Former Vesper Street Resident, Donnamarie Tyler Libby, Stands in Front of a Maple Street She and Her Classmates Planted on Earth Day; It's Slated to be Cut Down on Monday
The demolition of the former Mirada Adams School, Moody Street, on the Hill got underway early this morning – leading the way to the construction of moderately priced condominiums by Avesta Housing, a non-profit organization. It is still expected that the complex, once called Beckett Green, will be completed by next spring.
The company doing the demolition is Dearborn Construction, Buxton. This morning the crew cut down six trees and it has eight more to go – most of them healthy. The demolition phase will take about a week said a member of the Construction team. Following that work, the crew will dig the foundation and work on bringing utilities to the development. Work will occur between the hours of 7 am and 6 pm, five days a week.Dearborne was subcontracted by Great Falls Construction to do the “earth work.” Great Falls Construction was selected by Avesta Housing to do the construction.
One of a few watching the crew this morning was Donnamarie Ryder Libby, a former resident of Vesper Street. Libby, who attended Adams School said although she has moved from Portland, she still considers herself part of the Hill. “It’s always been home,” the attractive 50ish woman said. She recalled that as an eight year old student in the third grade at Adams, she and her classmates had planted a maple tree in the ground on the Adams property. It was in observation of Earth Day. Now the same tree is slated to be cut down on Monday. “I won’t come by on Monday,” she said wistfully. “The older I get the more I appreciate what God has given us. We should take better care of what God has given us.”
One of the Dearborn Construction Co. crew members said: “We don’t like to cut healthy trees down in the city either.”
Adams School was named for a many year teacher and principal on the Hill. She was known for her no nonsense approach to teaching as well as passing on her own love of the arts to her students. A park on site will be named in her honor.
Please go forward and visit Post # 1,187, dated 7/27/12, for an update on the newest developments.