The latest panel wished to sell this building and you will possessions, however they was not knowing of the courtroom power to do so
The branch manage continue to operate for some far more decades, but by the late 1950s it had outlived its convenience, and not only as it try an excellent relic out-of Jim-crow. The new branch fundamentally did not perish because it are an unpleasant actual reminder out-of segregation months, nor is actually their death due to not enough play with. From the state’s 16th prominent area, this new part simply sat regarding roadway of a primary highway extension. It actually was Houston’s subscribers problem that led the board to offer the building together with consumer to-tear it down. Mayor Lewis Cutrer’s place of work advised librarian Reynolds in the summertime from 1959 that Clay Path Expansion enterprise do come from December. 
The brand new expansion of 1 out of the downtown area Houston’s fundamental bloodstream carry out violation through the webpages of the library. The building would need to feel went or demolished in the slide. A lawyer throughout the city’s court agency considered that in the event your strengthening were not used as the a collection, it would need to revert for the control of one’s trustees of your Colored Carnegie Collection Relationship. Reynolds searched the city index and discovered one only a couple of the first trustees, W. L. D. Johnson and you may L. H. Spivey, was indeed noted. She plus checked the deed and discovered zero reversion clause however, simply the newest stipulation the possessions was “for the use and you can advantageous asset of coloured individuals of Houston.” Reynolds requested the latest board to look at the situation out-of how to suffice black colored website subscribers because department closed. Mice Stewart, management of extension services, reported that brand new worn bookmobile, referred to as Take a trip Department to possess Negroes, would have to be changed. (17)
The three participants expose passed a movement to make usage of Easterling’s recommendations, and five participants not present decided of the mobile
A few days following the meeting, Reynolds observed up with a page so you can Charles Easterling regarding city’s judge institution. She relayed specific a couple dozen concerns regarding board’s talk regarding the new fate of one’s Colored Carnegie Part. Among all of their key concerns was indeed the collection might possibly be paid for the death of the house or property, and exactly how that payment could be applied to almost every other collection qualities. The new trustees questioned how generally they might translate the definition of “on fool around with and you may advantage of colored some body.” It questioned, including, if they you certainly will build a unique part someplace else to be used because of the whites and you may blacks nonetheless comply with the fresh new soul away from a stipulation created in the event that avoid regarding residential segregation try nowhere within the attention. However they expected the way they would provide equivalent services so you’re able to blacks just like the part designated due to their fool around with is went. They indicated a want to build another department inside a mostly black colored people in exchange for the increasing loss of new Coloured Carnegie Department, however, because the money to own like a task wasn’t about library’s funds, it wondered about the probability of delivering extra bookmobile provider otherwise from leasing space into the choices. In the end, it requested, “Will death of big department to have Negroes apply to de-segregation of library?” (18) Half dozen decades immediately after token consolidation of the main collection, the fresh panel realized the new implication away from closure the fresh new black part. It would don’t serve as an easy way to siphon out-of black colored library users to try to keep them away from new system’s most other structures.
1 month afterwards three panel players met and read the metropolis attorney’s confirmation that there try no reversionary condition from the action but the collection must follow the latest “into fool around with and you can advantage of the coloured someone” covenant. Easterling advised them to query new mayor and you may urban area council to have complete compensation with the death of the building and you can possessions and full authority to make use of one to payment while they watched fit, inside the bounds of covenant. They certainly were computed to find out the full property value the real home below their power and to maintain control of expending they. (19) Of the August panel professionals had begun discussing where mainly black colored society they should situate another type of department. They provided the latest recommended department with other branches, manage current buildings, and you can construction away from a memory space business inside the an effective five-12 months funding upgrade plan. (20) A bond election for library expansion introduced for the September. Into the Oct Reynolds claimed on board the available choices of $312,100000 inside the collection bonds plus one prospective $550,000 when most of the library bonds had ended up selling. She and additionally reported that the metropolis create give the fresh collection $52,335 to pay towards the Coloured Branch. (21)
