Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
This past week, you may have found yourself walking out of the middle doors in Tarble only to walk into some sort of construction site (if you are anything like me, you may have done this many, many times). You may have wondered what exactly is going on. Wonder no longer– the Gazette is ready to satisfy your curiosity. Ralph Thayer, Director of Maintenance, said in an e-mail that the activity is just some basic repair and replacements of the slates which make up the roof. “The stone slates (versus fired clay tiles which we have on McCabe Library and Sharples Dining Hall) are very long-lasting, but the nails that anchor them to the roof deck can loosen over time and of course some slates may break over the decades requiring replacement.” There has also been some leaking due to the erosion of the slates. While rain and bitter cold has slowed down the work, construction should be over in a few weeks.
Walk into any other construction sites lately? Curious about what is going on? Ask the Gazette!