Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City Still Looking For Library Site

Rumors about businesses being condemned so the new Prescott-Nevada County Library can be built are nothing more than just rumors.

However, these rumors have been enough to get several people upset, including one property owner in the affected area.

A story has been circulating around town saying the block with Simple Simon's Pizza, George's and East Side Cleaners will be condemned to make way for the library.

But, Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said this isn't true. He has spoken to Betty and Marguerite Avery, the owners of the property with George's and East Side Cleaners, about the project.

Taylor said the Averys want to sell their property and retire, but no serious negotiations have been held about the land.

This, he said, is because the library board has yet to name a construction committee. The construction panel will be responsible for helping find a location for the new facility.

George Cornelius, owner of George's, said he's heard the rumors and knows the Avery's want to sell out and retire.

The entire block with George's and the cleaners is historic for Prescott, dating back to the late 1800s.

The buildings were originally built by Christopher Columbus Hambry around the turn of the century. Hambry came to the area as an attorney in 1878.

Before World War I, Alexander Avery purchased the three buildings, turning one into a caf and renting the other two.

However, Avery went to Europe to fight in the war in the Army Air Force, returning to find the business had gone broke.

He started again, building the business up once more.

The property has been in the Avery family since Alexander Avery bought it in 1916, with the caf being operational from 1918 until Avery's death in 1956.

East Side Cleaners has been operating in Prescott since the 1960s.

At one time, Prescott's post office was housed in the building now used by Charlie Milam to repair lawn mowers.

Adam Guthrie, owner of the property where Simple Simon's is located, said the city would condemn this land over his dead body.

Guthrie and Cornelius said there are plenty of other places the library could be built without closing down businesses in operation.

According to Guthrie, no one from the city has approached him about either buying or condemning the property, and it's simply a rumor.

Marguerite Avery said she has spoken with Taylor about it, but it has gone no further.

"I don't know where it (the library) will be," she said. "We haven't been offered any money and haven't been condemned.

"A lot of talking has been going on but nothing has been done."

Avery said the city could get several other pieces of property cheaper and understands there are five or six other sites being looked at for the library.

Taylor said he's also heard the rumors, but added this is all they are rumors and have no substance.

He agreed the city is looking at several other sites for the library and has considered the location of the former Valu-Mart, as it's no longer operating.

But, Taylor said, nothing can be done until the library board creates a construction committee to get this work done.