Slipping beyond a protective plastic covering draped across the doorway, Mr Knight entered a vaulted, once-open space now filling with drywall-enclosed office suites. Pointing to the doorways and windows along the corridor he named town offices including finance, health, zoning, fire marshal, building…moving through one of the walled-off rooms, he stepped into another wing where contractors sprayed a finish along the arched ceiling — remnants drifted to the floor like snow. Lighting would soon follow.

Turning away from the ceiling work, Mr Knight entered the building’s central corridor; at either end were the main entrances to the Board of Education offices and the municipal offices. Whining at a high pitch were power tools — the sound softened by long hallways and the many turns into new spaces, including the town clerk’s vault and suite. “It’s four times the size,” Mr Knight noted, comparing the new area with the Edmond Town Hall clerk’s office. Also along that central hall and across from the clerk’s space was another area where “beautiful,” tall, crescent-toped windows opened a view toward Shelton House and lawn. The town’s technology staff will settle in across from the clerk’s rooms now covered by footprints stamped into sheet rock dust.

Leaving behind imprints of his own, Mr Knight strode toward the Board of Education’s new location. Like the rest of the building, work continued to reshape the space into a comfortable workplace. Ducking beneath a cluster of wiring and around stacks of construction materials, Mr Knight went toward another set of offices. Pointing to one corner of a once large, open room, then another, he noted space for the first selectman’s office, human resources personnel…centered under the high ceiling is what will be a large meeting room accompanied by a small broadcast booth. “It will have a shaded window, you can see out but not in,” he said. The whole technology package will enable someone to record and tape meetings for the public.

Outdoors the excavated earth was still piled in places, but graded to a smooth, leveled surface in others. Between Bridgeport Hall and the distant Newtown Youth Academy stood the final section of Greenwich House. Once a main multi-story building with two smaller wings angled at each end, the building has been disappearing in stages as crews raze the crumbling brick walls. Looking at the solitary section with walls missing and empty windows, Mr Knight said, “It’s the last piece.” In its place will be a parking area convenient to the Newtown Youth Academy, Bridgeport Hall, the adjacent baseball diamond, and to Litchfield House, which soon will come down and an eventual community/senior center will take its place. Below ground utilities and gas lines are nearly complete. Electricity will be permanent once the power company installs a new transformer.

Glancing again at Bridgeport Hall, Mr Knight drew attention to a new roof and a rebuilt back wall, landscaping, and space where curbside parking will be established. Soon town business will be carried out within its newly renovated walls.

Property owners can pay taxes, visit the town clerk’s vault, or speak with the school superintendent in the same space once occupied by patients and staff sitting down in the dining hall or at work in the kitchen.

Few residents have waited as long as Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Bob Geckle to see the old brick façades approaching reuse on grounds purchased from the state in 2001. With a brief acknowledgement, he said, “It’s been awhile.” As infrastructure work on the campus continues and Bridgeport Hall sees a facelift, new sidewalks and refinished windows, Mr Geckle added, “It’s looking good.” See related video on NewtownBee.com.