Cañon City record., 1902-07-10
- p
s533353Ss
Other News
OF the
Street
And
The Town

Ceremonies commensurate with the
importance of the event were OBJ
served at O'Clock, on the evening of
July 4th, 1902, when the corner stone
for the Carnegie Public Library build
ing was laid. Appropriately the pro-
gram was in the hands of the Canon
Ladies Library association, and, as
| everyone familiar with this body
would expect, the exercises were
carried out to a successful culmina-
tion. The speakers were introduced
by Chairman Mrs. Da% in a man
uer, which placed each at ease with
the assemblage.
Rev. II. n. Wilson opened the
ceremonies by invoking Divine bless
ing not only upon the work sccomp-
lisbed in the fine edifice which has
grown out of the humble beginning of
sixteen years ago. when a meagre
number of ladies met and organized q
library association for the public veal.
but upon the philanthropist through
who's generosity the building WAS
made possible and the workmen who
laid the stone and mortar and designed
the frame. He WAS followed by Mrs.
]. F. Campbell of Canton, Ohio, who
was the instiestor of the library
movement in Canon City.
Mrs.. Campbell told in a very pleas
ing way, of the inception of the
Ladies Library association At hsr home
in this city in the month of March,
1885,; of the earnest work Of the small
band which had undertaken the great
task: of the gradual xre~fh Of the
movement; of her ewn ever fresh in
terest in the success of the enterprise,
and last, but not hast by any means.
of the great pleasure derived in being
/ spared to see the grand achievement
of a measure, which at the beginning
had nothing more for its object than
the mere idea Of providing place of
rest and light food for the mind of a
small community.
In reference to her own work and
expenditures in behalf this public
benefaction, Mrs. Campbell was very
reticent. hat from her colleagues and
successors. il is leaned that her efforts
have been indefAfixAhle in behalf Of
the Canon City Library, even though
her residence was in another and far
distant state.
Mayor Peabody, who il also presi-
dent of the Public Library. WAS the
next speaker. and as is his wont, his
oration was both interesting in data
and entertaining in delivery and
material. He recognized the great
works that had been wrought by the
Canon Ladies Library association and
,he good that work had done in feed
ing the minds of the youth of the
city, as well as older persons, with
wholesome literature, besides provid-
ing the community with historical
and reference works of estimable
value, and record of the world s
progress and doings rs chronicled in
the daily, weekly and periodical pres
of the country. While Mayor Pea
body is always good in an occasion
where pretty things are to be said ii
may be related here that on this par.
happy in thought and mood and his re-
marks met with repeated applause.
OF Mrs. NJ. NJ. Sheetz's talk an
adequate idea of its worth cannot be
conveyed in the space allotted to the
account of the corner stone laying.
Although in the seventieth year of her
life she handled the topic of library
"reminiscences in manner that pro-
claimed a mind of youthful vigor not
: often met up with in this age of early
decay. She kept the audience in a
continual roar of laughter and ap-
plause from beginning to ending of
her story, starting with the very day
! that the association was formed IN
1886 and following its vicissitudes to
the laying of the corner stone of the
} Carnegie building. That Mrs. Sheetz
had been an active factor in forging
the substantial society with which we
: younger members of Canon City's pop
ulation are familiar, is plain from the
familiarity with which she recalled
that had long since passed into local
| history or become entirely forgotten
by the majority, who may have been
equally we'll versed in the facts nj
their happening.
) Mrs. j. NJ, Ragsdale, president OF
the Ladies' Library association, reaf