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