Berlin Wall Segments to be Installed Thursday at Library

The library is a fitting place for the curious and the history buffs, so why wouldn't it be a great place for portions of the Berlin Wall?

Rosanne Macek, director of library services, announced on her blog this August that the two pieces of the Berlin Wall donated by the Golzen family will be installed this August and she told Patch that it would be this Thursday, Aug. 22 in front of the Mountain View Public Library.

"We are excited about this piece of history finding a new home at the Library and apologize for any inconvenience while it is being moved here," Macek said. 

Part of the inconvenience she alluded to includes the "No Parking" signs along Franklin Street and an area marked off with caution tape to the left of our front door, where the pieces of the wall will be installed. This will impact pedestrian access during construction.

On delivery day, Franklin Street will be partially closed on Mercy Street to the front of the library to accommodate construction vehicles.

The extraordinary opportunity to accept these segments, which have been in Mountain View since 1989, arose before the City Council in September 2012. The segments used to be tucked away in the corner of the parking lot at 2685 Marine Way in the North Bayshore neighborhood. 

The gift came from the children of Frank Golzen. According to son Robert Golzen, his father flew to Germany after the fall of the wall to inquire about purchasing a segment. He chose one, and arranged for the segment to be shipped by container to Oakland. However, once back home, his dad found he had been sent two pieces.

"Our dad would be so happy," said Robert Golzen. "He wanted more people to see it."