Library Tour a Sneak Peek for Patrons

Speed Reading Library Tour:

-Entering under the new covered porch, one opens the door on the vestibule lobby which features the donor wall. Moving through the main door, patrons will enter the circulation desk area which is flanked on the right by the two-sided fireplace and on the left by public computers access area. Behind the circulation desk is the staffing area which sports multiple offices, a break room and staff restroom.

-Beyond the fireplace is a reading room/lounge area with four individual chairs and coffee table, plus two large tables each with seating for eight. Adjacent to this area are the men’s and women’s restrooms.

-This area also features a dedicated used book room roughly double the area of the current one.

-Moving on into the largest area, the stacks, patrons will have access to far more volumes than could be made available in the old facility. At the end of the stacks is the children’s books area with reading rug. Beyond that is the door to the patio with its 24-7 free phone charging station.

-Veering west reveals four more dedicated rooms: the Children’s Activities Room, Computer Lab, Community Room with single restroom, and the Genealogy/History Room.

Surrey House/New Library location

125 E Beech St
Harrison, MI 48625

HARRISON – In April 2016, the Harrison District Library made public its acquisition of the former Surrey House for use as its new location. The move to a larger facility was much needed, and the upgrade of more than 2,000 square feet over the existing building certainly fit the bill. So did the availability of dedicated spaces for its multiple functions, as well as space enough for its entire collection.

The proposed plan was finalized in 2017 and called for stacks space roughly double that in the existing library. Also included were a community room/public meeting room which could be accessed after hours via changeable lockset combination code; a children’s activities area, a reading lounge and computers access area. The circulation desk was to be expanded and feature a [future] drive-thru window, especially convenient for those who don’t want to brave rainy weather, unload the kids, or those who may have mobility concerns.

Another dream of Angela Kellogg, support services librarian and local history buff, was to provide a dedicated genealogy/history room where the community’s rich history could be displayed and explored.

As is often said, the best results begin with a well-laid plan, thus the Turn the Page Relocation Project was born, which included growing financial contributions via the Clare County Community Foundation. The plan was not only well-laid, but also included many steps through which community members could become invested in the success of the library’s renovation/relocation. Steps included multiple library staff-hosted activities which piqued interest, such as a visit/presentation by the Michigan Area Paranormal Investigative Team who sought to verify stories of the Surrey’s resident restless spirits.

Perhaps the most notable of the efforts were the many Surrey Porch Concerts where summer musicians of many genres entertained attendees who brought their chairs to the parking lot and the sidewalk across the street. Baked goods sold to concertgoers continued to add cash to the cause.

All this effort did indeed bring a sense of community investment in the library’s success. Private donations also flowed in and, as stated on an open-house flyer, funding of $421,000 has been raised to date. When fundraising reached the stage that work could begin, plans were fine tuned and finalized. Roof work began, followed by gutting/demo and some asbestos mitigation. When actual walls demo/ventilation/plumbing/electrical work got underway, it wasn’t long until shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress. As a cost-savings tact, the library has contracted out as little work as possible, relying primarily on the carpentry/construction work of Rich Hilton and Jeff Wagner. Their slow and steady work continued throughout the pandemic.

Now, seven years after the library first announced its Surrey House acquisition, the public was invited to stop in Wednesday, May 31 to get a peek at the work/changes/improvements that have been completed. On hand to enjoy the moment were Sheila Bissonnette, library director; Nick Loomis, assistant library/IT director and project manager of the renovation; Cheryl Wagner, adult programming and circulation desk manager; Caroline Thomas, library assistant; and Angela Kellogg, support services librarian/curator of the historical collection.

Loomis took on the job of host, providing detailed historical information about the evolution of Harrison District Library, including its original and subsequent locations. He did the same with the Surrey House, and describing specific changes and helping visitors orient themselves in relation to the rooms remembered from former restaurant/cocktail lounge days.

Upon entering through the new lobby door on the north end of the building, visitors could see a mockup of the proposed “donor tree” with its many leaves engraved with the names of contributors. From there, guests enter into the circulation desk area which is flanked on the right by a fireplace contributed by Reinke’s Hearth of the Home. Loomis explained that the library had opted to finish it off using ceramic tiles to mimic the look of staggered marble brick, a look that continues throughout that portion of the library.

Moving on – and staying away from the taped off work zones – visitors were guided through the remodeled areas. The largest of those is dedicated to the stacks, with the book shelving locations outlined on the floor with blue painter’s tape. Through the windows of that room, the outdoor patio and art walk could be seen, as well as the patio’s new phone charging station that is already functional and available for anyone who wants to come by to charge up.

Loomis pointed out the computer lab which will host six individual stations, as well as the Children’s Room where kids’ activities will be held.

In the community/conference room, the oval glass in one of the former front entrance doors is clad in a photo graphic with the words “Harrison District Library” floating above a black and white aerial photo of Harrison. On the opposite wall is mounted the huge square Surrey House Restaurant and Lounge sign that used to be mounted on the exterior east wall of the building, facing First Street. Loomis noted that when the sign was taken down, it was discovered the building’s siding had been applied around it, leaving some blank wood. He assured the library’s new sign would take care of that problem.

Throughout the tour, visitors recalled their own memories of the history-rich building. That frame of mind made the last stop on the tour all the more tantalizing – the Harrison History/Genealogy Room. Oohs and aahs followed pretty much everything noted by Loomis, including the late Dave Carr’s bequeathing of monies for the children’s summer reading program. Loomis explained that Carr was an ever-present patron of the library and that his gift was put into an endowment, enabling it to serve its intended purpose for decades to come. It is no surprise that a section of the Genealogy/History Room contains Dave Carr memorabilia.

Kellogg pointed out various aspects of the room, which encompasses what had been the Surrey’s original front desk. Since the upstairs is not being used for anything other than storage, the stairway has been walled off for fire safety reasons. The front desk, however, has been trimmed up to resemble a depot ticket booth, with its under-counter display filled with very old local glass bottles [Harrison Ni-Hi anyone?]. Other aspects of the room include a wall displaying replica postcards [52 so far, 52 more likely to come], a display cabinet from the Hughes Brothers store, and a section of Harrison’s original wooden waterline. Kellogg said the Hughes Brothers cabinet was provided courtesy of local businessman and history buff/collector Cody Beemer. The waterline was secured by Kellogg when it was discovered during recent street work.

On the wall behind the “ticket booth” counter is mounted a photo of the late Anne Smith, the longtime library director who had seen the library through multiple upgrades. That posting also designates the space as the “Anne Smith Memorial Local History Collection.”

Some of the most striking changes to be noted are the building’s new ceilings, abundant lighting, freshly painted walls, interior windows and the resultant spaciousness. This contrasts sharply with the building’s original dark décor which had been just fine for 1960s dining and cocktail ambiance, but not so much for the needs of a vibrant library.

The projected opening date is August of this year, and there was talk of how the physical move to the “new digs” would unfold. Loomis was clear that all suggestions were welcome, along with help on moving day.

He described several ways the library could take on the task of moving all its possessions one block from old to new. Human chain of book handoffs and use of football team storage bin hoisters were among the suggestions. Whatever the mode, the job will get done and the collection of long-stored library stocks will find a new home where all can be enjoyed by the community.

Until moving day arrives, readers can peruse the accompanying photos to get a sense of the changes made and the promises fulfilled through this huge Harrison District Library project. It truly is a really good story.