The New Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library

Sneak preview continued...

2007-10-18T14:06:00.000-05:00

Carpeting is being laid in the main reading area where new materials and popular items will be housed as well as a comfortable lounge area for adults.

Granite benches constructed from mill salvage, rhododendrons, and other landscaping details are in place behind the library.

Connections for computers available for short term public use appear on the wall of the reference desk. Other general internet stations will be available nearby. The open door seen in the background leads to the Staff Only areas of Periodical Storage and Reference Work Room.

The portal to the right of the clock leads to 3 quiet study areas – matching smaller rooms on the left and right and a larger room (shown below) in the back.

Our Local History Collection will be easily accessible, yet have additional security measures established when stored here. You can learn about the history of our town and perhaps be inspired to contribute to its vibrant renewal.

There’s so much more for you to see; thank you for your support and patience!

WARNING – IF YOU’VE NEVER PEEKED AT A PRESENT BEFORE YOU SHOULD HAVE, LOOK NO FURTHER!

2007-10-18T13:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, if you’ve come this far, I’ll share with you what I’ve seen. (It’s impossible to hold this much excitement inside!) Construction of your new library is rapidly nearing completion. This view from the children’s nook on the upper floor shows how spectacular autumn in Harrisville can be.

Blue tape awaits removal on the windows of the Young Adult room. (Yes, teens will have a space for themselves with a solid book collection and computers awaiting their arrival.)

The circulation desk is designed to provide private space for those applying for new library cards and check outs will be completed more easily. A ‘book drop’ lies behind the closed door seen to the right of the wall clock. Actually, this Returns drop accepts video, DVD, CD and audio formats, also.

See more in the next post.

Summer Construction Updates

2007-07-26T16:57:00.000-05:00

For all the latest on the our new library construction this summer, please be sure to check out Clerk of the Works Dan Joubert's weekly site reports.

Have a great summer!

A Road Runs Through It

2007-05-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

While work continues on finishing the exterior siding, construction has also begun on the new roadway that will lead from Main Street to the front of the library. The "Annex" parking lot where the construction trailers had been located is gone (the trailers are now down within the work site).

First photo shows the Main Street entrance. Next is the sweeping approach to the main library entrance.

Recent shots from the river side show the building is really shaping up.

Did anyone notice how cool it looked the other night when the interior lights were inadvertantly left on after the construction workers left for the day? Unfortunately we did not have the camera at hand that night to record the impressive sight.

And now- the views!

2007-05-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Looking out of the prow window you can see across the stone bridge to the Mill Pond. In the other direction you will see the lower end of the River Walk and a good way downriver. The old Dye House (behind the stack of blue insulation board) is scheduled to be demolished. A grassy park area will replace it.

The Childrens' Program Room windows will overlook the entrance road coming in from Main Street. The Administrative wing is visible below toward the right with a large planting bed in front of its windows

Below- looking out the side window of the "Reading Nook" area of the main children's room

Another "inside" look

2007-05-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

On May 9 The Building Committee was given a tour of the project and the library staff was invited along to get a feel for their future work space.

Here staff are standing in the "Local History Room" as viewed from the middle of the main shelving area- only the outlines of rooms on the lower floor have been laid out. Partitions go up soon. The main windows look out onto East Avenue.

Upstairs in the Children's Wing, steel partitions are up. This view shows the
entrance to the kids' bathrooms with the pre-school collection area to the left.

This shot is looking toward the "prow" where a cozy window seat will allow children & parents to enjoy the view while reading together.

See the floor plans (link on the library's home page) to get a better idea of what these photos depict.

2007-05-11T14:08:00.000-05:00

By May 4 the front entrance is closed in and masonry finishes have been completed. The large window above the entrance is the Children's Program Room.

Cedar shingles are being applied to some areas and masonry block has been applied in others. The building is designed to have a variety of exterior finishes reflecting the hodgepodge of finishes that appeared as the former mills expanded over time. Note that some of the windows have been installed!

Inside, more concrete has been poured for floors and steel partitions are going up.

