New Canaan Library has always been a building that turned heads, but for the past couple of days, it has captured the attention of passersby for a different reason.
The last remaining portion of the original building, constructed in 1913, has now been moved about 20 feet from its longtime home. Suspended five feet in the air on steel beams, and wrapped in a thick steel cable, the building was carefully inspected last week by workers from Wolfe House & Building Movers as preparations were made to lower the building into its new foundation Tuesday morning.
Construction continues around the library. Credit: Connor Markey
On Monday, the move got underway in earnest, drawing clusters of passersby on a clear, sunny day.
Sky and Frances Mercede, New Canaan residents who own the Forever Sweet Bakery in Norwalk, were going on a walk through town when they stopped to take a look at the construction site.
“When we got here this morning it was here, and now it’s there,” said Sky Mercede, motioning toward the library block. “They move it three feet and then they do adjustments, moving another three feet and they’re going to get it right in front of the foundation.”
The repositioning of the legacy building is part of an ongoing project at New Canaan Library. A new building opened to the public in February, and the library is installing a green overlooking the corner of Cherry and Main Streets.
Sky Mercede said had high hopes for the building’s renovation.
“I think it’s great because the future, you know, the change is the future, we’re happy to see they’re going to restore the building, which is great,” he said. “I think they’re doing a great job, because what they did is they made the building structurally sound so they can move it so it doesn’t fall apart, for instance, they took the windows out and they put blocks, cinder blocks in the place of it.”
Though some people opposed the preservation project, Sky Mercede said that “plans change and the future holds for the town of New Canaan.”
Another resident passing by, Jim O’Brien, a retiree who has been here since 1993, said he was a little apprehensive about the project at first.
“I’m on the other side of the spectrum where you don’t wanna create any more debt,” he said. “But I think they did a great job on the new library, and I think it’s nice that they saved the old building. I’m just curious to see what they’re going to do with it.”
Library officials have said that their priority is to safely and securely move and preserve the 1913 building, and they’ll figure out a use afterwards.
A waste of money, especially since there is no plan to use it. It’s all being made up in the name of preservation.