First Phases of Lavonia Cannery and Library Restoration Nearing Completion
Repairs to the exterior of the Lavonia Carnegie Library are almost complete
Two projects to restore and improve a couple of historic sites in lavonia are just about complete.
At their meeting Monday, Lavonia City Manager Gary Fesperman gave the city council and mayor an overview of repairs to both the Lavonia Carnegie Library and the historic Lavonia Cannery.
Work on both buildings has been going on all summer .
Fesperman said the much of the exterior work on the cannery is finishing up this week.
“They are finishing up the roof. They’ve got the roof installed, now they’re doing some touch ups on the corners and gables and putting the metal coverings on the returns on each side,” Fesperman said. “They put in the screen doors and finished that up. And the city crews have removed the grass in the front, leveled out the landscaping in preparation for some new grass and minor landscaping in the front.”
Fesperman said the final work that has to be done is to replace the six interior doors that have deteriorated over the years.
“They will be changing out the six exterior doors and rebuild the casings,” he said.
The new doors are fiberglass to prevent deterioration and rust, Fesperman said.
The City has been working for over a year to secure funding to renovate the interior of the cannery, but so far has not been able to find any sort of grant money.
Across the street at the Carnegie Library, Fesperman said a new mahogany entry way will be put in next week.
“The mahogany entry way is here and is over at Nelson Bennett’s cabinet shop having the final coats of finish put on it,” he said. “Hopefully, next Thursday when the Library is closed, Paul and Jack Parsons will go over and take the old doors out and install the new entry way in the doorway.”
Earlier, Fesperman said the old original doors have deteriorated to the point they are no longer safe. The new entry way he said will provide more protection for library patrons as well as enhance the look of the interior, and is still in keeping with the historic nature of the building.
After that, some minor landscaping will be done on the exterior and speed bumps installed in the parking lot. Also, Fesperman said a new book drop box and a new flagpole and flag will be put in.
Fesperman said earlier, it will be several years before the City can afford to update the interior. However, he said the City is working with the Athens Regional Library System to determine what kinds of renovations can be done to the interior.