The Tape Goes up

Around old mill buildings, soon to be razed.

What We're Dealing With

A site that for more than a century and a half has been used for industry.

And no one, of course, kept detailed records of what buildings were razed when or what is buried at Stillwater. Who knows what else lies beneath where our library will be built? Drillings have revealed a potpouri of debris, which we must excavate before we can lay the foundation. Folks, this is an archaelogical dig -- and the uncertainties of this phase are one big reason that costs have gone up since the original estimates, more than two years ago. Most recent example of The Unknowns That Await Us: We have found a hidden drain line we never knew existed.

From the Architect's notes from the most recent weekly construction meeting: ``Sherman and Dan discussed the additional drain line at the south end of the site. Dan believes it is a culvert carrying the stream away from a pond in the neighborhood on the other side of Harrisville Main Street. Sherman will locate it on the site plan and as well as the utility company shut-off valves from the old water line at the south end.''

Sherman Vogelaar is with our contractor, and Dan Joubert is our clerk of the works.

About that fence

With more than 150 years of industrial debris, along with rotting old buildings, our site is, to put it mildly, dangerous. And it will get more so with construction, as the old buildings come down and excavation proceeds -- so that's why the chain-link fence has gone up. Hard hats only out there for now. But Burman will create a safe area for the groundbreaking, Sept. 24, 4 p.m. As noted, Sen. Jack Reed will be the keynote speaker, and we expect that the Governor and Lt. Governor, along with several other dignitaries, will attend.

Site Work Begins

With the contract signed and all approvals granted, Burman has moved a construction trailer onto the site and begun some preliminary clearance work. A chain-link fence will soon be erected, as will a sign. Preparations continue for the groundbreaking. A spokesman for the company reports that ordinary hours of work will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, with occasional Saturdays. And the new building committee has hired a clerk of the works: Dan Joubert, a longtime Burrillville resident with impressive credentials and a firm understanding that the new library is an important addition to the community and the cornerstone of the entire Stillwater Mill redevelopment project. After a lengthy selection process that included interviews, Dan was the unanimous choice of the committee.