Campbell, California Since 1999
Neighbors
(Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer) City's first library remains much as it looked in 1923 Forever Young: Built in 1923 by the Country Woman's Club as a free library, the building at the corner of Campbell Avenue and First Street has served many needs over the years and is now home to Gargoyles Salon and Golden Gate Kitchens. (By Amy Jenkins) Men and women get their hair colored, cut and styled in the same room where early residents of Campbell read books and held meetings. Gargoyles Salon has occupied the building on the corner of Campbell Avenue and First Street for almost nine years. But the salon is far from the first business that has held forth in this location. In 1904, the Country Woman's Club formed in order to provide a free library to the citizens of Campbell. The club bought the piece of land on Campbell Avenue and First Street from town founder Benjamin Campbell in 1907, but it was not until 1923 that enough funds were accumulated to construct the ornate building club members had dreamed about years before. The women divided the building into two parts. The right side, now Golden Gate Kitchens, served as the town library and the club's meeting place. The left side, where the salon is now, was used for many community meetings. In 1952, the newly incorporated city of Campbell used the large room next to the library for city council meetings. The club also rented this room out to the Kiwanis Club for so many years that a new kitchen was built for making lunches for meetings. Numerous community events and church services were held in the room as well. "We have many people come in and tell us that they used this room for their wedding reception and as a banquet hall," says Tom Hall, the owner of the property and former owner of Gargoyles Salon. The library moved out of the building in 1961 because of the need for a larger facility to meet the demands of a growing population, according to Mayor Jeanette Watson. For several years the library was located in the building that now houses Orchard Valley Coffee. When the city passed a bond in 1967, the new library and city hall were built in their current location. The first Campbell Historical Museum moved into the vacant library room. But in 1972 the club voted to sell the building because of increased expenses. The proceeds benefited the library, museum and other community projects. "The building was too hard for the women to keep up because some were getting older, and the younger women were starting to work outside the home," says Rita Field, the club's longest-serving member. "In the 1950s, women used to dress up for meetings and it was an important part of their lives," she recalls. Now the Country Woman's Club meets twice a month from September through June. Field says the members wish they still had a building in which they could meet, but instead the club meets in restaurants and churches. The club has many fundraisers, donating $25,000 to the powder room in the Heritage Theatre and awarding $5,800 in scholarships to graduating students in the Campbell Union High School District this year. "We use any opportunity we can to raise money," says Field, who was given a membership to the club as a gift from her mother-in-law for $25 in 1953. Although the historic building maintains some original qualities, much has changed over the years. The hardwood floors were replaced with wall-to-wall carpeting by previous owners, who ran a sports injury clinic. The carpet was pulled up and replaced with wood, though some original hardwood survives. The original stairway remains, but the closed off upper level was replaced by a mezzanine. Tom Castro, who has owned Gargoyles Salon since last February, says, "I plan to maintain the historic value of the building." |
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