The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-04
WILLISTON HAS
fine new LIBRARY
HANDsoMEsT BUILDING IN STATE
OF ITS KIND FORMALLY PRE-.
sENTED TO PEOPLE.

Williston, N. D., March 4.-The
handsomest public library in the state
of North Dakota was formally pre-
scented to the citizens of Williston on
Monday afternoon. 1t is the new James
Memorial library which was donated
to the city by the widow and son of
the late ID. Willis James of New York
CITY, for whom this city was named
in 1887 by James ]. Hill.
The donors purchased the site, con-
structed the building and equipped it
with furniture and books. 1t is a beau
tiful Hebron brick structure built on
Grecian lines and was put up as a
memorial to D. Willis James, an east
ern capitalist, who was associated with
James j. Hill in constructing the Great
Northern system of railroads.
1t was Mr.. Hill who first suggested
to the editor of The williston state
that Arthur Curtiss James of the
Phelps Dodge Steel Co. might give
winston people much financial assist
ance in building library in Willistor
IL the matter were brought to his at
tention. AS president Of the Women's
Civic league, Mrs. B. G. Whitehead
wrote letter to Mr.. James expressing
the need of such a library in this To-
eality and suggesting that such a gift
would be worthy tribute to the men,
DRY of his father and an honor to the
city which bears his name. After con-
ferring with Mrs. d. Willis James. the
son sent Mrs. Whitehead a reply favor
ing the proposition and offered to set
aside a generous sum to be used for
the gift providing library mantle
nance fund could be assured the
donors. Through the united efforts of
the civic league and other friends OF
the movement, library maintenance
tax was voted by the people OF Willis
ton last April and preparations for
erecting the library were made.
1t is now completed and is pro-
nounced the handsomest library In the
state. 1t opens with a list of 5000
books
Under the auspices of the civic lea
que the dedication exercises were held
Monday afternoon. Mrs. w. C. Lynch,
president of the civic league, presided.
and noteworthy programme of music
and addresses by local talent enter
s@A@A@N tiAG AihAAdLGuo VI VlSlLOTB WHO
gathered in the main reading lobby.
AS the donors could not be present
they sent a presentation letter and re-
quested Mrs. Whitehead to read it, and
Mayor Bruegger accepted the gift In
behalf of the city.
The grand ball and banquet in the
evening was the finest social affair in
the history Of WiIliston. Elaborate
preparations were made for this event
and many handsome gowns were DON
ned In honor of the occasion. The
grand march was led by Mayor Brueg-
ger and Mrs. Lynch and $50 couples
formed in line to excellent music fur
nished by Onstad's orchestra. A pro-
gramme of twenty -four dances kept
the dancers busy until early morning.
The large, white assembly room in
the basement was converted into.
fairy bower of palms, smifax, cut flow
ers and yellow and white festoonfngs.
Here the long banquet tables were
spread with cut glass and silverware
and handsome shaded candelabra. A
delicious four course menu was served
by deft fingers.
There were many out Of town guests
and altogether 1t was the happiest day
ever known in Williston.