Restoration projects underway at the Town Hall and the Grange

Restoration projects underway at the Town Hall and the Grange.

By Jon Alden

EverythingWestport.com

Thursday, May 8, 2008

“We hadn’t planned to shore up the crumbling load-bearing wall,” said Edmond “Ed” Bichel (left), Head of Facilities and Maintenance Department at Diman Regional. “We were only going to work on the stage facing and repair the gutters. But this work has got to be done.”

Six Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School seniors under the guidance of Mr. Bichel were working on a new walkway for Forever Paws in Fall River when they were bused over to the Westport Grange. “We couldn’t work in the rain,” Chante Hallums (left), aged 18, said. “The Grange work was to be done during rainy days, so I guess today is it.”

“We discovered the load bearing wall in the basement was collapsing from extensive rot, probably caused from flooding many years ago,” Mr. Bichel said. It’s a great hands-on project for these students; it’s part of their school curriculum. However, this unplanned work will delay the other scheduled projects probably into next year.”

“The Grange has been undergoing a resurgence with the introduction of many new social programs taking place in the upstairs hall,” said Beth Easterly, Farmer’s Market coordinator. “The second annual Farmer’s Market is just around the corner, and our yoga programs are going full tilt. We need the building to be 100 percent.”

“The current Grange Hall was built in the early 1900’s,” said Ed Horky, Grange Master. Prior to that time, Union Hall served as the Grange headquarters. Ed recalls that the Grange may have initially met in the old Town Hall building across the street that is now a church parish building.

This reporter commented to Mr. Bichel that it was wonderful to see 5 young women in the group of six involved in repairing the Grange building. “15 years ago it would have been five young men and one young woman in this program” said Mr. Bichel.

Westport Grange to steer a new course.

Above from the left: Carrie Boudriea (left) and Ashley Sousa, both 18-years-old, are removing dishware before relocating the storage cabinet. Ed Bichel instructing students to remove all kitchen utensils and dishware prior to shoring up the basement load-bearing wall. The new walkway and decorative, flagpole support stonework is being funded entirely by the Westport River Gardeners group.

Meanwhile, across the street at Town Hall, the father and son team of Dennis (son) and Paul Berube (father) work in the rain to finish up the new walkway. Funded entirely by the Westport River Gardeners, this beautification project is a magnificent example of volunteer groups jumping in and taking an active interest, and pride, in their town. The Berubes operate Oasis Irrigation, Landscaping and Lighting out of Taunton.

“The old asphalt walkway had given way,” said Dennis Berube (right, in orange rain jacket). There was over 6 inches of blacktop that was buckling and crumbling.”

Paul Berube (“I retired six months ago!”) screeded the sand base by sliding a 2x4 along an inset steel pipe “railway”, leveling the sand in preparation for compacting. ”The steel pipe is removed before we lay the brick,” he said.

“We use masonry sand to fill in the cracks between the bricks,” said Dennis Berube.

“When our work is finished, the Westport River Gardener’s will come in and plant shrubs, flowers, and bushes to complete the project,” said Dennis Berube. The Westport River Gardeners are beautifying the town one small plot at a time!

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