Groundbreaking, At Last!
Residents and officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony in front of 50 Main Street on Monday, June 23.
Construction on the new, renovated Library began on May 21. Representatives from Hutter Construction, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and various town departments and committees joined Library staff and volunteers to celebrate this milestone.
Leaders who helped make this project a reality donned hard hands and used shovels bearing the Hutter logo to “break ground” using a provided pile of dirt. The event then moved next door to the Fellowship Hall at First Parish Church.
J. Scott Hazelton, Vice-Chair of the Permanent Town Building Committee, remarked on the teamwork that was required to get this project off the ground. He called Westford’s library a “crown jewel.”
State Representative James Arciero, who grew up in Westford, said, “We’ve seen a lot of changes in this town over the last few decades. And the library needs to grow with that.” He recalled visiting the Bookmobile as a child, and said the traveling truck is where he first discovered the Beatles’ Rubber Soul album.
James Arciero, J. Scott Hazelton, Ellen Rainville, and Thomas Clay
State Senator John Cronin thanked Arciero for his role in getting state funding for the library renovation project. “It’s a minor miracle any time we can break ground on a new construction project,” Cronin said, citing increased interest rates, supply chain issues, and a tight labor market. He praised the people in the room who persisted with the project despite these challenges. “You’re creating a place where everybody in the community will belong,” he said. “Communities that invest in and treasure the spaces where everybody belongs are special.”
Jessica Vilas Novas, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, agreed. “As library commissioners, nothing makes us happier than to be able to award a well-deserved construction grant,” she said. “What you’re about to build here in Westford is more than bricks and mortar, books and shelves. Your efforts will build more human connections and provide a safe and inclusive space for all.”
Library Board of Trustees Member and Friends’ Foundation Liaison Marianne Fleckner praised the many volunteers who work behind the scenes to raise funds to support the library’s programs and initiatives. In particular, she expressed appreciation for the efforts of Foundation Co-Chairs Mary Anne Seraphin and Mary Cacciatore. “We are so very proud to be breaking ground today on this 21st-century library,” she said, noting that it has taken more than 10 years to reach this point.
“In 50 years, our children’s children will be in the library doing a story hour and learning about things we haven’t even imagined yet,” said Select Board Chair Thomas Clay. “It’s a great gift to be adjacent to something that’s going to make so much of a difference in our town over such a long period of time.”
Town Manager Kristen Las said she looks forward to attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony in a couple short years. “So many people – the Engineering Department, the Land Use Department, the Select Board, and others – have been working fast and furiously behind the scenes to make sure that this day would come,” she said. Las also thanked the residents of Westford. “I know you have a lot of challenges before you,” she said, “and putting this project forward is a testament to your commitment to prioritizing the educational opportunities in our town.”
Library Director Ellen Rainville spoke about the long history of Westford’s library. “Today marks the celebration of our next transformation,” she said. “We will be ushering in a versatile library design, and it will serve residents well into the 21st century.”
For details about the Friends’ role in the renovation project, visit the Building Renovation page.
