One can only imagine what Andrew Carnegie would have thought.
About 100 years after the Carnegie library graced Mount Forest’s main street, the renovated heritage building once more has opened to the public.
Pleasant weather and a break in the school schedule led to a bumper crop of patrons seeing what it now offers.
The building preserves heritage while incorporating high-tech features.
On April 30, Wellington County, Wellington North Township and the county library board re-opened the branch.
It was a donation of $10,000 by Andrew Carnegie and a donation of land by the Luxton family that saw the library opened in 1913.
Master of Ceremonies Jamie Couper, chairman of the library board, said crowds seem to get larger with each library opening.
A number of county politicians were at the event, which coincided with the county roads tour. And a professional development day for the schools ensured many parents and children attended.
Couper said the crowd at the Elora library reopening a year ago, “was not quite this size. It’s a larger size today, but it’s also a larger library. People of Mount Forest should be really pleased.”
He said 100 years later to the day, the county is presenting a refurbished library almost double the size, handicapped accessible with community rooms.
“It’s going to serve the population of Mount Forest for another 50 to 100 years,” Couper said.
Guest speakers included county Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj, Wellington North Mayor Mike Broomhead, Allen Hastings Construction president Jamie Hastings and Grinham Architects’ Lloyd Grinham.
Ross-Zuj said, “It has been a journey that is quite remarkable.”
She described first getting into the library to the progress and its transformation. “I am sure you are going to be pleased with the new library and we’re hoping that it serves your community very well.”
Broomhead said, “It’s nice to come on a day where everyone’s glad to see me for a change. This is quite an event and it’s so wonderful.”
He was pleased at the number of county and local councillors who were able to attend.
One thing he missed was the call with “… well sweetie, is it ready to open? Jean Weber would be so proud of this place, so very, very proud. It is unfortunate that Jean passed away early in the year and was unable to attend.”
But, he said, “As you go through, her familiar smile, and the love that she had for the history of the area you’ll see in the pictures upstairs.”
Broomhead said during the remodeling a few years back, Weber was there to cut the cake and was so pleased.
Up until to the weekend before she passed away, Broomhead said Weber phoned him “to make sure we’re doing things right and keeping the stained glass windows. Weber is one of those people the whole community loves. That’s one person who’s missing here today, but I’m sure she’s with us in spirit.” He said a number of people had a chance to view the building earlier.
“Everyone has been blown away, because of the perfect work and how the history of the building was retained … right down to the pillars at the side of the building designed to match those at the front.”
He offered credit to Brad Whitcombe and Couper, because they were the ones who said once the first library was completed the county should keep on going.
“They kept their promises to all seven communities.”
Couper said some people do not realize the economic impact of libraries.
“As a business person, I can see it; and as an individual, I credit my success in life to libraries.”
Couper attended classes at a public library, and as a teenager he volunteer in a public school library. “I’ve never forgotten how important libraries have been in my life.”
It was there he learned many of the skills he still uses today.
“I look back at the communities which were given these community libraries throughout Ontario. Ontario received the most Carnegie libraries than anywhere else in the world. And all those communities prospered 100 years ago.”
“Wellington County has without question, the finest public library system in the province.”
Couper said in travelling to other communities, “it’s just incredible what other people put up with in other jurisdictions.” He is constantly amazed at the role filled by local library staff as ambassadors to the community.
Whitcombe said, “This has been a decade long journey for me.”
It started in 2000 with the opening of Centre 2000 library in Erin. “I saw the potential for every community to enjoy the highest standards of service that the library system could offer. A lot of people caught on to that spirit.”
He said that Couper earlier referred to “the debate of these wonderful gifts. It was a gift to your community, and those gifts need to be … and are, being respected.”
He said in walking through the library before the renovations, one could see the patina and feel the spirit of a century of use and a century of community. “I think the county has really stepped up, respected that and offered the gift again to the community of Wellington North.”
Hastings said, “On behalf of Allen Hastings Construction I’d like to thank the county for allowing us to be the contractor on this project. It’s a joy to work on an old building and try to keep the historic part, and I think we’ve done that here.”
He credited the designer for the work to blend the two buildings together.
Architect Lloyd Grinham said, “A lot of things have changed in the 100 years since this building first opened,” from fashions and tastes, to materials and technologies.
Grinham said the project provided an opportunity to consider and reflect on those changes.
“It’s been a tremendous pleasure to work with this group of people.”
He said the “sensitivity to the history and heritage value of the library was constant, and evident in the detailing and the workmanship in the restored interiors and exterior of the building.” He said the county continues heritage preservation and sustainable design.
“As the previous warm-up exercise in Elora last year, this Carnegie library really uniquely encompasses and showcases these initiatives by the County of Wellington.”
“On the outside, the addition echoes the original library rather than contrasting or competing with it. The entire structure also received the extensive heritage preservation it requires for the next 100 years. On the inside, the building has been outfitted with state-of-the-art features and equipment in anticipation of the future.”
“It is our belief that this project is a success in looking backwards and forwards at the same time.”
In addition to the expansion, wireless internet access, a new library program room, children’s area, young adult corner, cozy fireplace, and a lounge area are new features that blend with the original beauty of the library.
Ross-Zuj later stated, “This improved library will serve as a community meeting place where residents can connect and interact with one another. Libraries are crucial in creating educated communities, providing opportunities for life-long learning, and self improvement.”
Broomhead. “A quality library is essential in promoting literacy and learning.”
County Chief Librarian Janice Hindley said, “The newly renovated Mount Forest library branch caters to patrons of all ages. This branch offers a range of activities and social programs that engage minds and provide opportunities to exchange ideas.”
The project cost an estimated $1.5-million dollars and created 756 weeks of work. The library is located at 118 Main Street North.
