[MSN] Franklin (Mass) Library's treasured murals at risk.

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Franklin Library's treasured murals at risk
 
By Michael Morton/STAFF WRITER
Country Gazette
Thu Aug 23, 2007, 12:00 PM EDT 

Franklin, Mass. - 
FRANKLIN - At the dawn of the 20th century, noted Italian artist Tommaso
Juglaris returned to America to paint a mural for the town's new library
depicting the parts of the day, with one section dedicated to the "Hours of
Labor."

Now, more than 100 years later, the real work begins: trying to stop the
water that has seeped through cracks in the library's granite facade and
reached one corner of the treasured artwork that frames the library's
Memorial Hall.

"The paintings, you don't want anything to happen to them," said Clara Lodi,
a member of the board of directors for the library, home to the nation's
oldest public lending collection. "Those things are irreplaceable."

Library staff first noticed water damage a year ago when working in the
downstairs Lecture Hall, according to Director Felicia Oti. In response, she
secured $40,000 from Town Council to conduct a feasibility study on possible
renovations and repairs to the building, which opened in 1904 as the Ray
Memorial Library. The town subsequently hired BKA Architects and RDK
Engineers to conduct an assessment.

As they examined the library, representatives from the firms discovered
other trouble spots, though many, like the one near the mural, required
scaffolding to see.
"I don't think most patrons come in and say, 'Oh my goodness,' " Lodi said
of the partially hidden problems.

A visit to the library reveals peeled paint near the "Hours of Labor" mural
panel, a bubbled and cracked surface on an adjacent stairwell, and a
pockmarked wall in the Lecture Hall, but no water drips. Oti said
consultants had traced the source of the liquid straight to corresponding
cracks in the building's granite exterior.

"They've found direct lines where the water is seeping in," she said,
pointing out the damage during a recent tour of the library.

Oti said the cracks were caused over the years by the elements eating away
at the facade of the original classic Greek-style building. While the town
built an extension for the library in the late-1980s, it remains unclear if
any repairs were done at that time, as members of the building committee
could not be reached for comment and any reports could not be located in
town archives.

"That looks like they tried to repair it, but no one knows," said Oti,
pointing to a particular crack during the tour.

According to the feasibility study, recently presented to the Town Council
and now available on the Town of Franklin Web site, it will cost at least $1
million to make exterior repairs and install new rain gutters.

However, given the size of such a project, state rules would kick in that
would require the town to install handicapped-accessible features such as
new elevator buttons, ramps, signs and bathrooms. Franklin would also need
to update its fire alarms and remove lead-based paint, asbestos and
fluorescent lights containing mercury.

The mandated work would add at least $1.7 million to the project, with
another $270,000 for interior restoration and preservation, some of which is
not related to the water damage but is sought by library advocates.

While Town Council has not yet decided to go forward with the initiative,
funding could come from four sources: free cash, the town's "rainy day"
fiscal stabilization fund, its hotel and motel tax fund, or a proposed
surcharge on property taxes known as the Community Preservation Act.
Councilors are considering putting the surcharge idea before voters in
November. As for state library construction money, Oti told councilors the
town can make only one request every 20 years and should save its
opportunity for a $3.7 million building addition that may be required in the
future but is not currently being pursued.

Regardless of the funding source, Facilities Director Michael D'Angelo said
the town needed to address the library problems soon, with winter's
freeze-thaw process likely to expand the existing cracks.

Still, despite the apparent necessity of the project, Lodi said she is
apprehensive about the town's ability to find funding.

"I don't think this is the best of times," she said.

Michael Morton can be reached at mmorton at cnc.com or 508-634-7582.

http://www.townonline.com/