by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Harvard Public Library and its board of trustees received an official citation from the Massachusetts State Senate, hand delivered by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, to commemorate the grand opening of its pavilion on Saturday, Sept 7. The celebration took place on and around the pavilion and included live music, cake, and games.
A large crowd turned out on the mild, late summer afternoon, carrying chairs and blankets and ready to sing and dance along with opening act, One Twenty Too, a youth band featuring two students from the Bromfield School. Board of trustees Chair Stacie Green delivered opening remarks, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony in which teen volunteers served party-goers their choice of three different flavors or an allergen-free alternative. The party wrapped up with music from blues rock band Neighborhood Panic.
Library Director Mary Wilson was delighted with the turnout. “I’m thrilled. I know the trustees are thrilled,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to come together as a community. Jamie Eldridge, our state senator, was here, our town administrator, Dan Nason, is here. All of our trustees, and a good number, if not all of the Select Board are here. It is such a great way for people to connect to each other and to the library. Is there any better way to spend a Saturday?”
Pavilion architects Jamie Schwadel (left) and Ashley Owens pose in front of their work. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Architect for the pavilion project Jamie Schwadel and business partner Ashley Owens were also in attendance. Having spent the past three years working on the project, Schwadel was particularly excited to see the structure in use. “You just can’t beat the community engagement,” she said. “It’s so great to be able to come out here and to see everyone enjoying it. [With] residential projects, it’s only the person who lives there. This is way better.”
Construction of the pavilion began in April of this year and was completed in August. The fabricated steel beams, designed to look like tree branches, according to Owens, arrived on a truck from Utah and marked Schwadel’s favorite part of the project. Once the digging began, the construction was halted when the crew discovered a pipe underground. “That was a scary phone call to get,” Schwadel said. “We hit a pipe. I didn’t know what it was, so we had to stop and call the [Department of Public Works] and have them come out.”
The pipe, as it turned out, was a rainwater runoff that was known to exist, but the exact location was uncertain. “So DPW came out and said, ‘Oh, that’s where that is,’” continued Schwadel. “We had to actually shift and move things down a little bit, which is tough because it’s such a big structure, but it turned out OK.”
Gail Coolidge, library board of trustees treasurer, provided the initial inspiration for the pavilion’s design. “I saw these old carriage sheds that they used to have at churches,” she said. “They had the slanted roof, and I brought some pictures [to the initial meetings].” While the library pavilion will not serve as covered parking for carriages, Coolidge said the board is still figuring out the scope of use for the space. “We haven’t even figured out the policies for how it will be utilized,” she said. “How late at night could it be used? How loud can the music be?”
The library board of trustees met Monday evening, Sept. 9, to begin the first draft of policies for community pavilion use. They hope to have a draft completed before the next meeting, which will take place Monday, Oct. 7.
From left: Jen Manell, Stacie Cassat Green, Gail Coolidge, Harvard Public Library Director Mary Wilson holding a celebratory Senate Citation presented by State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Laurie Lingham, Cary Browse, and Marty Green. (Courtesy photo)
Jen Manell thanks attendees for coming to the party as the band Neighborhood Panic prepares to perform. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)