Ever since its founding in 1899, the Belden Noble Memorial Library at Greystone Cottage, opposite the Essex ferry dock, has welcomed readers, researchers, and budding book-lovers of all ages. Starting now, this thriving and lively old library will be the focus of a series of much-needed improvements in the months ahead.
“Thanks to generous donors who contributed the required one-fourth of the funds up front,” said Library Board President Colleen VanHoven, “and the tireless efforts of our past and present board members, we were able to secure a grant of $60,179 from the New York State Library Construction Program.” The total funds available, more than $81,000, will go to restoring exterior doors and windows, roof repairs, adding insulation, upgrading the Library’s electrical system, painting all exterior trim (last done in the 1990s), and creating an enlarged children’s room and a reading room upstairs.
The renovations got a jump-start this past summer, when Nicholas Rumsey, a new resident of Essex, noticed that one of the Library’s most prominent features, the balcony, needed more than a fresh coat of paint: it was badly in need of repair. Though the underlying structure is sound, he saw cracked and rotted balusters hanging free of warped and sagging bottom rails.
An earlier inspection had called for replacing all of the balusters, but Rumsey’s experience in furniture conservation and historic preservation suggested another plan. Considering the Library’s age, he said, those balusters would have been made from old-growth lumber, which is both strong and irreplaceable. Rumsey proposed conserving and restoring the balusters and anything else that could be saved, and volunteered to do the work himself.
With the Library Board’s approval, Rumsey spent close to 150 volunteer hours infilling cracks with a special wood epoxy, then sanding, priming, and pre-painting all 44 balusters on the lower balcony. “Just like people,” Rumsey noted, “the balusters aged at different rates. Some were in good shape; most needed work.” A few were so badly decayed that he had to lathe-turn new ones; others needed new bottom sections, so Rumsey used old-growth wood he had on hand. He also rebuilt the split and sagging rails and rotted end posts with weather-resistant cedar, carefully matching the original details.
Library Board member Dianne Lansing donated a massive old newel post that her late husband, David Lansing, had salvaged from parts unknown. Rumsey sliced it into sections and turned those pieces into three ball finials, which were missing from the balcony’s end posts. Finally, Essex resident Kevin DeLaughter generously volunteered his time to help with re-installation.
Although this project is just one small step in the planned upgrades to the Library, the restored balcony presents a new face forward. To follow the progress of future renovations, and to keep track of special programs and events, go to the Belden Noble Memorial Library website: essexlibrary.org.
Nice that they are restoring the doors and windows instead of replacing them. Great to hear that Nicholas’s advice about old growth wood balusters were heard with open ears. I witness all the time places that receive grants and just go out and replace windows and doors with most likely inferior products just because they are new. The old adornments of the Library were built locally with quality workmanship and care that should be respected especially from a town that has so much historically preserved. This is rare to see in todays world and also should put local craftsman to work instead of just replacing them with windows and doors from who knows where. The restored work will be an asset to Essex for years to come and maybe an example of good stewardship to future historic projects in Essex!