The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-02-02
VALERA FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
A Brief Outline Of the Origin and
History Of the Library at
Great Falls.
Great Credit Due Mrs. Paris Gibson
and Mrs. 8. +. ChOwen for Start
ing This Institution.

whom the building and books belonge'
prior to tho time when they were do
mated to the city.
The credit Of doing the first work to
ward starting this library belongs essen
TALLY to Mrs. Paris Gibson. Friend
came forward and literally donated vol
umes of interesting reading (prominen
among whom we're Mesdames Hill anc
s. E. Chowenl who donated a numbe
of valuable books which we're received
in Great Falls during 1889.
On the 2Sth of June, 1889, the frs
organization of the association tool
place, those present being Messrs. HI. O
Chowen, Jesse s. Ladd, A. E. Decker
man, Theo Gibson, j. b. Leslie, and G. NJ
Webster, when measures were taken te
solicit donations of books.
On Nov. 26, 1889, the association was
formed with a capital Of $4,000, divided
into shares of So each. and the first board
of directors was organized, which in.
cluded H. o. Chowen, Mre. Ladd, +. G.
Maclay, H.. p. Rolfe, Theo Gibson, w. M.
Cockrill, and ID. l.. Tracy. Librarian,
Robert Williams.
On Jan. 20, 1890, the library was
opened to the public in the Miner &
B%oardman block, on Second street north.
the number of books being about 800.
A small fee was charged for the loan of
books with a view of making the library
self.supporting.
These quarters were only temporary
as the Great Falls Townsite company
had already donated the lot for this pur-
pose to the association. The library was
located up stairs and Robert Williams
did all in his power to make the library
a pleasant home to those who we're lit
erary inclined.
The TRIBUNE here wishes to express
its regrets that Great Falls has lost as
members of its community the two great
est botanists in the state-the late la
mented Fred w. Anderson. now de-
ceased, andt Robert Williams, who we
believe to be now somewhere near Kali
ispell.
In the latter part of 1890 the perma-
nent building was commenced on the lot
spoken of before. This is the building
in which the library is located at pres
emit.
The Library Building.
1t is a neat and tasty building which,
with appurtinances, cost about $1,000.
TIE foundation and trimmings are of
brown sandstone, the building rock for
which Great Falls is so celebrated. The
walls are made of compressed brick.
The interior ef the building shows a
spacious hallway leading into the main
reading room, the last being 16x33 feet
in size, the center being rallied off to al
low Of the library proper to be closed
against access of the public. Connect
ing with the reading room by folding
doors is a second room about one-half
the size OF the first. On the left of the
main reading room is an alcove allowing
space for a large table for study. A
basement below contains a furnace for
heating the whole. The rooms are we'll
lighted by a sufficiency of windows,
those in front having neat colored tran
sOms.
Between this period and 1891 the pro-
ceeds arising from loan of books not
being sufficient to realize current OK
penses, several art loan exhibitions we're
given which would have been a credit to
much larger cities, the proceeds of which
were applied to the library.
On Oct. 8, 1891, G. H. Wright was
elected a trustee, in place Of j. S. Tod
(deceased).
MI. Robert Williams as librarian, was
succeeded date unknown by Miss Petit,
10Y Mrs. Z. M. Webster. who performed
the duties in a graceful and faithful
manner.
On May l, 1892, the directors having
previously made an offer to the city au-
thorlties which was accepted by the cor
poration, the land, building, and books
were conveyed in legal form to the city
Great Falls. and the Valeria Library
association merged into the
ValerIa Free Public Library
the property of the city Of Great Falls
At or about the same time Miss Lutte
j.. Weitman was appointed librarian,
which position she has held ever since.
Since that time yearly appropriations
have been made by the city council, and
the present n is $500 per annum.
The officers are-Dr. Gelsthorpe. pres
ident; Mrs. Frank Marion, vice pres
ident; Prof. Largent, Mrs. Theo. Gibson,
W. j. Winters, directors; Miss L. E.
Weitman, librarian.
The number Of books are 1881, many
them being rare and costly, and
Of books are ordered. At present
62O people are enjoying the privileges of
the library, the majority of them being
school children, which speaks we'll for
our public schools The average loan of
books is twenty-five per day. The IL
brary is essentially a free institution to
city taxpayers, and the rules and regu-
are by no means irksome, but
only just to prevent irregularities.
The library is open to all corners to
peruse the newspapers, magazines, and
other current literature, which abound
on the tables. Truly, here a refined
mind can find r~efreshment at no cost.
The building is open from $50 a. m. to
IL Mao p. m. to 5 p. m.-and 1880 p.
to 9 p. m. Sundays 1:3O p. m. to 8,
p. m.
In closing, The TRIBUNE representa-
tive desires to express his thanks to Miss
L. L. Weitman the Librarian through
whose courtesy he had been enabled to
compile the above history. He wishes
alec TO join In expressing opinion that it
mainly owing to her endeavors since
her appointment that the library en-
Joys its present popularity.
The five o'clock table d'hote dinners
ut the Park cafe from 8 to 8 p. m. are
very popular. Open all eight.