More than a century after his grandfather built the structure that houses the Patagonia Public Library, John Henry Kendall has added another chapter to his family’s legacy.

A 900-square-foot addition to the Patagonia Public Library will house the Mary Rebecca Cady Reading Room. Artist’s rendition of addition

On Nov. 5, during a groundbreaking ceremony for a 900-square-oot addition that he is donating, Kendall thanked the community for helping to preserve Cady Hall and supporting the library.

Glad to be a part of it

“It’s your library, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” said Kendall.

Librarian Abbie Zeltzer delineated the 108-year history of Cady Hall and the formation of the library and said Kendall has been a generous donor to the library. Over the years he helped to acquire new benches, a newspaper rack, computer desks, and a complete set of tools.

However, Zeltzer said, “It was a phone conversation that brought us to today’s groundbreaking.”

After asking if the library needed more space, Kendall offered to fund the entire project that has a preliminary cost of $890,000 and added his conceptualization of what the addition might look like. Local architect Arturo Vazquez designed what will be dubbed the “Mary Rebecca Cady Reading Room,” named in honor of Kendall’s mother, who grew up in Patagonia.

“Arturo has done a marvelous job of making it look right,” said Kendall whose vision for the addition was to make it look like the rest of the library so that it would blend in. “We also have a great contractor aboard. I am waiting to see the final product stand out there.”

It was 1901 when John Henry Cady broke ground on the Patagonia Hotel described as having “airy comfortable rooms at a moderate expense, a restaurant, ballroom, and skating rink.” In addition to being a hotel owner, Cady was described an adventurer who also worked as a cattleman, sheep rancher, sheriff and a chef.

In 1937 the Patagonia Woman’s Club became proprietors of the building where they have held their meetings ever since.

In 1957 the Patagonia Woman’s Club started a library in one of the rooms. In 1987 the club donated the building to the town and volunteers restored the building adding an addition to house the current library. In 1992 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“I spent a lot of time in the library so I really have a personal desire to help libraries,” said Kendall, who came from California to attend the ceremony. “I learned probably half of what I know by reading in libraries. They are very important to the community.”

Among the guests who attended the event were ex-Mayor Gary Gay, Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Maynard, Patagonia council members Cornelia O’Connor, Andy Wood, and Meg Gilbert.

Anyone interested in seeing a computer generated rendering can visit the Patagonia Public Library.