Bar Harbor, Maine is known for its breathtaking coastal views, but those same stunning vistas bring a challenging climate. For a historic building, the combination of wind, salt air, and freezing winters is a relentless assault.
Since 2018, LeMessurier’s Enclosure team has had the privilege of serving as a vital steward for one of the community’s most cherished treasures: the historic Jesup Memorial Library. What started as a standard assessment quickly evolved into a multi-year, full-scale restoration project.
Our mission? To protect this 1911 landmark from the elements while respecting every ounce of its architectural integrity.
A Little Bit of Everything: The Anatomy of a Full-Scale Enclosure Restoration
Historic preservation is rarely simple. It requires a deep understanding of how old materials interact with modern waterproofing techniques. At the Jesup Library, our role was truly a little bit of everything, demanding complex, multifaceted enclosure solutions.
Our hands-on scope of work touched nearly every corner of the building’s exterior:
- Critical Masonry Restoration: We executed widespread repointing and strategic brick-and-stone rebuilding to reinforce the primary shell.
- Foundation & Drainage Overhaul: To secure the building’s watertight integrity, our specialists oversaw the rebuilding of the semi-circular granite entrance foundation, performed injection-grouting on the foundation walls, and installed new perimeter drainage and waterproofing.
- Roofing & Custom Copperwork: We tackled slate roof repairs and installed custom copperwork for eave skirts, downspouts, and perimeter detailing.
- Specialized Problem Solving: The team resolved intricate leak mitigation challenges, managed a full skylight restoration, and even extended repairs to the library’s historic retaining walls and entrance paving.
Built on Collaboration and Community Trust
Technical expertise is only half the equation; the real magic happens in collaboration. Throughout this multi-year journey, LeMessurier worked hand-in-hand with the library’s leadership and a dedicated group of community volunteers. Every detail, from the depth of the masonry joints to the flashing of the copper, was executed to meet the highest standards of historic preservation.
By combining rigorous diagnostic engineering with a deep respect for historic materials, we’ve ensured that the Jesup Memorial Library will remain a dry, durable, and beautiful cornerstone of Bar Harbor for the next century.
The Bar Harbor Connection: Creating an Enclosure Corridor
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work in Bar Harbor is how these projects connect. Our work at Jesup Memorial Library, along with the trust built with the local project team, led directly to another project to help preserve one of the town’s other historic landmarks.
For years, LeMessurier has also performed essential enclosure work on the historic Holy Redeemer Church, located just down the street from the library. Together, these two landmarks represent a significant enclosure corridor in downtown Bar Harbor.
We are incredibly proud to play a role in safeguarding the historic fabric of this iconic coastal town, ensuring its stories and structures endure for generations to come.