LAKEPORT — Arguably one of the most scenically located Carnegie Libraries in California is in Lakeport.
Located in a city park of its namesake, Library Park, on the shores of Clear Lake, soon the building may be protected. The city will file a report regarding an application to place the building on the National Register of Historic Places at the city council meeting tonight at 6 p.m.
But the city did not submit the application, and wished it had been involved in the process. “It was two gals, they went ahead and did the application. They are part of the historical community. They took it upon themselves to do this, and the city wants to look at all the aspects, whether this will be good or bad?it may hamstring us. Whatever is best for the city we are going to do it,” Lakeport Mayor Buzz Bruns said.
The austere, Classical Revival two-story building flanked by palm and sycamore trees first opened in 1918. After several attempts by the Ladies” Improvement Club and others, the city received an $8,000 Carnegie grant in 1914, securing funding for a library.
Due to dredging of the lake to create the lakeside park, Carnegie was reluctant about a site where a basement could not be built, but the plans were approved, and Lakeport”s first library was established, according to historical records.
The library”s collection outgrew the building, a new library was constructed, and in 1985 the outfit moved to its current location on North High Street. The Carnegie library was left vacant for many years. In recent years, it was rehabilitated by the city, and scientists from the University of California at Davis began using the space as a research station to study Clear Lake.
At the last city council meeting, members expressed concerns about a National Register of Historic Places status for the library. They wondered whether the status would restrict the city”s use of the building, including any potential future construction or rehabilitation needs. Members instructed city staff to research the requirements and possible restrictions. A discussion of that research will ensue at the meeting tonight.
Also on the short agenda, the council will approve the purchase of a new city vehicle, present awards to winners of the Lakeport Holiday Decorating Contest and approve a contract change order for the South Main Street Rehabilitation Project.
Other agenda items include discussing an appointment to the Vector Control District Board, and discussing the rescheduling or cancellation of the January 1, 2008 city council meeting.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
