NOVEMBER – Outside In

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

I have been asked for an update – So good to know that someone out there is reading this blog. We have been so busy with furnishings and moving and electronics that there has been no time to write. Here, by popular demand, is November. With the cold coming on, there was a push to finish as much outdoor work as possible. Who knew what our December will be like? Meanwhile, inside finish carpentry work went on. Despite lots of sawdust, it was great to see so much accomplished. A picture is worth a thousand words so here goes…

Planter to the left of the front stairs - planted before the frost.

Planter to the left of the front stairs – with a pretty Japanese cutleaf maple, planted before the frost.

New plants set off the front of the building.

Downspot is painted to match colors of the building

Can a downspout be pretty? Maybe not, but it can be an eyesore. Ours now matches the exterior color scheme. Hopefully it is, therefore, not very noticeable.

A new stairway replaces the temporary one built for construction – nice and wide to accommodate people going down and up .. simultaneously.

Panel that separates the lobby and the the Children’s Story Craft room.

New library shelving makes for quite a truck full. Here it all is in the new meeting room, waiting to be assembled.

Wood doesn’t naturally curve – So to make arches, the wood is treated and joined to finish off the archways that provide a nice welcome between the lobby and the main room of the historic part of the library.

Making an arch is quite an art.

Carpentry is done right on-site to fit everything just right.

Archways now form an entry way and focal point where windows once were.

New Door trim looks like it has been there as long as the building

The old interior trim has been beautifully refinished but In some places new trim was required. It has been stained to beautifully matches the original.

Here is a look at the space before bookstacks arrive.

Old but very solid oak wood study tables were refinished and look – well – stunning.

Signs for various rooms to be installed.

Signs of the times – that is you know you are getting close to the end when you see new signs.

OCTOBER – Shute moves forward

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

October was a month of transition – from the construction of the structure to working on the surfaces – paint, wood restoration, lighting and more. The “hardscape” – the cement walkways, planters and structures for the flagpole, bike rack and bookdrop – was substantially completed and made ready for plantings. Inside, rooms were painted and the restoration of the wood began to reveal the beautiful architecture of the historic part of the building. It’s not quite all together — can’t wait until November!

Concrete pours completed the “hardscape” in front of the library.

A nice even sidewalk now borders the Gledhill side of the new addition.

A new home for the flag installed at the corner of Broadway and Gledhill.

A new home for the flag was installed at the corner of Broadway and Gledhill.

old glory flying against a beautiful blue sky.

Just imagine old glory flying against a blue sky atop this handsome flagpole.

Look up and you will see the top of the new elevator enclosed to look like a chimney.

Over on the other side of the building, cement is poured for the walkway to the meeting room.

This a side view of the new entrance lobby.

This is a side view of the new entrance lobby.

The painting and woodworking crew got started on the wood trim.

Wood trim outlines the contours of the historic part of the Library.

This is some wainscoting. Who would have imagined that under all the years of wear and repeated coatings that such beautiful wood was under there?

Work on the gutters and the brickwork takes someone without a fear of heights.

Entrance to the new Meeting Room is framed out.

Entrance to the new Meeting Room will one day welcome all to meetings and programs.

September – 2nd half

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

At the Shute, work continued at the construction site – inside and out. Off-site some pieces of our vintage furniture – tables and a magazine rack – were being re-finished to very pleasing results. We hope you will see the aesthetics of the job that are beginning to emerge and that you won’t see the hvac, electrical and plumbing work that support the building.

The offices are golden color called “Hubbard Squash.”

Inside, paint was applied. Here is a view of the Children’s Room.

Remember our vintage magazine rack. I’ve never seen one like it. Here it is at the refinishers.

Off site – our vintage table is being refinished. Here is the top in process.

The Gas line was installed – which will allow the building to be heated so that it can be tested for and interior work will go forward without worries of dampness.

Opposite the dedication stone to the original building commission is a

HVAC equipment is placed on the roof at the back of the building – hopefully only to be seen in these photos

The distinctive eyebrow windows were re-installed.

August – Inside and Out

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

Interesting progress was made by the end of August. The long anticipated installation of the large window on the new addition began. From it will look like traditional window panes – but what panes they are. Since we will not again see the large expanse created for the window, it called for a few photos. Construction of areas for a book drop and a bike rack were started and interior walls were spray “painted” for a textured appearance throughout the building. Behind the scenes, we are working on furnishing the interior – selecting finishes and fabrics, ordering new items and refinishing some of our vintage pieces. Come back in September when progress will speed up even more!

Opening for the large window in the north wall of the addition.

Window space is an impressive sight – from the inside as well.

Opening for the large window with framing partially installed.

Window frames are about half complete.

Construction of areas for the book drop and bike rack begin with the footings.

Texture is sprayed on the walls to make for a harmonious surface throughout.

Bricks at the ready.

JULY REPORT – Steady Progress

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

The Renovation made steady progress throughout July in infrastructure and underpinning. It will soon look like a building again. You will notice as you drive by that there are are fewer pieces of heavy equipment around. Our “progress,” which we have been talking about for months, should soon be more visible from the street and on the blog. A little more patience should be well rewarded.

The elevator has been installed – This will make our building compliant with handicapped accessibility requirements and bring people to the upper floor.

Dry wall began going up – Here it is around the elevator.

Inside, rooms are being defined – This is one side of an office.

Talk about infrastructure - Our new mechanical room takes much less room than the old boiler room and is filled with energy saving equipment.

Talk about infrastructure – Our new mechanical room takes much less space than the old boiler room and is filled with energy saving equipment.

Nice, big windows will be installed here, replacing the tiny ones that peeked out of basement wells.

They look good outside and…

Inside. They even open – to catch the breeze on a Spring day.

In back of the building a large trench was dug to install drains and conduit for all our utilities. New poles are also being installed. Old ones will be removed once all the wiring is transferred.

Beautiful brickwork blends the new addition with the historic building. This photo picks up a shadow which will not be there when construction barriers and wiring is removed.

Remember the vintage magazine rack with the cute little drawers. It went off to be refinished along with the long table and four reading tables.

STAINED GLASS DISCOVERED

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

It was hiding under a piece of plywood above the old front door. Why the entrance was so drastically altered is a lost memory. Thankfully, construction crews uncovered it with care. It’s damaged but repairable. What a beautiful piece of art was right under our noses but unknown for all those years. Let’s bring it back to the light.

Stained glass window discovered under plywood repair above the old main entrance to the Shute Library.

JUNE REPORT

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Friends of the Everett Libraries

Shute is a beehive of activity with progress made in many areas – inside and out. Passers by notice scaffolding surrounding the new addition. This is for the new brick wall being built – It is beautiful – such a great match for the existing brick. Inside, the plumbing, HVAC and electrical work have all begun.