The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-06-19
ORCHARDS LIBRARY.

We recently paid most enjoyable visit to
this new and excellent public inst itution-at
once an acquisition to our county. Though
doubtless most of our readers, ere this, have
also inspected it, yet it is just possible there
are those among them who have not INDUCED
the privilege and would duly appreciate an
account Of it. Ascending the stairway to
Orchards Hall, on entering the library the
visitor is at once impressed with the neat,
eleanly and orderly appearance Of the room,
the old maxim ga place for everything and
egerything in its place" suggesting itself on
every hand. Immediately on the left is fine
newspaper reading stand, which though not
yet utilized is highly suggestive that greater
results than simply books is unquestionably in
store. Along one side Of the room, which is
about S0xS0 feet, covered with neat mating
and furnished with three fine tables for maga-
azines, are also three desks surrounded with
racks well filed with leading books of refer
ee-encyclopedias, dictionaries, &C., and the
walls above them are adorned with handsome
pictures in oil, lthograph and steel engraving
the subjects being portraits Of the generous
donor of the institution, S. Birchard, ESQ.,,
President Lincoln, Andrew johnson, General
Washington, and a favorite subject in oil long
priced by Mr. Birchard. Nor should we fail
to notice an excellent postal map of Indiana,
kindly presented by the Hon. Chas. Foster,
and very fine map of the United States, gen.
erously contributed by Ex-Gov. Hayes. At
the north end of the room is the Librarians
counter, surmounted at one corner by a neat
plain desk, formerly used by Mr.. Birchard for
some thirty years, in his private Office at the
bank. To the right are the numerous shelves
for books, which are divided into departments
and subdivisions, fine gallery, approached
from the north end of the room being arrang-
ed in similar manner. The classification of
volumes affords ready key to to the prompt
delivery of any book required, the 5000 vol
umes on the opening, which have increased
daily since and will continue to do so until the
whole 5000 purchased are in place, being
quite as easy to command in making q selec-
ton as any private library on ever so limited
scale. The leading magazines-both English
aud American-are arranged for and are ex-
pected to find their way on the tables next
month, while we understand the committee
have freely accorded distinct department to
be established for works printed in the Ger
man language. There is also small private
room leading from the library, where two
cases of books are already in place, and addi-
tional room is at command when increased
accommodation is found necessary. The
present officers are President, Ex-Gov. Hayes;
Secretary, W. W. Ross; Treasurer, DIR. J. W.
Wilson; Librarian, Miss J. E. MCCULLOUGH.
Miss MCCULLOUGH certainly merits the highest
compliment on the very efficient manner in
which she unquestionably carries out the du-
ties of her Office and regulates the general ap-
pearance Of the institution to the approval of
everyone. We sincerely hope the good people
of Sandusky county will freely avail them
selves of so excellent an institution, and that
its good results may become universally dis
seminated to the honor Of the worthy and no.
bic donor who founded it.