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Fogg Library will receive a 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award

This award recognizes Weymouth’s work for the rehabilitation and restoration of the Fogg Library, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Posted on: May 10, 2016 - 3:29pm

Weymouth, MA - The Town of Weymouth will receive a 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award from Secretary of the Commonwealth William Gavin for rehabilitation and restoration of the Fogg Library.  Weymouth is the only community in southeastern Massachusetts to be recognized by the MHC’s Preservation Awards program this year, and the Fogg Library is the only library to be honored.      

“The Massachusetts Historical Commission sincerely appreciates all efforts to preserve the Commonwealth’s valuable historical properties,” writes Secretary Galvin in an award notification letter to Weymouth.  “The careful restoration of the Fogg Library demonstrates a strong commitment to historic preservation that goes well beyond what is normally expected.”

Secretary Galvin serves as the chair of the 17-member Massachusetts Historical Commission, which annually considers projects for Preservation Awards in the categories of Rehabilitation and Restoration, Adaptive Reuse, Education and Outreach, Archeology, Stewardship, and Landscape Preservation.  This is the 38th year of the MHC’s Preservation Awards program.  The Fogg Library was nominated for an award by Gail P. Trachtenberg of McKinnell McKinnel & Taylor Inc., the architectural and engineering firm that completed the almost $3.5 million restoration project.  

“The restoration of the Fogg Library is an outstanding historic preservation accomplishment for Weymouth,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund.  “The building has stood in Columbian Square for over a century, providing library services to generations of residents and becoming an icon of the community.  With its restoration, we’ve ensured that it will remain standing and serviceable for years to come.”  

“The Fogg Library has been an architectural gem for the town of Weymouth for over one hundred years.  It is the center piece of Columbian Square,” said District 6 Town Councilor Michael Smart.  “I am pleased with the way the restoration project came out and honored that the town of Weymouth was recognized for the good work.”

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Fogg Library was originally constructed as a private library in 1898 with funds donated by John Fogg, a local shoe manufacturer and banker.  Weymouth assumed ownership of the property as a branch of its public libraries in 1975.

The Fogg Library had been closed for nearly nine years before being restored and reopened to the public in 2014.  Its restoration was funded in part with a Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Grant and federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

"Fogg Library is the perfect match of classical 19th-century architecture and current 21st-century library services," said Director of Library Services Rob MacLean. "The MHC's award for the restoration of the library is a recognition of the great work by a team of town employees, architects, and contractors."

Rehabilitation and restoration of the Fogg Library was completed in two phases.  Phase I restored the building’s exterior envelope which involved the removal, cataloging, and resetting of approximately 60% of the exterior stonework (Weymouth granite), a new slate roof, and copper gutters.  Phase II continued the restoration by repairing the library’s heavily damaged interior plaster and wood paneling, historic windows, and stained glass.  Other elements of the project included accessible parking and a new elevator, the historic restoration of the main floors, and the renovation of the basement level including meeting rooms, restrooms, and staff areas.

The two-phase project took years of planning, meetings, and coordination to complete.  Weymouth’s recently retired Planning Director James Clarke played a critical role in shepherding the project during that time.  The Town’s Construction Supervisor John MacLeod served as project manager.            

A reception in honor of this year’s Preservation Award winners will be held on May 19, 2016, at the Massachusetts Archive Building in Boston.  The awards ceremony and reception will include a poster display of each project and a short presentation.  Formal photographs of awardees with Secretary Galvin will also be taken. 

Weymouth last received a Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award in 2009, being recognized in the category of Education and Outreach for its Historic Homes DVD.