Biddeford City Hall renovations well underway

Things are looking up at Biddeford City Hall, with major renovations and repairs underway at the 205 Main St. location.

Residents and passersby have no doubt noticed that scaffolding has been erected so the dome can be repaired and reguilded. The wood surrounding the clock will be replaced with a longer-lasting composite.

Heritage Company Coppersmiths of Waterboro, which also reroofed the Maine Statehouse dome in Augusta, began restoring the Biddeford dome the week of June 10, according to project manager Phil Radding. He said the capstone will return to its former place of glory over the next few months.

A crane removed the weathervane from the pinnacle of the building on June 5, to either be repaired or replaced, two months after the major part of the project kicked off on April 1.

 

Repairs are underway at Biddeford City Hall. PHOTO BY RAOUL GOULET

Unfortunately, Radding has not been able to unearth any information that could reveal the history of the 16-foot, 10-inch long weathervane that tops the building. The copper and steel ornament includes a “flag” that swings around in the wind to point east, west, north and south.

“I’ve tried to figure out if there are any records,” said Radding, who has contacted the Maine Historical Society and the Maine State Library. “I’ve looked everywhere.”

Radding did say the weathervane was probably built by a blacksmith and the design is “old school.”

Dennis Ordway, the site supervisor for Ducas Construction, said the dome likely dates to to 1895, when the building rose from the ashes after it burned to the ground in 1894. The weathervane also seems original to that time, except for some bolts used for repairs instead of rivets.

The weathervane has also been transported to Heritage Company to see if the missing and broken letters can be replaced, in addition to any other work that needs to be done.

“We may have a replica built,” Radding said, adding Heritage will advise the city on what course to take. 

The estimated cost to complete the entire project is just less than $4 million, the sum approved by the city council.

Work began four and a half years ago when Heart of Biddeford procured a grant for $150,000 from American Express through a community voting campaign to fix the clock, according to Delilah Poupore, executive director of HOB.

The project was then delayed due to the pandemic, but a bond finally passed voter scrutiny after being voted down two times.

Poupore thinks the bond was successful “because the community cares about the symbol of pride in the downtown … and supports the whole project.”

“I think it’s exciting to see the city invest in itself and send a message to others that the city is still moving forward,” Poupore said. “ It cares about the people.”

Balzer Clockworks, a “world famous,” Freeport-based company, converted the iconic timepiece from electric power to a weight-driven system, said Radding.

The clock was not original, Radding said; Howard Taft Clocks added it to the top of the building in 1910.

A weight-and-pulley system originally nudged the hands forward, but when the clock was electrified “a long time ago,” the repairman threw away the parts, Radding said. Balzer had to manufacture all new parts to make the change.

The companies hired to renovate the structure are based in Maine, with one exception: The guilder, which specializes in gold leaf, is based in Maryland.

Ellen Angel of Artifex in Bangor, an all-woman firm, was hired to ensure the work is historically accurate. Ducas Construction of Scarborough is the general contractor.

Sixty percent of the windows, which were not functional or energy efficient, have been replaced with new historically-appropriate panes by Jacobs Glass of Winslow. Lastly, new gutters and downspouts will be installed in city hall, sprinklers will be installed and the fire alarms will be updated in both city hall and City Theater.

Radding also has ties to the Pine Tree State. He began working for the city of Biddeford in 2007 as the facilities director for both the city and schools. He then managed the local airport. Currently based in Connecticut, Radding is now under contract to the city.

He estimates that 30% of the work is done, and expects the project to be completed by the Oct. 31 deadline with no overruns.

Ann Fisher is a freelance journalist based in Saco. She can be reached at 432-7483.