The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-01-24
WHAT PUSH, PLUCK AND
PERSEVERANCE CAN ACCOMPLISH
Example of Beautiful BeIeVieWW Erect Hundscre Lbruy
Building---Gruphic History of the Association

but all were rejected for various Tea-
sons. Al the time it was seriously
thought of TO buy the Belleview block.
One of the serious set-baCks met
with by the association was the loss
of all its funds, on deposit with the
First National Bank of Ocala. How
ever. that little incident cut no ice
with the brave band of workers, and
they pressed steadily on toward the
goal
At a number of meetings held in
1896 and 1897, the motion was put and
carried as follows: That We have a
supper, the proceeds to go TO swell
the funds of the treasury"
The suppers were duly held, the
treasury duly swelled, but the name of
the putter of the swelling motion was
never recorded.
Along in 1889 the association was
the owner of between five and six
hundred books, selected mainly by the
late Prof. Gary G. Bush. Up to and
through 1897 Prof Bush had served
as president of the association COntin-
uOusly for eleven years
On January y, 1895, Mr.. Ira S.
Keller was elected president; Alfred
Abshire, vice president; o. NJ. Gale,
secretary and treasurer, with a board
/ of directors to look after details.
Affairs progressed merrily along for
year or so. when on February Il.
I 1901. Mr.. William c. DOoHttle was
elected to the office of president and
with the banner membership of the
life Of the association, made good pro-
gress toward the aim and ambition Of
the founders.
On January 6, 1902, Mrs. G. G. Bush
was elected president: Mrs. o. NJ.
/ Gale. vice president; o. NJ. Gale. sec
Rotary and treasurer with the usual
/ board of directors. and the aims and
| objects of the original promoters were
. kept in sight, and with suppers, plays,
membership fees and other COntribu-
tons the swelling process kept mar-
rily on. until the building fund at
tanned some proportions.
January s. 1904, the town was visit
ed with a terrible fire in which the
BeIleview block was totally destroy
ed, entailing a loss of all the books
owned by the Library Association.
Nothing daunted, the members
pressed merrily on, and with renewed
energy, prosecuted the work laid Out
, by their predecessors, and the work
of swelling the funds through the me
dunn of suppers. entertainments, etc.
rolled along.
And so up to a few months ago i
= was decided that funds on hand would
warrant the beginning of a building
! worthy of the name. and a credit t
= Belleview. So the material was con
e tracted for, and Mr.. COwles, an eX
: pert mason from Bridgeport, was en-
l. gagged to build the same; and now, al
] ter twenty-One years of arduOus labor
after trials innumerable, after trOu
y bles and set-backs enough to discOW
Y age the most sanguine. the work is be
l. ing prosecuted to a finish, and the en-
- is in sight.
Y To the interchangeable efforts of a fe1
# is the town of Belleview indebted fo
4 this fine building. And then it mus
n be remembered that of the present o
fcers a majority are charter men
J. bers. having served the associate
l. twenty-one years for love of the oil
" ject aimed at. And on Thursday, Jal
II uary l6. 1908, the laying of the cont
b. stone Will prove the elimination {
r twenty-one years of unremitting i
n Dor.
y All hail to the officers who hay
he brought this matter to a successf
a. issue and let the names of them a
Of be remembered long for their service
a At the present time the officers a.
as follows:
to Prsideut-Mrs. G. G.. Bush
~ Vice President-NIrs. VIM c. Do
ne little.
Is Secretary and TreasUrer-L. /
ut Grand Hopkins.
&C. Direct0rs-R. c. Ridge. VIM. c. Dc
er little. Mrs. L. r. Halstead, Mrs. F.
he. Wendell and Miss Sara BOsworth.
m Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Dvar. who ha