Historian Kathryn Holt Springfield tells a standing-room only crowd about the founding of the Cherrydale Library

On Saturday, July 9, Arlington residents from the Cherrydale neighborhood gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cherrydale Branch Library’s current location, on Military Road.

Joining them were Judson Gardner, the architect who helped design the Cherrydale Branch Library building (along with his family), Rep. Jim Moran, Del. Bob Brink, Library Director Diane Kresh, executive director of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Eleanor Hodges, and Boy Scouts from National Capitol Area Region Troop 149 – including Life Scout C.J. Fennel, who led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Gardner spoke about the challenges in designing about challenges of designing “the unique building with its third-floor back entrance on a 30-foot slope in a residential neighborhood packed with prized trees.”

Then Rep. Moran spoke about the importance of the community in supporting libraries, and of libraries in a healthy democracy:

Arlington historian Kathryn Holt Springston spoke about the founding and history of the Library in Cherrydale, and ACE’s Eleanor Hodges presented Cherrydale Branch Manager Carolyn Barton with a letter of commendation, for the energy saving measures that have been put in place at Cherrydale.

Watch more video from the celebration, and view a slideshow of photos – photographed by Janet Wamsley, Michael Gessel and Greg Embree:

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=104087