The report in the Record on opening day described "orange tile panels on bookstacks in the adult library [that] have a Mayan motif" and balconies on the south and rear sides for summer-time reading (the panels and balconies are both gone). The library had a minor expansion in 1981 and occasional renovations to squeeze out as much space as possible from the building.

Previously, this had been the site of the Waterloo Farmer's Market, built around 1910 (before that, the market had been held in the town hall basement).

The market closed for good in July 1965 and was torn down to make room for the library. Although it had a long history in Waterloo, the market was not considered to be much of a loss to the city when it was demolished. A Waterloo Chronicle story said there had been times when "the vendors outnumbered the patrons." There was a half-hearted effort made to find a new home for the market, but there was little interest. As one councillor put it, "the city had outgrown the era of the market."

Written by Gary Will
gary@garywill.com

Text and photographs copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by Gary Will. All rights reserved.