Recent letters to the editor have been published relating to the restoration of the Snohomish Carnegie and the impetus behind this historic undertaking. Our foundation and its predecessor, the Snohomish Carnegie Preservation Committee, has been involved since this conversation began 20 years ago and is in a unique position to comment on the project and the long road from dream to fruition.
In 2002, when Larry Bauman was hired as Snohomish city manager, he immediately realized that the oldest publicly owned building was about to lose its oldest tenant; the Snohomish Library.
Faced with this difficult question, Bauman provided the community with an object lesson in leadership and vision. He recognized the historic significance of our Carnegie Library and recommended that the city council reach out to the community for suggestions on possible future uses. The council listened, and, on July 30 of that year, held their council meeting on the steps of the Carnegie, hosting several groups with their proposals. Snohomish Carnegie Preservation Committee proposed removing the annex, restoring the building and grounds, returning it to its original architecture and transforming it into the community’s very own “town hall,” an unparalleled community center.
After 20 years of community outreach, the Carnegie has been returned to its former glory. Snohomish has Larry Bauman’s leadership and a visionary council to thank for turning a dream into reality. It took 20 years, but with the community support and commitment this dream came true.
In Bauman’s words, the Carnegie is the “Jewel of Snohomish.”
Melody Clemans
Snohomish Carnegie Foundation
Snohomish
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