Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1912-01-04

ceuacii agseed - give p esasayrr, K To-
new city building, then in process of
erection. to the association for alibrarv
and reading room, provided the assoeia-
ton furnish the room at their own ex-
lpense Later the council proposed
that the association use the council
room as librarv furnishing The shelly
ing, curtai S, mating etc. which was
gladly done and for many years the IL
brary was in the coun ii rooms The
question of maintenance WAS most
serious question. The librarian. Ms.
Shultz. received for her work $500 per
month, and not only acted as librarian
b janitor as we'll, for years. the liz
brary being open on Wednesdav and
Saturday afternoon and evenings
Membership tickets were sold for 50
per year Entertainments of various
kinds given to raise money for the
purchase of books, the first mentioned
in the records was a society minstrel
rison and SlO7 were the net receipts.
The ladies gave many suppers, dinners,
old fashioned spelling schools. dancing
parties in fact every form of entertain
ment that would be attractive and
bring in dimes and quarters with which
to keep the library open TO the boys
II ,:e1,
wholesome reading matter, and as a
general thing tn " were we'll patroniz-
ed. In 1892 Mrs Clara A. Davis was
elected Sec which position She held
with great efficiency until the time of
her death in 1905 1t might be we'll to
say here. that to Mrs Clara A Davis,
as much as to any other one person in
Missouri Valley, are we indebted for
the maintenance of our library all
those years In 1893 the city council
proposed that the library be moved to
the upper front room in the building,
offering to furnish light and heat if
this was done. The offer was accepted
s'liA eaC OOohS lllONGa, UQV III llt c1lQ
of the year the books were again in the
old council room where they remained
until moved into the present building
In March. 1898. the business men,
who had undoubtedly became weary
from the constant importuning for
money and help suggested that the as
ISOLATION petition the city council to
take charge of the whole matter by es-
tablishing free public library and
reading room according to the provi-
sions in the statutes the association to
give the city the present collection of
books, should they do so. Mrs Davis
drew up the petition and with Mrs.
Boies circulated the same The library
was now open only on Saturday after
moons and evening the price of tickets
which had been - per year was teduc-
ed to 81 so then to ST. No definite ae-
ton was taken and in November a
Com. consisting of Mrs Davis and
Mrs Lahman waited upon the mayor
AN election was held and the city as
suned charge in Marsh Mrs. NJ. Il.
Boies, President, of the association was
empowered to execute the the Bill of
Sale. transferring ali the" association
property to the City of Missouri Valley.
The n mber of books On hand at this
time lSs0-and ST. in money with
which new books were purchased. the
transfer being made, the mayor APP
pointed trustees b. w Carlisle was
elected president; Mrs Clara A. Davis,
secretary; Miss Turner, Librarian.
In August the first tax levy mill for
the maintenance uf the Missouri Valley
Free Public Library was asked for and
our library placed upon firm founda-
ton. In September, 1908. the question
OF new Carnegie library building was
introduced by Mrs H. c. Heckert, Sec
OF the Board of Trustees, and as re-
suit OF the three years W ork following,
we now have this beautiful edificc. 1t
has been hard work, bat work we have
a lmost thoroughly enjoyed
And now at the close OF thi, review
i have a most pleasing office to per
form Mrs. Hills. the president of the
Musical oryaniZat on, who have 81 ven
us such del ghtful music this afternoon,
knew that the library woald be incom-
plete without musica instrume.a,,
and with her able and willing co-work-
ers. have made possible tat we have
such an instrument And now in be-
half of the Treble Clcf present to the
Bo. rd of trustees of the Missouri Val
ley Free Public Library. and through
ZEN to the City of Mo- Valley the
b: ptiful piano. that is before you.
And rom time to time as you hear it's
beautiful tones. May the cares that
infest the day. just fold their tents like
the Arabs and silently steal away"
The library building is
Al x 60 feet, faces east and the
lot upon which it stands is $50
by 100, parked in front and will
have a neat little park in rear
when completed. The building
has a basement and d first floor