Added October 27, 2004

• Pastors Dave Taylor and Buskirk gave invocation and blessing of the library. (view photo)
• Kaleva Library promoters commend the community for their financial support and donations to the library fund. Hundreds of hours of volunteer labor and supporters who gave again and again as $200,000 was raised locally. (view photo)
• Jim Richardson cuts the ribbon officially opening the new Kaleva area library. (view photo)
• Image of beautiful library on cake at celebration. (view photo)
• Folks enjoy refreshments and tours of the new library. (view photo)
• A large crowd gathers for dedication of library. (view photo)

Archives

• Site was excavated and ready for foundation by October 1, 2003. (view photo)
• Forms for footings--to build a solid foundation. Ken Kuuttila is contruction foreman. General contractor is Jerry Peterson, Jr. The depot crew has been building headers on Tuesday morning. (view photo)
• Dave Somsel is advisor on building specifications and materials. Many are volunteering labor and expertise in project--a real community effort. (view photo)
• Walls of foundation are poured and curing by October 10, 2003, finished by moonlight with many villagers and interested onlookers stopping by. Floor, walls and rafters coming soon! Village garage on Healy Lake Rd. in background. (view photo)
• Pasta Buffet Kick-Off Fundraiser on December 6, 2002 for new library. $22,000 was realized for library fund start-up. Grant from Manistee Co. Library, $50-70,000 for interior and foundation, Finlandia Foundation Trust-$1,700; Oleson Foundation-$10,000. (view photo)
• Three Kaleva kids at ground-breaking ceremony June 14, 2003. Location corner of Walta and Tapio St., two blocks east of Healy Lake Rd., across from Log Cabin. (view photo)
• Foundation done in October 2003. (view photo)
• Sub floor built in October by Depot Crew. (view photo)
• Raising the walls. (view photo)
• Walls and rafters done in November 2003. (view photo)
• Building the tower walls. (view photo)
• Finan's Crane Service places rafters (two times!) in November 2003. (view photo)
• Rafters are in place to stay!. (view photo)
• All this done by November 15, 2003. Hundreds of volunteer hours by community supporters. (view photo)
• Jim Richardson putting final copper piece on tower roof on December 14, 2003. What a beautiful sight!. (view photo)
• Kaleva Library Promoters discuss flooring and paint samples. Cindy Asiala, Jim Richardson, Bev Johnson, Roger Niemitalo, Pam Spoor, Jan Schroeder (Manistee County Library Board) and library board member, Alice Edwards. (view photo)
• Tom Evens oversees the cement pour. He also caulked the siding and brought more volunteers to the project. (view photo)
• Bob Brown, village maintenance getting water and gas hook-up for library. (view photo)
• Jerry Peterson Sr., the winter director, with small crew accomplished so much interior work. There almost every day, he was invaluable and responsible for progress that was made. (view photo)
• Concrete board siding makes library begin to look like a summer 2004 opening. Some question two color scheme, trim painting will "pull it together." (view photo)
• East side and back of the library ready for sidewalk cement pour. (view photo)