By Sophia Harris
Daily Item
NAHANT, Mass. — In the attic of the Nahant Public Library, Fire Chief Austin Antrim described how a fire could travel through concealed spaces in the walls and roof, reaching areas firefighters would struggle to access.
The building has old wiring and an aging fire alarm system, but no sprinklers to slow a fire while crews respond.
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“The way our department operates and is staffed, we just wouldn’t have a chance of stopping anything here without a fire suppression system in place,” Antrim said.
During a tour with Library Director Nori Morganstein, Antrim explained the safety concerns behind a proposed $4 million renovation and why he supports a $1 million town contribution, even as his department faces staffing and building needs.
Voters will consider the funding at a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20 . Morganstein said $1 million has been raised privately. The town contribution would bring that amount to $2 million, allowing the library to secure a $2 million matching grant.
Antrim said he has heard and seen comments suggesting the money should go to the Fire Department instead. The police and fire departments recently completed a facilities feasibility study, he said, but remain in the early planning stages and need further discussion with residents.
“I certainly wouldn’t want this project held up just because the fire department has needs that aren’t yet addressed,” he said. “This is an opportunity that the town should not pass up.”
The renovation would modernize electrical and plumbing systems, upgrade heating, add air conditioning and ventilation, and install fire suppression and security systems. Telephone and data connections would be improved, along with deteriorating floors, plaster ceilings, original windows, and historic woodwork.
Antrim said replacing old wiring would eliminate an existing risk. Circuit breakers had been used as light switches until this year, he said.
The alarm’s connection for alerting responders also needs attention. Antrim said he had recently received notice that Verizon was transitioning away from copper landlines, the type of connection the library uses to transmit fire notifications. Morganstein said the library has received calls reporting problems with that connection.
The project would replace outdated alarm devices and allow a move to a wireless connection, Antrim said.
Sprinklers would help contain a fire while crews responded. Antrim said combustible material and the building’s construction could allow flames to spread quickly, particularly through concealed spaces.
He explained that sprinkler heads activate individually when exposed to sufficient heat, directing water to the affected area rather than throughout the building.
The electrical upgrades would also make climate control possible. The library operates on 200-amp service, which officials say is inadequate. A town electrician has recommended increasing capacity to 800 amps and replacing outdated wiring and panels.
Morganstein said the existing service cannot support the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system the building needs.
In the attic, she showed books with detached spines and deteriorating bindings. Some volumes more than 200 years old are stored in acid-free boxes, but those cannot protect them from temperature extremes.
“This room could be in the hundreds in the summer, and in the winter it’s cold,” she said.
Historical materials have accumulated at the library for many years, dating back to before the town had a historical society.
“A lot of things came to the library to hold on to and preserve, but we don’t actually have a good place to preserve them,” Morganstein said.
Heating problems persist, too. Morganstein said a boiler was replaced after developing a hole last year, but the replacement has broken down several times. One radiator sometimes releases hot water and steam.
The interior proposal follows years of exterior repairs, supported partly through Community Preservation Act funding. Morganstein said falling ceiling material forced an area to be blocked off for about a year. Repairs began in November 2025 and finished about a month ago.
Antrim’s preservation background informs his support. He studied preservation carpentry at North Bennet Street School and spent about 2½ years restoring James Madison’s Virginia home, Montpelier, where modern alarms and sprinklers were installed.
“When buildings like this are lost, they’re gone forever,” he said.
He also disputed suggestions that the library is little used, citing programming for children and adults and residents who participate.
A crafting circle was meeting during the tour. Morganstein estimated the library recorded nearly 12,000 visits over the year.
“It is a place that is in use by a lot of people, and should continue to be,” Antrim said.
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