Executive Summary and Acknowledgements

The Carnegie Library Commission was created in early 2004. It is made up by a group of seven Snohomish citizens, appointed by the City Council, with the mandate to study continued public use of the beloved Carnegie Library building. In crafting its mission statement, the Commission cited the long history of civic involvement with the library:

 

In 1873, just fourteen years after the founding of the village of Snohomish, a handful of citizens pooled their own books to establish the second library in the state of Washington. Their collection numbered only around 300 volumes, but three years later they began construction of a two story building, called the Athenaeum, to house the books, and provide for a public meeting space. The book collection moved to other buildings and grew larger, with assistance from the city's first Women’s Club, Hiu Wa Wa / Cosmopolitan Club. The women eventually purchased the Jackson home located, on the current Carnegie Library site at First and Cedar.

 

Beginning in 1903, the women’s clubs gathered signatures to support their application to the Carnegie Foundation for library construction funds. A $10,000 grant was received in 1909 and the new Carnegie Library opened one a year later. An addition was constructed in the late 1960s, but with continued growth of collections and patrons, the library became outmoded. In 2001, the City passed a bond issue and built a new, larger, library in a new location.

 

The Commission has met monthly this last year. In September it began working with a design team of architects and engineers, led by BOLA Architecture + Planning, to study the restoration of the historic Carnegie Building. The proposed project goal was to preserve the historic building massing and its original appearance, by removing the 1968 addition and rehabilitating its interior for new uses.

 

This report is the result of that study. It describes new potential uses within the building and on its grounds, for public gathering. Specific functions within the proposed building include seminars, meetings, classrooms for all ages, catered events, such as reunions, dinners and parties, conferences, performances, film viewing and exhibits. The proposal calls for upgrading of all systems, including seismic/structural, electrical, mechanical heating and ventilation, plumbing, lighting, fire sprinklers and alarms. It provides a new kitchen, restrooms, and universal access through provision of an inconspicuous exterior ramp and new interior elevator.

This report, which will be presented to the Snohomish City Council, includes a summary of the building's history, record drawings, an analysis of existing conditions with recommendations, a code review, and drawings of the proposed restored and rehabilitated library with cost estimates.

 

A Few Comments from Old-Time Carnegie Users

“Do I remember the old library? My, yes! It was the place to go!” -- Bill Blake

 

“Carnegie left a great legacy. I think I will always appreciate that he built libraries in communities everywhere in the United States…” -- Lynn Klein, former librarian

 

“I didn’t get to use the library much because we lived out of town. But my kids used it intensively.” --Jim Spada

 

“The old building is well worth restoring.” -- Everett Olsen

Acknowledgements

Efforts by many contributed to this project. The design team gratefully acknowledges the following people:

Carnegie Preservation Committee
Melody Clemans, Chair
Bill Bates
Warner Blake
Laurie Cole
Anne Eason
Ken Huck
Michele Skinner

City of Snohomish
Liz Loomis, Mayor
Larry Bauman , City Manger and Project Manager
Ann Caley, Senior Planner
Torchie Corey, City Clerk
Sharon Pettit, Building/Fire Official
Dan Takasugi, Public Works Director
Ed Wilkins, Public Works Manager
Mike Johnson, Facilities Supervisor
Thom Graafstra, City Attorney’s Office

Others

Snohomish Historical Society, Windsor Vest, President
Snohomish Chamber of Commerce, Brad Jorgenson, President
Friends of the Snohomish Library, Penny Ferguson, President
Arts of Snohomish at the Carnegie, Michael Lomax, President, Board of Directors
Sharon ’s Antiques, Sharon Sparks, Owner
Maurice DeLoy, who provided early photographs of the library
George Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson

Design Team

BOLA Architecture + Planning
Susan Boyle, Principal
Matt Hamel, Architectural Intern

Degenkolb Engineers
Stacy Bartoletti, Principal

The Greenbusch Group
John Greenlaw, Principal

Sparling Engineers
Jim Redding, Project Engineer

ATC Associates
Terry McDunner, Branch Manager
Angela Harkins, Project Technician