A week or so later-

2007-05-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

The masonry block and clapboard siding has been finished on the end of the "Stack Room" and they're working along the side

Much of the river side has been closed in. Blue & yellow insulation board covers the "prow" jutting out from the Children's wing - the views from the "reading nook" located in this overhang will be spectacular!

Catching up. . .

2007-05-11T13:22:00.000-05:00

Sorry that we've fallen so far behind in posting to the blog! Hope everyone has been viewing the weekly site reports to keep up-to-date.

On March 23 I was able to visit the site and see some of the progress close-up.

The view of the front of the library is a bit hard to see from behind the fence so here's what the approach looked like a few weeks ago. The next shot is the main entrance with just the steel in place.

The wood trusses and plank ceiling of the main stack room look great from inside! The "floor" looking toward the staircase and elevator is not so great- just mud and dirt at this point.

Finally, here's the almost finished retaining wall below the restaurant as viewed from the walkway outside the library staff entrance,

The Walls are closing in!

2007-03-23T15:02:00.000-05:00

But unlike in our present overcrowded library we are HAPPY to see these walls! One day there was only naked steel and next day the insulated sheathing is almost completely installed on the new library's first floor. You can begin to see the placement of windows more clearly now in these pictures taken March 22.

Today, concrete was poured for the upper floor in the Children's Wing. By next week we may be pretty close to being all closed in.

They're here!

2007-03-10T14:07:00.000-05:00

The Northwest Corner Community Cookbooks have arrived!! Boxes and boxes of the fundraising cookbook were delivered recently and are now available for purchase (or pick-up if you pre-paid) at the library, 144 Main St, Harrisville.

Those who have already snapped up a copy have been impressed by the quality of the Cookbook filled with 350 recipes contributed by your friends & neighbors in Burrillville. [There's even an index by name to help you find your own or a friend's recipe]

Get yours today! Each book is only $10.95 and they make a GREAT gift. [ Remember, Mother's Day isn't that far off. ]

Cookbooks will also be on sale at the Capital Campaign Committee's giant Vendor and Craft Fair at the High School on Saturday March 17. Take care of all your gift-giving needs in one stop shopping.

A Roof Over our Head

2007-03-10T13:54:00.000-05:00

You've got to give the workers credit for braving the really c-o-l-d weather to get the plank roof up over the trusses in our new Stack Room. They got it done in jig time. For some other views from inside and up ON the roof check out the site report for March 8!

In this view looking down toward the Administrative wing you can see the cap on the top of part of the retaining wall between the new library and the restaurant above.

Winter showed up

2007-03-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

We knew it couldn't last, right? Winter finally arrived in February bringing biting cold, snow & ice and slowing activity on the site a bit. Still, progress has been made. The retaining wall below the restaurant is well underway, the drainage system is coming along and, most exciting - the wood trusses for the main stack room arrived!

A slight improvement in working conditions allowed the trusses to be put up quickly as well as much of the metal stud installation. Now it really begins to look like an actual building!

In the meantime the Building Committee and Architects have been busy with selecting colors, finishes, carpeting and lighting fixtures for the interior.

"Topping Off" Ceremony Marks Construction Milestone

2007-01-30T16:44:00.000-05:00

Burrillville
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A handful of spectators watched Tuesday afternoon as the ceremonial "topping-off" beam was hoisted and bolted into place in the new Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library. The beam-- identified in blueprints as "Ajax #1" -- marks an important milestone in the construction of the new building.

The beam had been signed by several dozen residents and officials who wanted to be part of town history. More than a decade in planning, the new library is seen as the cornerstone of efforts to revitalize the Stillwater Mill complex in Harrisville, the town's central village. The project is on schedule to open no later than late spring 2008.

"I am thrilled by the many encouraging messages written on the beam by library patrons, town officials and other well-wishers of all ages," said Library Director Sandra P. Mundy, who witnessed the topping off with Town Manager Michael C. Wood and a few others. Among the messages written on the beam were memorials to earlier library officials Gladys Gaucher, Winifred Thompson, and Amy Cavanaugh.

