In the end of May TimberHomes raised a 12 sided reciprocal roof pavilion at the Wampanoag Common Lands in Kingston, Massachusetts for the Native Land Conservancy. The NLC, a Native-run land conservation nonprofit, recently acquired this land and is protecting it for the entire Wampanaoag Nation.
The five day raising went smoothly with very few surprises. We started by raising a fork and rafter, its peak temporarily supported by a tower of staging. Fork #2 was raised with its rafter peak lapping over the first rafter. We repeated this process until the last rafter which required special treatment. The rafter peak needed to slide between both neighboring rafters while its foot had to be lifted up and over the tenons of the fork below. A precise maneuver we were holding our breath about. With careful machine operating, clever ratchet strapping and an attentive crew, the rafter found its place. By the end of day two, the purlins were up and the principal frame was ready for a roof and shear walls.
We were fortunate in having sun and clear blue skies for most of the raising, but Thursday brought a storm. With the help of an old friend and pre-cut roof boards and underlayment we managed to create some dry space to work on shear walls before thunder forced us off the roof.
On Friday members of the Native Land Conservancy came to work on the land and to support us in the final stages of the raising. We disassembled the staging, revealing a beautiful ring of conifers encircling a flat blue sky. Soon after, we lowered the stainless steel cupola, providing a truly dry gathering space.
That afternoon the Native Land Conservancy held a ceremony to celebrate the project. Leaders from the Mashpee Tribe as well as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs gave gracious remarks highlighting the significance of this pavilion. They spoke not only to the future uses of the building but also to the life from which it’s comprised. It was an honor and a pleasure to build one of the first structures on the Wampanoag Common Lands. Our hearts are filled knowing these trees should stand for generations of song, dance, prayer, and healing. They’re in good hands.
Before taking off for Vermont, the crew took a much needed dip in the clear side of Muddy Pond. A perfect end to a special project.
