ANOTHER historical masterpiece has been removed from the skyline of New Amsterdam, Berbice, following the demolition of its famous tower atop the Town Hall of the Tudor architecture.
The 75 feet purple heart wooden structure has been deteriorating for years after standing as a landmark in the ‘Ancient County’ for more than a century.
However, its fragile condition over the years caused concerned citizens, including members of the Berbice Chambers of Commerce, to form a committee in aid of its restoration.
On Sunday, June 10, at 09:15 hrs, the balcony, from where, years ago, people stood to get a view of the township, was the first piece of the edifice to be removed.
The balcony also acted as a watch tower, from where an assigned person would see outbreaks of fire and sound the alarm.
The remaining three stories were taken down in the operation which concluded at 18:30hrs, with the loud chirping of the feathered species which, on returning to their habitat, circled the area continuously before alighting on the nearby utility cables.
There was also a steep internal staircase which started from the first floor and provided access all the way to the top. However, some of those stairs were also demolished. Previously, from the second floor upwards, there were one window openings on each side of the tower. Those spaces were void of glass, because changing weather patterns caused wind to shatter fixtures made of it.
FORCED
As recent as Saturday, shoppers were forced to use another entrance after debris, including broken window panes, fell several feet below but no one was injured.
The Town Clerk, Ms. Merlyn Henry told the Guyana Chronicle that the two-day task to break down the tower was undertaken by contractor Dwayne Ferdinand of Home Design and Engineering, at a cost of $1M.
The Municipal Administrator, who was at the scene from the commencement until the completion of the undertaking, said two other contractors had submitted bids and, while
one of them had proposed a similar bid to Ferdinand’s, he had estimated that the job would have taken two weeks.
She said another service provider had also given the same timeframe but was asking for $500,000 more.
During the exercise, various sections of the tower were sawn off and secured with iron straps which were then affixed to a crane that lifted and placed them in a nearby empty lot.
Henry told this newspaper that the urgency to demolish the tower was due to the fact that debris was constantly falling as it disintegrated and the Town Council was not in a position to offer compensation should anyone be injured.
She remarked that the job was astutely done despite the presence of live electricity conduits in close proximity.
Henry said, though, that letters had been previously sent to the relevant authorities in addition to verbal communication but the electrical current was not disconnected.
Asked what is the next step, with respect to restoring the tower, she said it would take $16.5M, a sum which is not currently in the municipality’s coffers. But she expressed optimism that the money could be raised.
During the demolition, the workmen encountered several wasps nests, aged old nails and fastenings which, initially, posed challenges that were overcome.
A new roof was expected to be in place by press time, as it was being constructed on the remaining portion of the tower.
The other outstanding timber architecture that was previously removed from the Berbice skyline was the old New Amsterdam Hospital. It was designed by the late Caesar Castellani, who, at the time was an architect employed with the local Public Works Department in then British Guiana.