The ongoing construction draws a crowd of spectators most days, including a number of men and women who once worked at the old mill. Next time you pass through Harrisville, be sure to take a look.

Burrillville Residents Invited to Sign "Topping Off" Beam

2007-01-25T16:17:00.000-05:00

With work progressing at a rapid pace on the new Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library, town residents, library patrons, and all other interested people are invited to be a part of history by signing the steel beam that will be used to complete the frame of the new building.

Topping-off marks a significant milestone in the project, which began last summer. Once the steel frame is complete, workers will move immediately to building the floors, walls and roof.

The beam is expected to be hoisted into place on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, during a traditional "topping-off" ceremony.

The beam will be available for signing from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, January 29th, and again on Tuesday until it is actually hoisted into place. The exact time of the hoisting will not be determined until sometime Monday.

The beam— and its signatures— will last as long as the library, which has a life expectancy of several decades. An American flag that will be used in the topping-off ceremony will also be preserved for future generations.

For history of the new-library project, along with photographs, design plans, at-least-weekly construction reports, the Stillwater Memories page, and much more, please use the links on this page.

Presto Change-o!

2007-01-24T14:40:00.000-05:00

Look what popped up in the last few days. . . a LIBRARY BUILDING! Talk about moving fast: last weekend there was only a foundation and now we see walls rising. Well, steel frames anyway.

The masonry for the main stairwell leading to the second floor Children's wing is now also complete.

Going up!

2006-12-29T11:35:00.000-05:00

A strange new piece of equipment arrived on site around December 20- it looked like a giant Erector Set project. Soon it became clear that it was the automatic scaffolding for building the elevator shaft.

The first shot taken 12/21 shows only a few feet of block having been set.

By December 27 they were almost to the top.

December 28:
All done!! The Erector Set is gone

The outline of our future...

2006-12-21T14:46:00.000-05:00

December 19
With the foundations pretty much finished, we can now see what the New Library will look like - at least in outline form.

Space to grow!

Dec 15- a busy site...

2006-12-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

Lots of action on the site this week. The crusher is still crushing material to create new clean fill, front end loaders are moving the fill into place, cement trucks are pouring more foundations and, in the background, work is progressing on placement of drain lines.

The yellow tape marks the water table soil test pits which will be refilled as soon as the all-clear comes back from DEM.

Dec 6 - It's taking shape...

2006-12-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

With the foundation walls going in we can start to identify the new library spaces . The east and north foundations are up and work started on placing forms for the south and west sides.

In this last picture you can see the space where the River Walk, benches and landscape beds will be located between the library and the river.

Cookbook sales commence

2006-12-08T13:31:00.000-05:00

To help defray the cost of the New Library, one of the fundraising projects of the Library Capital Campaign Committee is a "Northwest Corner Cookbook" containing recipes contributed by our friends and neighbors throughout Burrillville.

While the cookbook won't be published until sometime in February we are now accepting advance payment for those who would like to give a cookbook as a holiday gift this year. The gift certificate can be redeemed when the books arrive later this winter.

The Committee would also appreciate any advance sales or payment for books you may have reserved so that those funds can help defray the up-front printing costs. The book will have a handsome hard-cover, spiral binding featuring a picture of the New Library and a logo reflecting the Committee's slogan for the library project: "Cornerstone of the Community".

With brisk sales of the cookbook, as much as $10,000 could be realized for the Building Fund.

The Cookbook sells for $10.95 with checks payable to -JMS Library Capital Campaign-. Purchases can be made at the library or mail payment with a SASE to P.O.Box 306, Harrisville, RI 02830.

A firm foundation...

2006-12-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

Forms are being installed to pour the New Library's foundations. Here we see what will be the main stack room area from East Avenue and from the approach to the new library on the Main Street side.

Work is progressing faster than this photographer can keep up. See our Clerk-of-the-Works', Dan Joubert's, weekly Site Reports for more up-to-date news and photos!

Something's afoot...

