The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-11-17

building on Main street is an event
which has long been awaited. For
number of years the library has been
constantly outgrowing its location in
the town hall, and now, for the second
time in its history, it is housed in its
own capacious and suitable building.
There are times in the lives of
institutions, as we'll as individuals,
when retrospect is good thing; when
it is desirable to look back and see
how far one has travelled, and if the
path of progress has always been in
the right direction.
The free public library, today, re-
presents one of the most interesting
social forces at work in a community,
and we are proud of the fact that over
a quarter of a century ago our Library
had its origin. 1t was in 1878 that
DR.. Benjamin Palmer and Mr.. N. H.
Miner, by contributing books from
their private libraries and by obtain
ing subscriptions, established small
library named the Bryant Library.
The poet, thus honored, sent two
autograph copies of his poems.
This small collection of books were
first-kept in bog at the residence OF
Mrs. Louise Lamb, and afterwards a
bookcase in the school house was
provided. The Misses Alice and
Mollie Tobey (new Mrs. w. 1. Hen
shaw and Mrs. Howard E. Wilcox
were the first librarians. In 1888 the
Library Board purchased the brick
building and lot on third street, (pre-
viously occupied by Esquire Carr as an
office, for the housing of the library.
The Misses Louie Allen, jamie Petit,
Minnie Bruce and Edna Rich were
here the librarians.
For the past ten years rooms have
been provided in the city hall, the
council making an annual appropria-
ton.
Since 1898 the Womans Gradatim
Club, through the efforts of an able
committee of which Mrs. E. j. Lewis
has been chairman since its origin,
has maintained reading room in
connection with the library.
The generosity of the business men
and the appropriation now made by
the Council and the Board of Educa-
ton are evidence of the firm hold the
reading room has upon the citizens.
The Librarians in this building were
Mrs. Carrie Buchanan and Mrs.
Minnie Mullin, the latter serving
faithfully for eight years. She was
assisted by Miss Bessie Robbins, the
present librarian.
The new $4,000 building, the gift
of Mr.. Andrew Carnegie is quite an
imposing edifice of grey st. Louis
brick, fire proof. The wood work is
of birch, natural finish, and the floors
are covered with linoleum to soften
the foot steps.
1t is deeply regretted by all that
the late Mr.. M. Hogan, broad
minded and liberal citizen, who made
Carnegie building possible, might
not have lived to have realized his
anticipations. Mr.. Hogan, while
mayor, correspondent with Mr..
Carnegie, finally receiving the joyful
news that a $4,000 gift was granted.
The location, the finest the city
affords, was provided for by the public
spirited Library Board and the Board
of Education, assisted by the city.
Occupying as it does, the center oil
local interest, in the vicinity of the
churches and schools, the Library has
at last an opportunity for its broad
and beneficient work. 1t is wholly
free to all inhabitants, and it is the
desire of the librarian and the directors
to make the building attractive and
comfortable, to have the books within
that should be there, and to make
them available to the readers with the
least trouble and delay.
The entrance opens into spacious
corridor with large reading room al
the right. Here the appointments are
complete and admirably adapted fol-
their purpose. The handsome tables,
including two Of kindergarten size,
are the handiwork of High School
students under the supervision o.
Supt. George A. Stanton. Through