Shovels in hand, people who love the Carnegie Library building tromped through fresh snow and faced off against bitter cold temperatures on Jan. 19 to celebrate ground-breaking on the long-awaited renovation of the historic structure in downtown Manitou Springs.

Years of committee meetings, community discussion and fundraising have finally moved from hope to the reality of a soon-to-be expanded, updated, fully accessible library that will serve future generations while preserving its heritage.

“It’s happening! It’s happening!” Manitou Mayor John Graham shouted to the people climbing the wooded hill at the corner of Manitou and Pawnee avenues toward the tiny turn-of-the-last century building, closed for the past four years due to lack of accessibility and relocated to the Manitou Art Center.

Service — and books — will return to the city-owned building once expansion of the existing library and extensive interior and exterior work are completed; that’s estimated to take eight to nine months. The original building, designed by famed architect Thomas MacLaren and built in 1911, will be fortified and preserved for posterity.

Longtime library champion and Manitou resident Rob Danin, who worked on the Preserve and Renew our Carnegie Library Task Force, noted that the town’s population has quadrupled since the library was first built and the expansion will not only meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act but will welcome more community gatherings and events.

“It’s taken a generation to make this happen,” Danin said.

At the podium, Graham lauded the $4.75 million renovation as a victory for this close-knit community. Resident Manuel Pulido, a Native American mural artist, offered a prayer to the four winds for the land where the building sits.

Representatives from the city, the county, the state and the Pikes Peak Library District praised the citizens’ initiative and expansion of the library as a major step forward for Manitou Springs.

“It speaks to the character of those who live here that you’ve worked together to make this happen. Look at the number of people who are here!” said District 3 Commissioner Stan VanderWerf of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners.

It’s taken a generation to make this happen – Rob Danin

The Board of County Commissioners supported the project financially alongside the Gates Family Foundation, the El Pomar Foundation, ENT Federal Credit Union, the Carnegie Library Task Force, the Save Our Carnegie Library Fundraising Committee, the State Historical Fund, the city of Manitou Springs, all recognized at the ceremony, and numerous individual donors.

One of those donors, Lil Griesan, 21, disabled by a traumatic brain injury as a child, clapped and cheered from her wheelchair, proud and pleased that her $1,000 gift to the project is finally coming to fruition and the newly designed library will accommodate others like her.

Nearby, wrapped in a blue down jacket and engulfed by the crowd, 92-year-old longtime Manitou resident Joanne Garrison celebrated the ground-breaking.

“I came to this library as a first-grader,” Garrison said, smiling and holding a gloved finger up to her lips in a mock shush. “What I remember is the librarian telling us we had to be quiet!” she said.

Garrison’s late husband, Bob, served on the library board and the family has supported the renovation project with private donations.

The Kenneth Jaynes family of Santa Fe, who were unable to attend, sent a letter expressing gratitude that a portion of a $1 million family gift that Tim Jaynes, who died in 2008, bequeathed to the city of Manitou Springs, had been used to support the library project.

El Pomar Foundation Chairman and CEO Kyle Hybl, on behalf of the foundation’s trustees, emphasized El Pomar’s belief in the power of libraries to educate and connect communities.

Aaron Salt of the Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees pointed out the library’s proximity to Manitou Springs Elementary School, just across the street, observing that the library will be here to serve future generations, extending its already long history and justifying the community’s long wait for its improvement and expansion.

Representing History Colorado’s State Historical Fund, Director Marcie Moore Gantz acknowledged the work of fund employees who worked on contracts and preservation for the project, and the fund’s most recent donation of $250,000 to help renovate “one of thousands of Carnegie investments across the country at the turn of the 20th century … not just to preserve the past but to build bridges to the future.”

Ralph Routon, chairman of the Manitou Arts, Culture and Heritage board which, through its role as adviser to City Council on how to spend money from Manitou’s MACH tax, dedicated $400,000 to the Carnegie Library renovation project, remembered his late mother-in-law, who managed the library from 1974-1979.

“Her hands will be on those shovels along with others that came before us,” Routon said. “On days like this, we should realize how truly connected we are.”

After speeches that summoned whistles, hoots and applause, the crowd moved to the front of the Carnegie Library, where piles of loose dirt had been laid out atop the crusty, frozen ground. 

Celebrants hoisted their shovels and, on cue, tossed dirt around gleefully, anticipating the promise of spring and summer when the Earth will thaw and the newly renovated Manitou Springs Carnegie Library will finally take root and grow.

STILL TIME TO DONATE

Go to www.manitouspringsgov.com/633/_Carnegie-Library.

City will remove 10 trees for Carnegie Library project

As construction begins on the Carnegie Library addition, trees that are within the building footprint or pose risks during and after construction will be removed.    

For the safety of the crews working and the nearby public, it will be necessary to remove 10 trees from the site, 701 Manitou Ave. 

“We understand the profound connection Manitou Springs has with the environment and the love for our trees, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,” a city of Manitou Springs press release states.

The city intends to repurpose the wood responsibly. Plans include city arborists creating “bug hotels” with Manitou Springs Elementary school students, displaying an art project in the library and donating wood to District 14 woodworking classes.

For every tree being removed, the city pledges to plant trees with a total diameter similar to the ones being taken down. An estimated total of 225 inches in diameter of trees will be removed, so the city will plant 225 inches in diameter of diverse and resilient trees in upcoming years. 

The removal will take place sometime during the week of Jan. 29. The trees that will be removed are marked with a dot and a ribbon. Information: tinyurl.com/CarnegieTreeAssessment.

“We understand that this change can be challenging, especially when it involves elements as beloved as our trees. Your understanding during this transition is greatly appreciated,” the press release concludes.