Historic Boathouse ‘One Step Closer’ To Homecoming

CHATHAM – With early reports that the historic Coast Guard boathouse is structurally sound, and with construction progressing on schedule at 90 Bridge St., the longstanding plan to return the structure to its original home on Stage Harbor is “one step closer” to becoming reality, Town Manager Jill Goldsmith reported last week.

 Once a base for Coast Guard rescue boats on the Stage Island side of the harbor, the timber-framed building has been in temporary storage in Quincy for years while preservationists hunted for an opportunity for the building to be reused and restored. Once atop the new pier being built next to the Mitchell River drawbridge, the boathouse will be a home for the town’s shellfish upweller system, with the surrounding floats and adjacent pier available for use by boaters, fishermen and sightseers.

 Natural Resources Director Greg Berman said it had been a few years since the boathouse was inspected, so the town sent engineers to Quincy for a new evaluation last month. While a final report hasn’t been completed, the draft report shows the building is in similar shape to what was observed previously.

 “One notable change is that the timber blocking that had been added to the lifting beams has slightly improved the sagging seen last time,” Berman said. “While we’re still waiting for the final structural analysis, all indications are that the boathouse remains structurally sound and will be a good fit to house the new upweller system.”

 Construction of the new pier at 90 Bridge St. should be completed this fall, and Berman said the town has been coordinating with the donor, preservationist David Doherty, to ensure that the boathouse can be returned to Chatham as soon as possible after that.

 “The plan is for the boathouse to be transported back by barge and temporarily placed on land at the site,” Berman said. “From there, the next contractor (to be selected through an upcoming procurement process) will handle the final phase of the project, which includes removing the existing floor and lifting the boathouse into its final position on the new pier.”

 “This is a complicated project,” select board member Stuart Smith said at last week’s meeting. He stressed the need for clear oversight by the town and its owners' project manager.

 “This is going to garner significant comment and interest. I suggest the town prepare for that,” he said. Smith said it will be important to continue public outreach as the project advances.

 For now, crews from contractor Robert B. Our Marine Division are making good progress at the site, Berman said.

 “The first row of steel piles took a bit of time as the contractor fine-tuned the process and had to set up the forms and guides, but installation has gone smoothly since then,” he said. “All of the required steel piles are now on site, and the greenheart timber piles have cleared into a U.S. port and are on their way to the site. Regular communication with the contractor has helped keep the project on schedule and avoid any surprises.”