Kraft, Herbert, Memorial Free Library
Also known as: Kraft Free Library; Kraft Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1908-1909 at Jefferson and Hickory Streets in Red Bluff, the Herbert Kraft Memorial Free Library was Tehama County's first public library. Elizabeth Kraft funded its completion, donating over $40,000 after an earlier Carnegie library effort stalled, and dedicated it to her late husband, an early Red Bluff tinsmith, landowner and banker. Architect Franklin Pierce Burnham designed the one-and-a-half-story Classical Revival building in mottled buff pressed brick with Colusa sandstone trim. A pedimented portico with four Ionic columns marks the entrance, and inside an octagonal rotunda with Ionic columns sits beneath a stained glass skylight. Oak shelving, wainscot and fireplaces survive, and the exterior and floor plan are little changed. The library served the community until 1982, hosting education programs and social events. It has since stood vacant, and the building later passed back to the Kraft family. It was recognized for its local history and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was Tehama County's first public library and a regional center for education and community life from 1909 until it closed in 1982. It is also described as arguably the most significant Classical Revival building in the county and as a representative small-town library with a largely unchanged interior.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00000362, listed April 14, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 909 Jefferson, Red Bluff |
|---|---|
| County | Tehama County |
| Listed | April 14, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 - 1949 |
| Architect / builder | Burnham, Franklin Pierce |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; the form says it has been vacant since 1986 and that the building was returned to the Kraft family after a lawsuit. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.17840, -122.23883 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00000362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133568988
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.