Fergus County Democrat., 1905-10-31
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES MARK
LAYING OF LIBRARY CORNER STONE
GRAND LODGE MASONS CONDUCT the SERVICES IN PRESENT OF
LARGE CROWD-flOQUENT GRAFTON BY ACTING GRAND MASTER
FRANK f. SMITH--BANQUET THIS EVENING.

was upon the occasion Of your speak
err giving a lecture in the Presbyteri-
an church, on the evening of the 18th
day of January. 1897, on the subject,
"Self Made men,"
The Fergus County Argus of Janu-
ary 14th, 1897, in commenting upon the
lecture, concluded as follows: "The
speaker deviated from his subject SO
far as to plead for the establishment
of public library and showed how
easy it would be to establish such If
even thirty of our citizens would
take the matter in hand. This Is a
wise suggestion and it is hoped will
be acted upon in the near future"
After several preliminary meetings
held for that purpose the organiza-
ton Of the Lewistown Public Library
Association was perfected February
18th, 1897. A constitution was adopt
ed and seven trustees elected as fol-
lows. F. E. Smith, E. X. Cheadle,
Rev. Albert Pfaus, Rev. Joel Vigus,
Mrs. F. E. Wright, Mrs. G. J. Wiede-
man and Mrs. F. G. Stiles.
/ The trustees elected as officers for
the first year, F. E. Smith, president;
Mrs. F. E. Wright, vice president; e.
K. Cheadle, secretary; Halsey r.
Watson, treasurer and Mrs. M. L.
Hanson, librarian.
A contribution Of $500 in cash. or &
six good substantially bound books
entitled to membership. The use of
the books was free to the members.
and to others vouched for by two
members of the association. Substan-
TALLY the same organization was con-
tinued until April oath, 1901, when tn.
library was turned over to the corpo-
ration of the City of Lewistown and
! thereafter became city institution.
The first trustees appointed under
the city government, April Gath, 1861,
were as follows: w. M. Blackforl,
Mrs. r. Won Tobel, Mrs. A. w War;,
Mrs. G. ]. Bach, Mrs. G.. J. VIE leman,
and F. E. Smith. F. E. Smith was
elected chairman and Mrs. A. W.
War;, secretary.
The board of trustees has had but
one presiding officer since its institn-
ton.
At the regular city election in April
1901, proposition was submitted to
the electors as to whether or not a
be levied for the support of the City
Library, and it is worthy of special
notice that more than three-fourths
of the electors of the city voted in IA
vor thereof. Since that time substan-
TALLY the same organization has con-
trolled the library and the list of
books has steadily increased until now
there are more than two thousand
| sub tn, toll 1%~< \
volumes upon our shelves.
After the removal from this COM
munity of Mrs. NJ L. Hanson, in the
fall of 1899, Miss Elizabeth S. PEBBLES,
(now Mrs. Albert Pfaus), became the
librarian and continued as such until
the library was turned over to the
city. Mrs. Mary Sloane then became
; librarian and continued as such until
1904, since which Mrs. Albert Pfaus
has filled that position.
During all Of the years since the or
ganization of the library it has been
hamDered for room and has been a
circulating library only. Up until the
fall of 1889, it was located In the milli-
merry store of Mrs. NJ. L. Hanson, on
the corner of Fifth avenue and Main
street. 1t was then removed to the
office of the county superintendent OF
schools, (Miss Peebles), where it con-
tinued until it was turned over to the
city when a room was given it in the
, public school building on Corcorar
street, where it remained until the fal
of 1904. when it was moved into the
city hall on Watson street.
1t has always been the desire of the
+, trustees, and of those particularly in
: terested in the library, to have larger
and more convenient quarters, so thai
in addition to the circulation of the
books a reading room might be main
$ tained. This has always heretofore
. been impossible on account Of lack O.
s funds with which to maintain it
t When the philanthropic instinct O.
Mr.. Carnegie led him to devote a con
n siderable portion of his great fortun,
e to the establishment of public librar
:. les it occurred to us to appeal to hin
: to do something for our own commun
Il ity. After considerable correspond
y ence our hearts were gladdened b,
:, receiving a letter from him, through
II his private secretary. dated Januar
n 10, 1905, in which he said: Respond
ing to your appeal on behalf of Lew
y istown if the city agrees by resolution
d of councils to maintain a free publ
S. library at cost of not less than on
e thousand dollars year, and provid
lie a suitable site for the building. NJ
is Carnegie will be glad to give TIE
Thousand Dollars to erect a free pull
oe lie library for Lewistown."
in After briefly reviewing the cond
b. tions imposed by Mr.. Carnegie, tt
l. doner of the library, and the prom
manner in which these conditions wei
ur met by the citizens of Lewistown, NJ
b. Smith continued:
To few, indeed, has Heaven granite
n the splendid opportunity to lay ,
l such a stupendous fortune as NJ
Carnegie has accumulated, and of tn
ct road superintendent. and at last