2006-11-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Working around the recent bouts of soggy weather, repairs to the River wall have been made and footings for the new building are taking shape! Soon we will be able to have a good sense of the size of the Library.

The Complaining Candidate

2006-11-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

Once again, The Complaining Candidate has his facts wrong.

This person, who wanted to be Clerk of the Works until his bid came in way too high (see below), claims in a recent paid political ad (Bargain Buyer, p. 60, Nov. 1, 2006) that ``your current council gave 2.4 million dollars earmarked for road repairs to the library project.''

Wrong.

We knew that, of course, but since we hold to facts, we checked for written confirmation in the minutes of the two Town Council meetings at which financing of the library was discussed and acted on: Nov. 28, 2005, and June 28, 2006. Our memory was right. Never happened. The Public Record, available for all to see, confirms it.

The Complaining Candidate's latest ad also talks about ``cost overruns such as happened with the library project.'' Wrong again. The project is currently keeping to its $8.8 million budget. Public records on file at Town Hall confirm this, too.

Perhaps The Complaining Candidate refers to the fact that voters in 2004 approved a $5 million bond for a library that is now projected to cost more. Yes, the new library IS costing more than the earliest estimates. And there's a valid explanation. The original estimates came from a library-needs study completed several years ago, when the location for the new building was yet to be determined. The estimate was for a building on a clean site. But we do not have a clean site, and the costs of cleansing a 150-year-old industrial wasteland have added to the overall figures.

Also, costs of materials -- notably steel -- have gone up in the years since the first projections. That's called inflation, an unfortunate but real fact in our economy. It's the same reason you can't buy a new car for 10 grand anymore or a gallon of gas for a dollar. One would think that a construction worker and car owner would understand that.

But most importantly, the costs have gone up because with creative thinking and visionary leadership the library has evolved into the centerpiece of the entire Stillwater complex, including a community center. What will we get for $8.8 million? A state-of-the-art library, a Riverwalk, and roads, parking, landscaping, lighting, and utilities for the entire area. And many of those costs, as we have noted, are being reimbursed from outside sources. And more outside money is expected. We expect a major announcement in two weeks, stay tuned.

And there is a ``hidden'' savings that doesn't get much ink. That's the fact that, as noted in the current edition of the Burrillville Bugle, once the new library opens the town will use the existing building for municipal offices. That means the town, which badly needs more space, will not have to build a new Town Hall or annex.

We really have better things to do than respond to false information -- build a library, for example -- but we believe that taxpayers and voters deserve the truth. This project is too important for everyone in Burrillville to be tainted by The Complaining Candidate's paid political ads -- ads that are subjected to no independent confirmation. You buy your ad, you write the copy, even if it's wrong.

After all, you paid for it.

Vital Statistics

2006-10-27T09:46:00.000-05:00

This being an election year, all sorts of numbers are being thrown around. Some are baloney. And some important numbers are -- conveniently -- omitted from the paid political ads and campaign propaganda.

Here are some real numbers, verifiable by public records available for all to see at Town Hall:

-- The new library is estimated to cost $8.8 million, NOT ``the conservative figure of $12.6 million'' claimed by one complaining candidate. And the $8.8 million includes not only the library building, but also furnishing, moving expenses, landscaping -- and roads, parking, and water, electrical and sewer service for the entire Stillwater Mill complex.

-- The Complaining Candidate criticizes the library project now -- but in May, he wanted to make money off it. He bid $250,000 to be Clerk of the Works. His campaign treasurer and housemate wanted some tax dollars, too, and she bid $240,000. The Building Committee did the proper and legal thing and awarded the contract to the lowest qualified bidder -- for $83,600 less than the complaining candidate's bid.

-- The cost of site remediation is pegged at $745,000, NOT the ``millions'' claimed by The Complaining Candidate. Where does he get his numbers? Certainly not from the records of the Building Committee, which, as noted, are public and available for all to see.

