Right in front of you, you’ll spot the Costa i Fornaguera Popular Library by its creamy stone facade, decorative curved windows, and the sturdy three-arch entrance that looks a bit like something you might find on a grand old manor-if that manor was on a sunny street in Calella!
Now, take a deep breath and imagine the year is 1931. The streets are buzzing with excitement-not just for any old town party, but because today, Calella is opening its very first public library. And not just any library, but one designed by the talented architect Jeroni Martorell, who had a real knack for making buildings look both strong and elegant. He chose stone and plaster for the walls, shaping them to echo the grand baroque houses of the neighboring countryside. Those castle-like curves on the roof? That’s a nod to tradition-Martorell just couldn’t resist blending the new with a taste of the old world.
But this wasn’t just about pretty buildings. Imagine the urgency in the air. The city’s leaders rushed to gather every coin, save every lightbulb, and even begged for heating and water to make sure every child in Calella could have the magic of books. The town wrote letter after letter, arguing their case for a library all the way to the Mancomunidad-the regional government. For years, they waited and hoped, keeping a special room empty in the school, just in case the dream came true.
And then, at last, that magical day! On the opening day, you can picture nervous young students casting curious glances at the brand new shelves while the powerful and important-mayors, councilors, and even the director of libraries-gathered proudly outside, dressed up for the fiesta of Sant Quirze and Santa Julita. Even the most serious grown-ups probably lost themselves a bit, dizzy with excitement over all those shining new books.
Two trailblazing women, Luisa Rivas Papaseit as director and María Luisa Barrera Rosell as assistant, were named to lead the library, their names announced in the official papers. Imagine Luisa with her arms crossed, determined not just to loan books, but to bring the world to every student, every grandparent, every dreamer, right here under these arches.
Though the library eventually moved in 2006, for decades these walls were a cradle for stories and laughter, a training ground for curious minds. Every stone carries the echo of eager footsteps and whispered secrets between the pages. So take another look-not just at a building, but at the beating heart of Calella’s love of learning. And remember, a little persistence and a lot of teamwork can turn even the most unlikely dreams into real, living history. Now, who’s up for checking out a ghost story and seeing if the library ghosts still linger?
