of Wakefield and neighboring communities.
The next phase of work, already underway, includes securing the priceless stained-glass windows which honor the various branches of the U.S. Armed Services, winterizing the building, cleaning extensive debris inside, and demolishing a poorly constructed late addition to the building (a motel).
Summers are short in Wakefield and in spring 2006, replacement of the buildings roof is planned. This work alone will deplete most of our initial budget. However, the work cannot wait because the harsh winters continue to take their toll on the building.