Inspired Design Notes

Fall Open House/Celebrating 100 Years

Two-thousand-and-six was a very busy year for us.  We began the restoration of the Kraft in January which took us nine months, and then in three short weeks moved the House of Design to our new location.  We have much to celebrate this year.  On September 25^th and 26^th our Annual Harvest Open House will honor the 100^th anniversary of Red Bluff’s, Kraft Memorial Free Library building.  Elizabeth Kraft entrusted it to the city in 1909 and it remained an important part of the community for many decades.  If only it could talk – the stories we have heard from visitors!  It was the gathering place for many.  Used not only for reading, education, and enlightenment, but it also served as a place to meet with friends, play sports on the lawn, and for some the hand rail was even used as a kind of jungle gym!  I’ve heard from more than a few visitors that it was a way to get away from home, and mom.  One just told her you were going to the library - which was true – hooked up with your friends and headed downtown.  It was also a place where children waited for parents to get off work, retired folks enjoyed the paper, and others buried themselves in the stacks of books. 

It is unfortunate that the library was moved from this grand building, but it is our good fortune to be its  guardians.  In celebrating 100 years we have created a written and pictorial story for our web site, of the restoration, as well as history of the Kraft family who were its benefactors.  We hope you will come visit us September 25^th or 26^th for our Harvest Open House where we will have the story boards of the restoration, music, and complimentary refreshments.  We would love to hear your stories of the library. 

P.S.  The elves are just weeks away from starting set-up for our fifteenth season of  Holiday Magic, which is shaping up to be our best one yet.  Mark your calendar for November 5^th when the sights, scents, tastes and sounds of the festivities begin! 

For more information about the restoration, Kraft family  and the Kraft building, please visit our web site:
www.shophouseofdesign.com

A Gift from the Kraft Family

History and time unfortunately have a way of letting us forget about people and things.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Walton about the Kraft Memorial Free Library and Mr. Walton’s great, great Grandparents, Herbert and Elizabeth Kraft.  The Kraft family’s philanthropy was extremely generous to Red Bluff.  Mr. Kraft was a self made man, landing in Red Bluff in 1852 with $2.50 to his name.   He had apprenticed as a tinsmith with his later to be, father-in-law in Louisville, Kentucky.  With that skill, hard work, great intelligence, and integrity he segued his few dollars into a financial empire, operated from the heart of Red Bluff.

 

The great great-Grandson, Herbert Kraft Walton shared some of the family stories and history with me.  He related a picture of a couple who adored one another.  When looking at the magnificent library Elizabeth had built in memory of her husband it is not hard to believe.  Mr. Kraft went back to Louisville, Kentucky and while he was there, on his 30^th birthday, married Elizabeth Kreuth on March 15, 1861.  At just 18 years old, she packed her belongings and left for California with her new husband the day after they were married.  What incredible courage, faith and trust she had in her partner.  They traveled by train, stagecoach and perhaps ferry to reach Red Bluff where Mr. Kraft had a home being built for his new bride.  The Kraft family gave much to Red Bluff and although the library has since moved, the beautiful building Elizabeth had built is still part of Red Bluff’s heritage.

 

The building has 1908 carved in the pediment and dedication stone, however, the actual completion and ceremonies entrusting the library to the community took place on May 24, 1909.  We are celebrating the first 100 years of the Kraft building on September 25 and 26 as part of our annual fall harvest open house.  It is with heartfelt thanks that we acknowledge all those who helped bring the Kraft back to life, and all of you who have supported House of Design and the Kraft, keeping us a part of the community.

For more information about the restoration, Kraft family and the Kraft building please visit our web site www.shophouseofdesign.com.

Amaryllis - The Gift that Keeps on Giving

One of my favorite catalogs arrived a couple weeks ago; John Scheepers, Inc., Beauty from Bulbs.  It is filled with beautiful bulbs just waiting for me to choose.  I hardly know where to start – tulips, Narcissus, Amaryllis, or the very special little species bulbs, and let’s not forget the lilies.  You see what I mean…. the list goes on.  I know if I will just take one day during the fall to get them in the ground I will be treated to a spring filled with indescribable beauty.  But I digress.  In the back of the catalog are the pictures and listings for all the Amaryllis bulbs.  The gargantuan bulbs that produce the same kind of flower.  Blooming just about eight to ten weeks after they are potted, depending on the indoor environment, their spectacular display can be loosely scheduled to suit your own.  And, a green thumb isn’t even necessary for growing these beauties. 

 Second only to their fabulous show during the dreary days of winter, is the fact that in our area they can be happily grown outdoors.  After mine have finished blooming and I know we are past freezing temperatures, because their foliage will freeze I plant them in an area where they will be protected from the afternoon sun.  I amend the soil with plenty of organic material and give them lots of room to grow.  After a few years your one bulb will have multiplied dramatically, producing many stems topped with gigantic blossoms for one of the most incredible floral displays your garden will ever have from such a small plant. 

(If you don’t feel like watering we have absolutely gorgeous botanical Amaryllis that will fool most people and require no attention, except an occasional dusting.)