It's been a long time coming. I've passed by the Simes (pronounced "sims") House in Manomet hundreds of times over the past 17 years. I have even been inside there a few times for fundraisers and outside for Santa Clauses. But today is a special day.
Against long odds, challenging construction obstacles, funding issues and internal bureaucracy - today it is time to celebrate the opening and dedication of this building as a resource and focal point for the Village of Manomet.
This succinct sign tells the story of what the finished product will contain.
Supporters and local residents arrived to witness the dedication ceremony.
And so it began.......
....with Ken Tavares, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for the town of Plymouth, leading off the speechifying for the appreciative crowd who came to witness the event.
Everyone crowded onto the walkways to give the fledgling newly seeded grass lawn a better chance to grow well.
Once the grown-ups were done talking it was time for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and self-guided tours throughout the house.
Above, the ribbon-cutter with his grandparents Randy and Mary Ellen Parker. The Parkers are longtime local forces and visionaries who, throughout the years, worked hard to keep this project moving forward to completion. Randy served as the first President of the Simes House Foundation beginning way back in September 2010.
Although there was drama over the past seven years involving the different parties and ideas (at least that's my outsider's observation), when the dust settles and the emotions fade, everyone who helped move this project forward can be proud to realize that this community property will serve as a valuable center for the Village of Manomet for generations to come.
The restored stairway from the first to second floor.
An exterior detail.
As the saying goes, "it takes a village." In this case, the Village of Manomet.
Here's a link to the dozen or so blog posts I've published about the Simes House over the past seven years.
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