EG Free Library Reopens Wednesday, Belfry Fixes Planned

Things are starting to get back to normal at Peirce and Church Streets in East Greenwich about a week after town officials closed roads and the East Greenwich Free Library due to concerns that the stone belfry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church might collapse.

The decision came a few days before particularly windy weather ahead of Hurricane Joaquin and about six weeks after a lightning strike further weakened the belfry.

Town Manager Thomas E. Coyle III said that the decision to reopen the library and start opening up the roads was based on the subsiding winds and a review of the extended forecast.

Town officials also met with the church’s structural engineer, Douglas Hancher, and the church expects temporary shoring to be in place within the next week.

Long-term repairs will take place over the next several months.

For now, Peirce Street is now open and the security fencing that has been there will be completely removed and moved to the west side of the sidewalk from the wall of the Varnum House extending south along the sidewalk and returning back to the church just north of its Peirce Street entrance.

The sidewalk on St. Luke’s side will remain closed.

Church Street will remain closed from the west side of Peirce Street running west to the entrance of the rear of St. Luke’s and Swift Gym. This is to allow the contractor to use it as a staging area for a crane and other equipment.

Though the belfry did not collapse, Coyle said he has no regrets, especially after a very breezy weekend.

“There were a few gusts over the weekend that would have had me worried,” he said Monday.

The reopening of the library is great news the 500 or so East Greenwich residents who visit it daily. The library was forced to cancel several events and activities as well.