Copper roofing is expensive

The old copper roof
Photo: Kevin Bennett, Bangor Daily News

The new copper roof
Photo: Kevin Bennett, Bangor Daily News

  The 105 year old copper roof was leaking - a lot!  The Bangor Public Library, the busiest in Maine, needed to replace that old roof.  The cost?  Three million dollars!  The people responded,  5 gallon water bottles were placed in businesses around the area and people (the public) put their pennies in the jugs.
  A grant for One Million was received.  Some of the old roof was made in to jewelry and art works, the profits went to pay for the new roof.  Together the penny jars, the grant and the jewelry, and some outright gifts added up to Three Million dollars.
  It looks nice all bright and shiny, it will get the green patina in about two or three years.