-- Voters approved a $5-million bond to help fund the project. The state will reimburse most of that, and millions more in grants and contributions have been received. And so the average cost to a taxpayer over 20 years is $15.47 a year -- less than a nickel a day! Considering that the library anchors a project that will turn a blighted part of the center of town into a great neighborhood, including a new senior center, we call that a bargain.

-- And that's what Senator Jack Reed (along with Lincoln Chafee and many other leaders) recognized when he said at the groundbreaking: ``Today, we’re celebrating what you’ve done – investing in your future while relying on the proud traditions of the past. This library will not be just a place for book collections. It will be the heart and soul of the community.''

-- Finally, not a number, but a suggestion. Please check out ace Clerk-of-the-Works Dan Joubert's weekly Site Reports, which read almost like an unfolding book about the progress we're making. The photos are cool, too! Visit the Smith Library Site Report Page:

A True Milestone!

2006-10-19T20:49:00.000-05:00

The first concrete was poured today. Not the foundation -- that's coming soon -- but concrete for a `plug' that will prevent the Clear River from flooding the site during high water through the old sluiceway (which will be filled after the concrete cures). The plug will be a two foot thick concrete wall inward of the arch. Mt. Hope Builders has been hired to do all concrete footings and foundations for the project. This will leave the arch opening exposed in the river wall for memories of times of yore. Soon all the local dams up stream will be lowering there dams sending water to mill pond. With this plug in place holding these waters back, filling of the sluiceway can occur. Anotehr piece of history will be buried, to prepare for the future...

The Crusher Cometh

2006-10-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

A new reverberation is being heard: the sound of the crushing of concrete and brick, along with pieces of granite. Actually, several of the onlookers who have been following the progress are surprised at how quiet the crushing operation is. This product will be used for the base of the new library and roadways. We are also saving granite slabs suitable for benches. The benches will be placed in landscaped areas along the river walk, to enjoy for many years to come. The river walkway will also be part of the Clock Tower renovations extending to the easterly end of the property line.

The architects have been providing the Library Committee with samples of material to be used on the project. This includes colors and design alternatives. These alternatives may also provide cost savings for the project. The contractor will build a mockup wall using the items selected by the committee to provide a visual representation. This method allows the committee to fully see the finishes for the building. One design change is to lighten up the exterior of the building and to use woods and a more natural color design. To be more congruous with the surrounding structures, the original design of a bowed roof line will instead be a pitched roof.

-- Dan Joubert

Another mystery...

2006-10-04T09:58:00.000-05:00

The day was young when the giant excavator uncovered a brick raceway deep in the bowels of the new library site. The machine backed off and workers with shovels opened the entrance. It was dark and damp inside. At least three old pipes, leftovers from now-gone mills, ran through the raceway.

``Water or steam,’’ clerk of the works Dan Joubert said of the largest one. The other two may have been for electrical wires. Further investigation would provide the answer.

The workers poked around in the brown earth, and the sound of metal-on-metal was heard. They had found an old tank – whether for water, or oil, or something else, was an issue to be resolved.

``Every time we put a bucket in the ground we come up with something else,’’ said Joubert.

The people who show up regularly to watch the diggers from behind the chain-link fence can see the evidence – growing mounds of old stone, granite, bricks, concrete, pipes, metal, and old timbers. The rocks, bricks and stone will be crushed and used for fill beneath the library. Most of the rest will be recycled. Those old timbers, for example – they’re southern yellow pine, perhaps 100 years old, and they will be shipped to Spain – yes, Spain – where they will be cut and sold for flooring.

The diggers went back to work. More buried mysteries remained on the site, where the first mill opened at least as far back as 1852.

Our architect, Jay Litman, right, at 9/24

2006-09-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

Our contractor, Ed Burman, right, at 9/24

2006-09-25T13:45:00.000-05:00

Senators, media, citizens... more photos from 9/24/06

2006-09-25T13:21:00.000-05:00

Rainbow Greets Groundbreaking. Honest.

2006-09-25T07:58:00.000-05:00

But for a shower, the rain stayed away from yesterday's ceremony. And as if on cue, a rainbow appeared over the construction site just as Senator Jack Reed was finishing his keynote speech, in which he called the new library ``the heart and soul'' of Burrillville and ``a spark to renovation'' of the Stillwater complex.

