4 • The Clairemont Times • November 2012
www.clairemonttimes.com
With the 50th Anniversary of the North Clairemont Library on November 17th did you know or remember? • A fire in 1980 significantly destroyed the building, closing it for almost a year • It was originally designed to hold 20,000 volumes … it now houses more than 52,000 items • There was another fire in 1993 a workroom was gutted and several cabinets and shelves had to be replaced. • The original square footage was 4,576 and today is 5,136 square feet.
North Clairemont Branch Library under construction, April 3, 1962.
Source: North Clairemont Branch
The man who designed the North Clairemont Branch Library was renowned architect Robert J. Platt. While he had an extensive list of work Mr. Platt also designed other local landmarks including: • Sportsman’s Lodge (1959) now The Pearl Hotel, Point Loma - 1410 Rosecrans Street • Presidio Nursery, Morena Boulevard 1959 (gone) • San Diego Marine Exchange (since remodeled) (1959) • Akin-Moore Yacht Brokerage, Shelter Island (1960) • Bayside 4 – 2540 Shelter Island Drive (1961) • Silvergate Yacht Club (being demolished) (1962) - 2091 Shelter Island Drive • Acey-Ducey Bar - EM Club, NAS Miramar” (1963) • U.S. Post Office & Federal Bldg. (1965) Del Mar • Lafayette Elementary School (1966) • Mission Bay Campland (1966) • Clairemont Covenant Church (1967) • Clairemont Baptist Church (1970) • De Anza View Medical-Complex (1970)
The newly built North Clairemont Branch Library on Clairemont Drive, San Diego, 1962.
Source: Eric Platt Son of Robert J. Platt
North Clairemont Branch Library on Dedication Ceremony Day, Harry Scheidle, vice mayor, 1962.
Source: San Diego Public Library - Special Collections - Digital Library
Opening Day, North Clairemont Branch Library staffs, Myra L. Schneider, Helen Leoboldti, Dorothy Grimm, Marquerita Teal, McMichael Rhodes, Evelyn Ellison, V. E. Parkianathan, 1962