| | Published September 25th, 2024
| Moraga Library celebrates 50th birthday
| | | By Vera Kochan |  | | Moraga Library's 50th Birthday cake Photo Vera Kochan |
For one day only, it was okay to cheer, shout, clap, and loudly sing "Happy Birthday" at the Moraga Library, because its 50th birthday party was in progress, and book-lovers of all ages were there to celebrate.
To start off the Sept. 19 commemoration event, Moraga Historical Society President Susan Sperry gave a brief timeline lesson of the past 50 years and beyond, before the library settled into its current location at 1500 St. Mary's Rd. in 1974.
Contra Costa County established a library system in 1911. Seven years later, Moraga opened its first library, with an offering of 100 books, in the Moraga Grocery Store (which now houses Si Si Caffe). The town's population was 535 residents.
Between 1936-1944, the library moved into the Sacramento Northern Railway Station, which was located across the street from today's Moraga Barn. The book collection had doubled to 200; the population had grown as well, with 834 inhabitants.
A new type of library came to town in the form of a bi-weekly book mobile courtesy of the county. Between 1956-1969, Moraga's 1,033 residents were experiencing a different library format.
Wanting to create some permanency, the Friends of the Moraga Library was formed in 1967, thanks to the efforts of Jerry Meyer. By 1969, the Pacific Telephone Company's auxiliary building, at the corner of Munster Drive (now Country Club Drive) and School Street, was leased to the Friends for five years (rent-free), because the building was scheduled for eventual demolition. Today, it's still standing and is the home of the Moraga School District. That library's book volume grew to 7,500 while the town's population increased to 8,579.
Still searching for a place to build a new library, it's current location was selected in 1970, and in 1971, the land was purchased for $55,000. The Moraga Library as we know it today was opened on Sept. 22, 1974, at a cost of $700,000.
"Therefore, you can understand the celebration in 1974 to finally have an independent, permanent library for this growing town of 11,352 residents," stated Sperry. "As seen in a short video we have in the History Center, there were speeches, awards, dancing, refreshments, and a great deal of excitement."
Library Manager Rita Carrasco announced that, for a short time only, a table display containing old scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and other historic memorabilia would be available to anyone interested in exploring the library's history through media from back-in-the-day.
A balloon artist crafted a variety of shapes for the kids, and a giant birthday card was available for well-wishers to sign.
No birthday is complete without a cake, so Friends President Sally Whittaker invited the guests to partake of snacks and not one, but three birthday cakes. Mayor Teresa Onoda encouraged the kids to help blow out the candles before everyone enjoyed a slice as the party continued.
Another family-friendly event, the Town of Moraga's 50th anniversary celebration parade, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the area around School Street and Country Club Drive and Moraga Way. The annual Pear Festival, with a focus on the town's 50th, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Moraga Commons Park. |
 | | Kids help Mayor Teresa Onoda blow out the candles. Photo Vera Kochan | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA