Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-22


lie Reception Tonight.
A little over ten years ago there We're
formulated in M~arshalltown, by a little
band of enthusiastic workers, plans
looking toward the founding of a pub
in the purpose for which they set u
that it was but a short time until real
tiles began to assert themselves and the
existence of the Marshall County Pub
lie Library began. Today, as the result
of those first efforts of an unpreten-
tious nature, Marshalltown saw ded-
icated a handsome structure, worth.
with its elegant fixtures and contents,
$4,000.
That earnest band of library workers
ten years ago foresaw, but only in the
dim future, the creation of what 1t
realizes today. When it would come
those interested did not know, but they
felt confident that at some time the
modest beginning would be supplanted
by a building inc library of which the
city might be proud.
In the winter Of 1892 a mass meeting
was held in the Women's Club rooms,
for the purpose OF discussing the feas-
ibility of establishing a library. The
city needed one, and the need was Up
parent. 1t was decided to make the
effort If the funds could be realized,
and committees to solicit were ap-
pointed. Mr.. T. Binford displayed his
interest in the proposition by offering
to be one of ten to put 500 into the
fund. and 1t was considered that $1,000
would be sufficient. Mr.. Binford headed
the list, and with him were his brother,
the late O. L. Binford. f. c. Let's.
George Whitton, G. II. Ackert, the late
C. C. Gilman. A. A. Moore, +. j. Wood
bury. DIR. N. NJ. WILSON,. and Mrs. Sarah
Lucas. The other $500 were raised al
most before the workers realized that
the end they had set out to attain was
accomplished. They were. not satisfied,
and kept on with the work. with the
result that the sum of $4,000 was In the
treasury. One thousand dollars We're
invested in books. and in July, on the
third fioor of the court house. there was
opened to the public h use of a small
library. In another year $500 worth of
additional books were purchased, n
each succeeding year, between 5000 and
$500 worth were added. The sum of
$1,000 was retained for the treasury,
and placed out 1t interest, until the IL
brary was turned over to the city.
The board Of directors of the library
at the time 1t was turned over to the
city was composed of T. Binford. who
was president during h entire SIX
years 1t was known as the Marshall
County Public Library; F. G. Let's,
Mrs. A. NJ. Parker. Mrs. j. f. Meeker,
Mrs. H. j. Howe, Mrs. f. 3. Garyin,
Mrs. NJ. L. Meickley, Mrs. Maude Bat
It's, Mrs. I. j. Fletcher, Mrs. A. q. CLICK,
Mrs. George Whitton, Mrs. c. G. Trine,
and Mrs. C. p. Rogers. Mrs. G. j.
| Scheeler was the first librarian, serving
for six months. Her assistant, Mrs. NJ.
Maude BATHS, succeeded her and has
been in charge OF the work ever since.
Six years after its establishment.
and it could no longer be considered
an experiment, the idea was con-
ceiyed to turn over the property to the
4 CITY, Illus 6lNili6 " GVOAS OAS
lcost of any kind, a free public library.
In February, 1898, the direc-
tors decided to give h library
to the city, and on August 8 the trans
fer was made. On August 20. and 80
larger quarters were taken possession
OF, the room on West Main street,
which has just been vacated, being
rented, and on September 3 the Mar
shalltown Public Library was opened
for the circulation of books.
Even with the increased facilities IT
was not long until the directors realized
that the library was growing SO rap
Idly that still more connections quar-
tiers must be obtained. Andrew Car
Inegie, at that time, was distributing
his millions to all portions of the Uni
ted States, for the erection of libraries.
Iowa had already been generously dealt
with, but that did not deter the maxim
of an effort to secure a gift for Mar
shalltown. The matter was placed In
the hands of Hon. Merritt Greene, who
was very familiar with Mr.. Carnegles
methods and knew personally one OF the
steel magnate's secretaries. In Janu-
ary. 1901, Mr.. Carnegie was approached
on the subject, and in January. 1902
the gift of $4,000 was made under the
usual conditions. The city provided
the lot at the corner of Center and State
streets. When the plans were drawn,
however, it was seen that $4,000 would
not erect the kind of a building wanted
and in Mr.. Greene's hands. and to Mr.,
p. S. Balch, was placed another mis-
sion, that of securing an additional
$1,000. The following May the sum OF
$50, 900 was available, and today the
handsome stone structure stands as
a living monument to the donor.
The first president of the board OF
trustees of the Marshalltown Publ
Library was DR.. w. S. Mcbride, who
has shown his interest in the work by
his magnificent gift for the museum
and art room, a valuable collection OF
geological and meteorological speci-
mems, which represents the work of g
klifetime to possess. For the past two
Years Mrs. II. j.. Howe has been presi-
dent of the board and with her. forming
the present membership, are Mr.. +. Il
Benedict, vice president; Mrs. a.. M
ro,r.a~ onoroforv. Mr. y s.. Balch