A rainbow. We couldn't have scripted it better.

Senator Lincoln Chafee also attended, and he also praised the citizens of our town and the countless people who have worked -- many without pay -- for more than a decade to realize this dream. OK, we say without pay. A member of the Library Building Committee who has been involved in the process since 1995 finally got his first payola: a hard hat.

A crowd of some 200 people attended the ceremony, way more than expected. Channel 12, The Providence Journal, and The Woonsocket Call, which made the ceremony the lead story in its Monday edition, were among the media outlets that covered the event.

Also praising the project in speeches were: Building Committee Chairman David Ketcham, Smith Trustees Treasurer Alan Chuman, Town Council Chairman Wallace F. Lees, State Rep. Raymond C. Church, State Rep. Edwin R. Pacheco, State Sen. Paul W. Fogarty, Beth Perry of the state Office of Library and Information, Mark McKenney of the Library Board of Rhode Island, and Carol Tucker, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Check back soon for the full text of Senator Reed's comments.

When was the last time both U.S. senators were in town?

2006-09-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

At the last minute, U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee has rearranged his schedule so that he can attend Sunday's groundbreaking! This is exciting news, and the senator will speak on a program with Senator Jack Reed. It is the opinion of your humble library correspondents that this is indeed a high honor -- and to the best of our memory, it has been a very long time (if ever???) since the two most powerful politicians in Rhode Island were in Burrillville together. We view this as further confirmation that the new library is much more than a solution to an overcrowded facility. It is the spearhead for revitalizing this central piece of real estate in town. And we thank Senator Chafee!

Final environmental permits granted!

2006-09-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

Government bureaucracies move slowly, but the state and federal agencies that had to approve construction plans have finally given the green light! With little left standing of the three old mill buildings, attention now will turn to excavating, sorting, removing, crushing, filling, etc. etc. -- all of the steps that must be taken to create a clean site that can support the weight of a nearly 25,000-square-foot library. Things will soon get very lively...

Some words from our chief architect

2006-09-11T17:17:00.000-05:00

We asked Jay Litman, chief architect of the new library, to briefly share some of his thoughts on the new library. Jay is with the award-winning firm of Newport Collaborative Inc., which the Building Committee chose (and the Town Council unanimously approved) based on their extraordinary design and the fact that they would give us the best value for the dollar.

Read this, and you can share our enthusiasm that NCA was selected!

Jay tells us:

``Overall the new Jesse Smith Community Library will fit into its historical industrial setting, respond to this wonderful riverside siting opportunity, and be capable of rising to the challenges of the 21st century.

``The site selected for the Library in the 2003 Master Plan is along the Clear River just south of the East Avenue Bridge. The building has been sited to allow for the creation of a River Walk along the waters edge to provide views of the waterfall from various areas within the library. The River Walk is accessed from stairs and a ramp from East Avenue and from a pedestrian concourse that runs by the community meeting rooms in the library from the main entrance out to the River. This is a truly unique site. No other library in Rhode Island can claim a siting facing a waterfall with these urban amenities.

``The transformation from an industrial wasteland, a blight on this area of Burrillville, to a new town center will be dramatic and will open an entire new neighborhood in the center of historic Harrisville

``Because the site contains not only the old Stillwater Industrial Mills but a history of historic mills literally crushed and buried underground right back to the early Tinkham Mill we will need to peel back the 18-inch thick concrete crust encasing the site and dig down through the years right down to the original brown sand of the site and then build the grade back up to a level about 3-4 feet above current grade. In the process all excavated materials will need to be sorted and crated off to a landfill or crushed and used as reprocessed fill on the site

``The massing of the new building is based on the pattern of industrial development of the mill building structures that existed historically in the Stillwater Mill Complex. These patterns show large shed-like buildings linked together with other support buildings at different angles and shapes as needed. For instance the Dye House was linked to the Rinsing Shed which was connected to the Weaving Shed and so forth.

