The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-04-18
A Building of Great Architectural Beauty---Hun.
dreds Admired The Rooms and Expressed
Their Satisfaction.
INTERESTING ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT CASE


Public Library was opened to the pub
lie last night with appropriate cere-
monies. The doors we're opened at
6:30 and from then until $50 the cor
iidors and reading rooms were crowd
ed with people all of whom expressed
their great satisfaction over the style
and beauty of the building. The inter-
Tor decorstions were simple, being
large bouquets of carnations and other
flowers.
The main reading room is to the
west and within the room is a beau
titul mantel on which Is an inscription
telling of the gift of Andrew Carnegie
to the city of Canton of the building
and of the donation of the site by w.
w. Clark. On the first floor are the
circulation books, and reference Ii
brary complete in every detail. In the
second floor the Juvenile room and
committee rooms are found
President F. e. Case was kept busy
during most of the evening receiving
public. He and his co-workers deserve
the congratulations of all for their
good work in thus giving TO Canton
such an institution as this library is.
While much is due to the local
mems work, there is also debt to be
paid, and that is to William S. Hawk
tor his work in securing from Mr.. Car
fnF N
erection and furnishing of the build
ing
The reading room was early packed
with an audience waiting for the ap-
pearance of the speakers.
The following address was made by
i. E. Case, president of the Library
association.
The Canton public library was in
Corporated in 1884. The first members
of the board were Messrs William W.
Clark George D. Harter, John F.
Reynolds, William R. Day. Melville B.
Cox, DR.. Lewis Slusser, Johnson Sher-
rick, Austin Lynch and r. S. Shields
Subscription papers were soon after
this circulated amongst our people
the purchase of books and proper fur
nishlngs for the library. The city
rouncil, in furtherance of the wish of
the people, generously provided for
the use Of this library, a suitable
room in what was then the new City
hall. Miss Martin was elected librar-
Ian. A fine, though not large collecs
nd hn
library opened to the the public in
November, 1885. The library contin-
ued to occupy the City hall room till
1895 when. owing to the inadequate
space it was moved to the rooms till
recently occupied, in the Odd Fellows
Temple. 1t remained in these rooms
of the Odd Fellows Temple till 1905 at
which time it removed to this building
During these ~ years this Library as
suciation has given free use to the
people of Canton, of the choicest
works and literary productions. 1t has
at all times maintained reading rooms,
we'll lighted and warmed, where any
person was free to come and have the
profit of this valuable If not extensive
for the most part by private contri-
buttons; entirely in this manner dur
ing its earlier years. This was no
small undertaking in a community
having so many demands upon its
generosity, but to the credit of our cit
1Zens, it may be said that while the
library often languished to some ex-
tot s,,
very efficient way. OF It's early
struggles and its greatest benefactors,
| desire on this occasion to make
mention. Mr. w. w. Clark was the
first president of this association and
held that position until 1901 at which
time, owing to Ill health and multi
farious business demands he relin-
quished the presidency and member
ship of the board Mr.. Clark, himself
student and great lover of the mas
terpieces of literature, and having al
ways In mind the bringing of the pub
lie, and particularly the youth of our
city to the highest standards of lit
eIary thought, was untiring in his eff
forts for the promotion Of this asso-
S'"'iOh' ihciO aiN 10" puDllC men,
even those whose lives are devoted to
literature who are so familiar with
the great masters, as Mr.. Clark. He
has during his busy life in our COM
munity, not only conducted great bus
iness enterprises, but has also through
this association, and in many other
ways, acted a great part in the intel
loctual growth and development of
this people and at the close of his ac-
tive association with this library
board, signalized his devotion to its
good by the purchase and conveyance
10 the association, the valuable lot OF
ground upon which this building
stands You will all remember the
lot as having substantial brick