HARDWICK – 2025! We no longer need to think of the Jeudevine expansion project as a glimmering distant mirage attached to the phrases “in a couple of years” or even “next year.” This is the year, and perhaps even the season, within which the new space will be ready for occupation.
Much has been done to advance the project in the last month; work has continued to complete the drywall installation; the painters arrived to prime all those surfaces; the ceiling grids have been built in both the main and lower levels; ceiling tiles are being placed; the floor underlayment plywood is being laid down.
While all of that interior work has been underway, the connection between the original Jeudevine and the new addition has been created, though it is not yet open to traffic. This effort has been much less straightforward than the above-mentioned construction. First, the workmen created a protective tent around the work area, to minimize dust throughout the existing library as they removed the built-in bookshelves and prepared to cut through to the new space. The materials to be crossed included interior wall, brick (three layers), and the original Jeudevine stone exterior. The latter is being sawed through from the new addition as this article goes to press. With the layers of brick removed, but before work could commence on cutting through the brownstone, a mason visited the site to reinforce the sides of the opening so as to, in turn, support a steel lintel (horizontal support) over the new doorway. The original stone could not be cut through until that support was in place.
Once the masonry was completed, a welder came on site to secure the lintel. That work required a ventilation fan to exhaust the fumes associated with welding. At last, with that work progression complete, the stone can be cut through.
I visited the site today, gingerly peering through the draped layers of plastic, and was pleasantly surprised to be welcomed into the tent by the sawman. He described the work as difficult: “That stone is real hard to cut through.” He had only managed to cut through the top half of the planned opening after most of a day’s work.
Still to look forward to: when the addition is ready for occupancy we can begin to shuffle about furniture and bookshelves so as to expose the original Jeudevine floors for sanding and refinishing. Beneath the carpeting and aged linoleum lie red spruce floors waiting to be brought back to life. It’s not always about creating “new”; we value our heritage equally.
Last week the Vermont Department of Health held a vaccine clinic at the library, providing both influenza and COVID vaccines for those who attended, in addition to up-to-date information and recommendations.
Later this month there are three events on the youth calendar. On Thursday, Jan. 16, (this week!) at 3 p.m., there is a session of musical games for those aged 7-10. Then, for teens, on Tuesday, January 21, at 3 p.m., the library will host minute-to-win-it games: compete to finish as many one-minute tasks as you can. Lastly, on January 30, 3 p.m., children ages 6 and older can attend a Dog Man Party to celebrate the series and the upcoming movie. Dog Man is a spin-off character from author Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” series. Perhaps you knew that. I didn’t.
Until next month . . .