``These patterns are intriguing and as we found, naturally lend themselves to the organization of a modern Library structure. This is a complicated site with few 90-degree angles. The building massing grew from these older patterns allowing for frontage along the river to the east. The Main Reading Room faces East Avenue to the North and the two-story Community Meeting Center and Children’s Library faces the new circulation road. The leisure reading and reference areas were planned to have saw-tooth shaped, north facing clerestory lights, reminiscent of the skylight monitors found on the weaving sheds in the old textile mills. This saw tooth shape is then employed in vertical windows along the River Lounge to maximize natural light and views of the river.

``The design scheme for the library follows the goals set forth in the Stillwater Mill Master Plan, which is to preserve the best of the original mill buildings and unite the various separate parcels into a single master plan linked by a common road system, shared parking, integrated parks, and a pedestrian circulation system.

``The cost of the project, particularly of the site related reconstruction increased in scope as the project progressed. The extra expense however buys all new underground utilities, a complex site clean-up, beautification of the river and a new neighborhood in town complete with a river walk, landscaping and a new street leading to the library and the other new buildings projected for this site.

``The building has been designed using a institutional grade of materials and design. Institutional buildings are designed for public use so they are expected to have a life cycle of 25-50 years and are designed to be expanded in future years. The Jesse Smith Library, though not ostentatious, has been designed with many modern and design amenities such as a separate community meeting center, public concourse and gallery spaces and a dedicated collection/reading room designed in the flavor of the region with exposed timber framed bow-arch trusses.’’

Inside look

2006-09-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

In this recent shot, a backhoe is busy. Steel is being ordered, and the site sign will soon go up. Anyone driving or walking by can begin to get an idea of the extraordinary transformation of this blighted spot in the heart of our town.

September 8, 2006

2006-09-08T12:08:00.000-05:00

Still more of the mill buildings are coming down. Right now the big central Wet/Dry Finishing wing is being demolished. The wood construction upper floor is already down and the concrete lower portion is fast disappearing. Former mill workers continue to stop by from time-to-time to observe the proceedings from the bridgeway and reminisce.

We would love to have some of these folk stop by the present library to relay these memories of the mill days to our Reference Specialist. Linda is also in charge of the Local History collection and these memories should certainly be preserved as part of our town's heritage. Come on by! We also have a full set of the Stillwater News available for viewing in the library to help in your reminiscences.

The walls come tumbling. . .

2006-09-01T16:01:00.000-05:00

This week, demolition of the "dye house" is under way. The bridgeway is often lined with on-lookers mesmerized by the massive machine that is busy bringing down the derelict building. Like some foraging prehistoric beast, the wrecker's claw expertly separates steel beam, pipe, aluminum sheeting and other debris before loading piles onto the huge trucks.

Other buildings on the site set for demolition have been cleared out in preparation. Already the area looks better!

The Tape Goes up

2006-08-27T15:59:00.001-05:00

Around old mill buildings, soon to be razed.

What We're Dealing With

2006-08-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

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.

Contract Signed, Groundbreaking Set

2006-07-27T17:37:00.000-05:00

Library Building Committee Chairman Victor Antoniello today signed the contract with E. W. Burman Construction Company of Warwick for the new library. Site work is expected to begin almost immediately.

All residents of Burrillville are invited to attend the groundbreaking for the new Smith library, to be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, September 24, 2006, across the street from the Assembly in Harrisville. The groundbreaking will go forward rain or shine. Senior U.S. Senator Jack Reed will be the featured speaker. Check back soon for more details.

It's a go!

2006-06-25T17:39:00.000-05:00

It's a Go! Congratulations, Burrillville! Your new library project is underway!

With the recent Town Council approval of the budget for the New Library Project, the Building Committee is now empowered to enter into a contract with E.W. Burman Construction Company to begin work on the new library in the Stillwater Redevelopment Zone.

Site work is slated to begin by August, and the official groundbreaking ceremony for the library building will take place soon after Labor Day. The projected completion date remains June 2008.