Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-16
oTTuMwA PEOPLE TAKE JUST
PRIDE IN SPLENDID lNsTiTU-
TIoN ADJOINING CITY.
Small Beginning;
a Great Work

Different Stages, Covering a Period
of More Than Thirty Years 80 An
drew Carnegie Gave $4,000.
Ottumwans are justly proud of their
library building. Not only is it an
adornment to the city but it is proud
possession and it typi6es triumph
over difficulties that at times. seemed
almost insurmountable. It is too,
final achievement that shall stand for
ages and to%which many generations
will point as the distinctive mark Of
the present day. Less than one year
and half ago the building of the OF
| tumwa public library was completed
and occupied yet today the building
and the institution housed within it
forms one of the most valuable and
indispensable features in the progress
| sive life in Ottumwa.
History.
The Ottumwa public library had its
origin in the Ottumwa Library asso-
citation incorporated in 1872 to exist
for 20 years and was subsequently re-
newed for 20 more. It's capital stock
was fixed at $4,000, divided into
shares of $40 each. 1t had board Of
nine directors, one-third Of whom were
selected by the stockholders each year,
the term of Office being three years.
The executive officers were a presi-
dent, tvice-president, secretary and
treasurer. to be elected by the board
each year and to hold office, for one
year. The objects of the association
were forming and perpetuating pub
lie library, with reading room, cabinet
antiquities, curiosities and works Of
art, and promoting the diffusion Of use
full knowledge by means of lectures
and otherwise"
Becomes Free Library.
Shareholders paid an annual fee Of
$500, others $4.OO. Life membership
was obtained by the payment of $50
at one time and honorary life member
ship conferred for valuable services
or donations amounting in value to
$500 or more. Dues were later reduced
to 50 and when the Tourist club took
charge of the library in 1897 it became
free
This club of fifteen noble women fos-
tered the library for the. next five
years until it's 5000 volumes formed
the nucleus of the public library. The
librarians salary varied from $500
year down to nothing. The work OF
the Tourist club was entirely labor
of love and devotion
Since 1891 the library has received
5000 a year under the will of eHonora-
Bile Peter Ballingall, who has also pro-
vided for the ultimate accumulation
! of $4,000 to accrue to the library and
/ also the income from one-fourth Of the
! remainder of his estate. The Ottum-
wa Library association has done faith
full work and still has charge of the
expenditure of the Ballingall funds.
Carnegie Offers $4,000.
January 16, 1900, Andrew Carnegie
offered $4,000 for a library building
on condition that suitable site and
maintenance fund of not less than So
900 a year be provided by the city.
At an election September "a, 1900, the
tax was voted and the offer gladly ac-
cepted.
The library ordinance was passed
by the city council October 1, 1900, and
Mayor T. ]. Phillips named the fol.
lowing trustees who were confirmed by
the council: J. T. Hackworth, S. p.
Hartman, G. M. Myers, F. w. Sim
mons, J. J. Smith, W. A. McIntire,
D. E. Chisman, George Withall and G.
P. Brown. October 3, 1900, the libra
ry trustees organized with j. T. Hack
worth president and S. P. Hartman
secretary of the board.
! Site Purchased.
/ October 26 1900, the site was pur.
chased for $500, $500 of which was
raised by subscription from the peo-
4 pie.
! March Is, 1901, the plans for build
ing offered by Smith & Gutterson of
Des Moines were accepted by the
board and also by the council March
&c.
The contract for the building was
awarded to Bartlett & King, Gales
burg, Ill, May is, 1901.
/ September 81. 1901, the cornerstone
was laid and September "a, 1902, the
building was dedicated with appropri-
ate ceremonies.
Library Investment $4,000.
Inc cost OF the library was $50 200.
There is invested in the library about
$4,000 Besides the maintenance
fund of $4,000 and the 5000 annually
received from the Ballingall estate, the
library receives it's heat, light, water
and telephone service free. This pro-
vision was made by the city in giving
it's franchises.
I The building is two stories high,
9S.4 by 81 feet. with a book stack 3S.1
by 27.4 feet. The first floor contains
the children's room, newspaper room,
a court, the unpacking room, toilet
4 rooms, janitor's room and engine room
The second floor has a court, delivery
room, periodical room. reference room.
work room, librarians office, trustees
room and the stack room. The archi-
!. lecture may be considered as Italian
renaissance.
\ Mary 3. Downey of the Field Co
lumbar Museum library, Chicago was
appointed librarian January %, 1902.
and began her duties the following
May.