HERE ARE THE KEYS — Members of the “Book Ends” Book Club pose for a photo with Ken Richardson, chair of the library board, and Tom Richardson and Carolyn Young as they turn over the keys to the old post office property. The land will be used for future library expansion.

Library receives keys to property

The down payment has been made and papers signed for the purchase of property adjacent to the Alleghany County Library, according to librarian Debbie Brewer and assistant Joan Sherif, who addressed the town council Dec. 7.

The property, which once housed the Sparta Post Office and also a lawyer’s office and insurance agency, was owned by Tom Richardson and Carolyn Young. Richardson and Young’s late husband, Arnold, operated the businesses in the building, located at 136 N. Main St.. The county sealed the final agreement to purchase the property for $190,000 on Nov. 19. The agreement requires the library board to repay Young and Richardson two more payments of $63,333, the first payment due on Nov. 19, 2005 and the final payment due the following year. Council members wondered if the former post office would be razed, along with the current library, and a new building constructed.

“Architects have informed us that it would be more cost effective, but that has yet to be decided,” Brewer said in an interview on Monday. The building in question dates back to 1956, when it was built to house the post office.

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