Historic belfry rises in Provincetown

PROVINCETOWN — It took about 300 amateur engineers — otherwise known as spectators — to help boost a 12-ton belfry to the top of the public library yesterday morning.

At 10:40 a.m., two cranes, attended by a dozen workers and the coaxing of onlookers, hoisted the restored wooden belfry to the top of the library, where it was secured to a steel base.

The 1860-vintage library building was originally home to the Center Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly 100 years. A longtime popular landmark for mariners, and for those strolling the waterfront, the belfry was left rotting in the library's front yard after it was removed in 2002 as part of a renova-

tion of the entire building.

That public deterioration, in a downtown location regularly passed by tourists and residents, ended after local businessman Michael MacIntyre kick started a restoration drive with an $85,000 pledge. Grants and other donations brought the total to around $185,000, said library director Debra DeJonker-Berry.

Another $1 million is needed to finish the exterior building façade and landscaping, she said.

"That was my whole idea behind giving the money in the first place, to use it as a catalyst to get people to donate more money to a worthwhile architectural gem," said MacIntyre, who watched yesterday from the beach near the library. He said he pledged the money in honor of his deceased partner, Bob Anderson.

"Every summer we've been watching it, and hoping for its future," said San Francisco and Truro resident Ellen McDermott.

McDermott and her husband, Robert, were two of a couple of dozen early risers who arrived shortly after 5 a.m. to watch.

They had a long wait. It was nearly three hours before the big crane came rumbling down Commercial Street. The crowd swelled steadily throughout the morning to number in the hundreds by the time the belfry action really started.

Onlookers speculated on the height of electrical wires, the deflation of the crane's tires, and the amount of counterweight stacked on the back of the crane.

"It's taking forever," said Mike O'Neill, a part-time Provincetown resident. But, once the belfry was lifted into place, he joked that his work was done.

The first lighting of the belfry is planned within the next two weeks, and a first ring of the restored bell inside will occur on Aug. 20.

Mary Ann Bragg can be reached at mbragg@capecodonline.com.