Raising the Walls
The Framing Crew
There comes a moment on every construction project when a vision begins to reveal itself. For weeks, the work happens at ground level—excavation, concrete, foundations, and countless measurements that few people will ever notice. Then, almost overnight, walls begin to rise. Rooms appear where there was once open sky. Doorways frame future conversations. Windows begin to capture views that will one day inspire generations of readers. That moment has arrived at the Friend Memorial Public Library.
Over the past two and a half weeks, Chris Pickering and his framing crew have transformed the construction site into a building the community can finally begin to recognize. Their pace has been remarkable, but what impressed me most wasn't simply how quickly they worked. It was the people behind the hammers. I spent a morning walking the job site, talking with the craftsmen raising these walls. Most were a little shy when I asked if I could interview them. Few were comfortable in front of a microphone, and even fewer wanted their photographs taken. Yet as we talked, another story began to emerge—the story of the people whose names rarely appear in history books, but whose hands leave a lasting mark on a community.
Kevin Beers of Ellsworth has spent more than twenty years in construction, much of it specializing in finish carpentry, windows, doors, and detailed interior work. After six years with Chris Pickering, he has learned to enjoy the intricate craftsmanship each project brings. "I wouldn't choose to do anything other than construction," Kevin told me. "This is what my calling was. It's nice to look back and see that things are still standing and looking beautiful." When I asked him what libraries meant to him, his answer was simple. "That's the future. They'll always be there. They'll be filled with people, books, and memories."
For Dylan Cole, this project is deeply personal. Dylan grew up in Brooklin and attended preschool at the Friend Memorial Public Library before going through the Brooklin School.
His family has lived in this community for generations, reaching back to the late 1800s. "It feels fantastic," he said when I asked what it was like to help build the library in his hometown.
Today, he is helping frame the same library where he first discovered books as a child. There is something wonderfully fitting about that. Others have traveled different paths to arrive here. Thomas Hutchinson grew up on Deer Isle, with family roots extending into Brooklin through his mother's family. A co worker, Dominic Brown came from Lubec after attending college in Bangor and finding work here on the coast of Maine. For Thomas, this is the largest project he has ever worked on. "It's quite an honor," he said.
Both men spoke about why they enjoy carpentry. Every day brings something different. While the work can be demanding, there is satisfaction in creating something that will serve others for generations. When I explained that this addition would become the permanent home of the Anne & Maynard Bray Maritime Research Center—housing the remarkable WoodenBoat collection for visitors from around the world—the significance of the work became even more real.
Drake, Damien Bruce, and E.J. Wayne each shared that same quiet humility. Some have been with Chris Pickering for years. Others are apprentices just beginning their careers. None spoke much about themselves. Instead, they talked about the satisfaction of building, learning, and watching a project come together. Damien smiled as he described his favorite part of construction. "Seeing how everything comes out in the end." When I asked what it meant to build a public library, he answered thoughtfully. "I think it's cool that it's going to be here for a while—long after I'm gone—and people are going to come and use it."
That thought seemed to resonate with nearly everyone I interviewed. Few people will ever know who framed these walls. Visitors will admire the finished building. They'll browse books, attend children's programs, conduct research, gather with neighbors, and create memories. Very few will ever wonder who carefully measured each wall, lifted every beam into place, or swung the thousands of hammer blows hidden beneath the finished drywall. Yet that is exactly why I believe these stories matter.
The Frame of the future Anne & Maynard Bray Maritime Research Center
As I stood watching these craftsmen at work, another thought came to mind. A framer doesn't simply build walls. He takes hundreds of individual boards—each different in length, purpose, and place—and carefully weaves them together into something far stronger than any one piece could ever become on its own. By themselves, they are simply boards. Together, they become a building. It seems, that is what is happening here in Brooklin. Each person who has come to this project has arrived with a different story. Some grew up just down the road. Others have traveled here from neighboring towns and distant communities. Some are master craftsmen with decades of experience. Others are apprentices just beginning their journey. Yet for a brief moment in time, their lives have been woven together with a common purpose.
Watching Chris Pickering lead this crew has been a pleasure. Some members have decades of experience. Others are just beginning. Together they are learning, teaching, and building something that will outlive every one of us.
By the time you read this, the roof will be sheathed, and another chapter of construction will have begun. Years from now, children will sit beneath these rafters reading their favorite books. Researchers will study Maine's rich maritime history. Families will gather for programs and community events. Thousands of people will walk through these rooms without ever seeing the remarkable craftsmanship hidden behind the finished walls. Long after the names are forgotten, these walls will remain—a quiet testament to the hands, the hearts, and the shared craftsmanship that brought them to life.
-Robert Baird, Capital Campaign Chair