Robbins Report

Harwich and Wellfleet: Deconstruction and rebirth

From Harwich to Wellfleet: Deconstruction leads to rebirth

Deconstruction vs. Demolition in Harwich

Photographs and story by Peter Robbins

With recycling a priority and the environment a constant concern, Steve Swain and crew of Centerville jump into action to dismantle a house in Harwich before the wrecking ball is dropped.

The historic home at 5 Woodland Road in Harwich was too fragile to be relocated to another location, despite the interest of the Harwich Historic Commission.

Six days and counting.

Swain, or "Swainer" to his friends, is establishing a warehouse for materials from buildings like this house dated from the 1780s. Antique numbered boards, some measuring over 26 inches in width, old doors and beams displaying the craftsman's hand-hewed marks, and 2-inch thick wall boards in varying widths can fetch a price when recycled properly.

This small Cape had it all. The amount of labor involved in deconstruction and then recycling a project such as this is very labor-intensive. Swain plans to warehouse all the material to use in pending and continuing projects.

Appreciating the value of old materials, Swain decided it was better to dismantle this project, placing the emphasis on utilizing the material that had outlasted its usefulness and would otherwise be demolished and discarded.

By recycling this valuable material, there is also a positive environmental impact.

The wrecking ball is in place for Monday. Judging from the progress in the last two days, there will be little to demolish from the original building. The roof is scheduled to come off next, it has equally as many treasures of wood.

Based on past deconstruction and this latest one, Swain has been contacted by other people who would rather see materials from similar buildings deconstructed and recycled as well.

Rebirth of a "Pearl" in Wellfleet

   The old Captain Higgins Restaurant by the pier in Wellfleet.

Learning that a suit has been dropped from the abutter opposing the opening of the old Captain Higgins Restaurant (to be renamed "Pearl"), and still having a dedicated interest in Wellfleet and remodeling the old restaurant, more good news came today.

A call to the Wellfleet building inspector Wednesday afternoon confirmed he had just issued the building permit to continue with the restaurant's renovation.

Swain plans to use a great deal of the materials from the Harwich deconstruction project at the "Pearl" location in Wellfleet. Uncertain when that construction would begin, Swain just said, "Soon."

A new sign seen hanging on the old Captain Higgins Restaurant during the wonderful Oyster Festival this past weekend perhaps says it best:

"Next year you could be sitting here @ PEARL opening spring'09 Thank You Wellfleet."

More images from the Harwich deconstruction: