New Roof Going Up at WPA Site on East Maple Street

New Roof at East Maple WPA Site

A new roof is being installed on the former WPA buildings on East Maple Street in Lamar by Carrigan Excavation, the site of future community corrections facility planned to be in operation by 2017.

Old Shingles Coming Off

A construction crew is removing old shingles, most of which are dating back to when the facility was first built during the Great Depression of the 1930s. “A few of the workers have found certificates or labels that were in pretty good shape and had 1939 stamped on them,” one of the construction crew explained as he was clearing the roof for the metal sections which would replace the original shingles.

Some Complete and Some are Getting Close

County Commissioner, Ron Cook, said he expected the new roofing project to be completed before December and work on the interior of the five buildings would begin by January or February. “This is a very positive indication that Doug Carrigan is moving forward with his plans to turn the buildings into a corrections facility now that he owns the property,” he explained.  Earlier this year, the county sold the complex to Carrigan with the understanding that the facility would be used for a community corrections site.  The property to the south of the buildings to the railroad tracks was included in the purchase price.  “We hope to have Mr. Carrigan come to Lamar to provide an update on his project in the near future,” said Cook.

Original Certificates on Construction Found, Dating Back to 1939

Carrigan said he will open the facility to house approximately 20 persons who will be on probation and undergo counseling while they either hold down jobs or search for one as a condition of their release program. The corrections facility will employ just over a dozen workers once they have completed their training.  The project, as well as another in Sterling, Colorado owned by Carrigan, operates under the direction of the State Department of Corrections.

By Russ Baldwin