New Willard Roof Protects Priceless History

Work continues this week on a new synthetic cedar shake roof at the

The new roof is expected to last 50 years and is made to withstand the ravages of wind, water and fire, museum director Patrick Keenan.

Keenan and the museum board worked to select a roof that would tolerate the stresses of New England weather conditions while working to “protect the structural integrity of the building.’’

. Contractors say they have taken steps to maintain the period look of the museum, which houses more than 80 Willard clocks created by Simon Willard and his family, one of America's most prestigious early American clockmakers.

Ron Votta, of Atlantic Construction Management, was put in charge of the project, and has worked to maintain the Willard House and Clock Museum's period detail while overseeing the needed updating, according to information provided by O’Lyn Roofing.

"We're reinforcing the structure in ways that won't be seen,’’ he said. “Outside, there'll be exposed turnbuckles and tie rods that will look like the period. And we're adding cast iron stars, typical of many 18th century buildings."