Library Construction Moves Forward, Opening Date Set

Construction on the new Peninsula Community Library continues to move forward, and at last week’s library board meeting, they set an opening date.

Stay tuned to Old Mission Gazette for more info about the celebration being planned, but we can now confirm that the new library will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at 10 a.m.

The amount of people involved in this project – that started with a seed of an idea a few years ago – is astounding. As library director Vicki Shurly says, the new library is definitely a community project that will be “The Heart of the Community.” I can’t wait to attend the official opening and post photos on the Gazette for folks who can’t be there.

Until then, here are a few photos of what things look like at the moment. Well, this first photo is actually outdated already. There is now an actual parking lot with asphalt on it!

We recently reported that the angel at Tim Carroll’s house would be flying to the new library. The angel has flown! Right onto the roof of the library’s Carriage House.

And here is the antique door from Tim Carroll’s house just a stone’s throw north of the new library (the Carroll family homestead that dates back generations). The door is now displayed proudly in the new history room that will bear Tim’s name. Thank you, Tim!

Here is the Mary Johnson Fireplace (bearing my mom’s name because of her dedication and foresight, along with the library board back in the 1990s, to buy the five acres on which the new library currently sits).

I can’t wait to sit in front of this fireplace “with Mom” (she won’t be there, as she is currently in assisted living with dementia, but she will always be there in spirit). Thank you, Mom and previous library board! Oh, and the mantel fireplace is from our family barn north of Mapleton. Thank you, Dean! (My brother, Dean Johnson)

And lastly, I was very excited that I got to be part of this decision. When I was taking photos the other day, Vicki Shurly was there going over some details with one of the Grand Traverse Construction team members. She asked my opinion on whether this “building date marker” should be sort of in back of the building or out front where people can see it. I said out front, and that’s her feeling, too. Thanks, Vicki! I can’t wait to see the new marker in place.

It also reminded me of all of the many big and small decisions that have been made during the construction process. Vicki and the current Library Board (including my niece, Heatherlyn Johnson, who’s the board president – we are a library family, like so many others on the OMP) have been on task with that all along. Big thanks to everyone.

A new Peninsula Community Library website is in the works, as well. Until then, though, be sure and check out the goings-on at the current website here.