December 15, 1999

Heritage center adds to new life to old building

By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
       It was out with the old carpeting and paint and in with the new 'Pine Needle Green' and 'Quebec Fog' as members of four historical groups began refurbishing the former Traverse City District Library on Sixth Street in anticipation of the building's new occupant- the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.
      Ripping up carpeting, sanding floors and painting walls last Wednesday and Thursday were members of the Maritime Heritage Alliance, Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan, Grand Traverse Pioneer and Historical Society and Friends of the Con Foster Museum. Each of these groups will eventually have office, storage and meeting space in the 94-year-old Carnegie Building.
      Ann Hoopfer, executive director of Friends of the Con Foster Museum, said the City of Traverse City will lease the building from the District Library, who will maintain ownership of the building for at least the next five years. The Con Foster Museum will operate and maintain the Grand Traverse Heritage Center through a contract with the city.
      Housing all four historical groups under one roof will create a centralized resource center in the community. Overall, reaction to the Grand Traverse Heritage Center has been overwhelmingly positive.
      "With only a couple exceptions have I heard anything other than, 'Wow, what a great idea ... what a great use for this building,'" noted Hoopfer.
      Explaining the layout of the new complex, Hoopfer said the Railroad Society will be located downstairs in the former library director's office. Photos from the archives of the Grand Traverse Pioneer and Historical Society will also be located downstairs. The lower level will also include reference books from each of the four organizations. This library will contain more than 3,000 volumes available for the public to use in the center's reading room.
      Heading upstairs, visitors to the complex will find offices for the Maritime Heritage Alliance, a gift shop and a 90 person meeting room.
      Another upstairs resident will be the Con Foster Museum, which will set up shop in the upper level of the Carnegie Building. Hoopfer noted that this move will take at least a year as the entire complex must be climate controlled for displays and exhibits.
      "We will start a capital campaign before January 1 to raise around $700,000 to pay for the climate control system plus pay for renovation work. We hope to raise the funds over the next nine to ten months," said Hoopfer.
      This month, however, a majority of the historical groups will be packing boxes of photos, papers and artifacts in preparation for a post January 1 move-in date. One of those eagerly awaiting the move to Sixth Street is Carol Hale.
      "We are real excited because we don't have to climb two flights of stairs in order to get to our office," said the office manager for the Maritime Heritage Alliance, which presently resides above DeYoung's store on Front Street.
      "In addition, we have a very large library that will now be accessible to the public," she noted.
      Another group anticipating the move is the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan. While the Sixth Street complex will provide storage and office space, it also means a roof over the organization's head - literally.
      "Right now the group has a freight car load of stuff," said Society member, Bob Watson. "But it's all under lock and key and we're only able to bring it out once a year and put it on display."
      For those in the neighborhood surrounding the old library, the new center means a building of historical value is being utilized by those who truly appreciate history.
      "The library was the centerpiece of our neighborhood and to have it come back as something for the public is just excellent," noted Hale, a Central Neighborhood resident.