The fresh new 40-year-old framework expected constant fixes, movement was diminishing, additionally the dated range suffered from overlook and you may discipline

Among all of their trick issues had been how the collection would-be paid toward death of the property, and just how that settlement might be applied to other library functions

The fresh new part perform continue steadily to jobs for some a lot more many years, but from the late 1950s it had outlived the versatility, and not soleley as it is actually an effective relic away from Jim crow. This new department sooner failed to die since it is an unpleasant real reminder out of segregation months, neither is actually its dying for the reason that shortage of explore. Throughout the nation’s 16th prominent town, the part merely seated about highway regarding a major road extension. It actually was Houston’s traffic situation you to definitely provided this new board to offer the structure while the client to-tear they down. Mayor Lewis Cutrer’s place of work told librarian Reynolds during summer out-of 1959 the Clay Opportunity Extension opportunity perform come from December. The newest extension of 1 off downtown Houston’s chief blood vessels create citation through the website of collection. This building would have to getting gone otherwise dissolved on the slide. The new panel wished to promote the structure and you can possessions, even so they have been unsure of their courtroom expert to take action. Legal counsel about city’s court service believed that if your building were no more utilized as a collection, it can need certainly to return on possession of your own trustees of your Colored Carnegie Library Organization. Reynolds searched the city directory and found one to simply two of the first trustees, W. L. D. Johnson and you can L. H. Spivey, have been listed. She and appeared new action and found zero reversion clause but only the latest stipulation the possessions are “for the play with and benefit of coloured individuals of Houston.” Reynolds asked the board to adopt the challenge out of tips suffice black colored clients while the department signed. (17)

Mice Stewart, supervisor regarding extension features, reported that the used bookmobile, known as the Travelling Department having Negroes, needed to be replaced

A short time following the conference, Reynolds accompanied up with a letter to Charles Easterling regarding the city’s courtroom agencies. She relayed particular two dozen issues on the board’s dialogue of the brand new future of Coloured Carnegie Part. The fresh trustees wondered exactly how generally they may translate the term “to the use and you can benefit of coloured individuals.” It wondered, for example znakomstva.ru, if they could create yet another part elsewhere for usage by whites and blacks nevertheless conform to the brand new heart regarding good stipulation authored if avoid regarding residential segregation try nowhere when you look at the sight. However they questioned how they would offer equivalent solution so you’re able to blacks as department appointed for their use are moved. They expressed a want to create several other department for the a mostly black community in exchange for the increased loss of this new Coloured Carnegie Department, however, due to the fact resource getting for example a job wasn’t on library’s finances, they questioned towards probability of delivering a lot more bookmobile services otherwise out-of renting space towards selections. In the end, it questioned, “Usually death of biggest branch to possess Negroes apply to de–segregation regarding library?” (18) Half a dozen ages once token combination of the central collection, the latest board knew the new implication off closure the fresh black part. It could don’t serve as ways to siphon out of black colored library pages so that you can have them off the fresh new system’s almost every other houses.

Thirty day period later about three board members found and heard the metropolis attorney’s verification there is no reversionary clause throughout the deed but your library must follow brand new “into the use and you will benefit of the colored individuals” covenant. Easterling recommended them to ask the latest mayor and you will town council for complete payment on loss of the structure and you will assets and you can complete power to utilize one settlement while they watched complement, from inside the bounds of one’s covenant. The 3 members introduce enacted a motion to make usage of Easterling’s guidance, additionally the four players maybe not establish assented by telephone. They certainly were computed to find out the full value of the true property lower than the expert and retain command over spending it. (19) From the August board members had begun revealing in which mainly black society they have to situate a unique department. It included the newest proposed branch along with other twigs, run existing structures, and you may construction away from a memory space business in an excellent four-season financial support update bundle. (20) A bond election getting collection expansion introduced from inside the September. Within the Oct Reynolds advertised towards board the availability of $312,000 within the collection bonds and something prospective $550,000 when all collection securities had sold. She plus reported that the metropolis do offer the latest collection $52,335 to pay to your Coloured Branch. (21)