The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-11-12
EARLY CITY
HISTORY
Contributions on the pioneer
days Of Richmond win ap-
pear in this column daily.
(Continued from yesterday.

CONTINUED from yesterdayD
This installment concludes a de-
scrtption of the Morrisson-Reeves L.
brary ut It's opening many years ago.
The building as 1t now stands is q
beauty both outside and in, as we'll as
complete, modern and convenient In
all It's appointments. The walls are
OF a very handsome stone, with slate
roof, presenting an imposing appear
ance, with its handsome entrances.
1t Is splendidly lighted on all sides:
and for evening illumination there 10
an abundance Of gas and electrical
fittings. The basement is devoted to
the heating and other similar uses.
with the exception OF one large room
on the north side. which extends the
length Of the building. and 10 being
reserved for such future use as 1t may
be needed for. 1t is so we'll lighted
that It can be used for a library room.
or something of the sort. very nicely.
The front entrance Is grand in its
beauty, with a recess sheltered by a
balcony, and with tiled floor. Easy
stairways lead to the right to the Sec
ond story. where the books are kept.
These stairways land on a wide lobby
opening to the left into the room
where. the books are exchanged. This
room is of good size. with ample
tables and desks for making out lists
for books. A handsome railing and
counter separates this portion of the
room from the circulating department,
where the books for general use are
kept. This portion is furnished with
the newest styles Of iron book-stacks,
so conveniently arranged that the en-
tire $4,000 books Of the library, out
side Of the reference works, can be
reached on the first door. The stacks
are two-story. with glass floors. and
the arrangement is SO complete and
handsome that 1t must be seen to be
appreciated; 1t san not be described.
From the lobby handsome doors
open into the reference library and
reading rooms, which occupy all the
rest of the library. Here there is
ample room for all who wish to ex-
anime such works as can not be taken
away from the library. 1t is so sup
piled with large windows that the
light is faultless. Back of this large
room comes a series of rooms for the
use of the librarian. all of good size
and splendid convenience in arrange
ment, and stairways lead to rooms in
the third floor, where reference works
can be kept as may be required by the
growth Of the library.
There are several elegant little
rooms at the front of the main read.
ing room, and also at the rear, so that
people wishing to study any special
subject can easily have the entire
facilities of the library, and still the
same seclusion for study which they
could have at their own homes or
Offices.
From the lobby a wide and easy
stairway leads to a very pretty room,
long and roomy. which will at some
time be made into an art gallery. At
present 1t is simply seated with chairs
so that it can be used by the library
committees as an assembly room.
The entire amount of the Reeves
donation has not been used in the
building. With it about five hundred
volumes were added to the library.
Then $4,000 are to be put at inter.
est and the product used in the pur.
chase of books yearly. There is also
to be fine stained glass memorial
window to be placed in the reading
room in memory of James and Lydia
Morrison at some future day.
The present board of omcers is as
follows:
President, Charles H. Burchenal;
Vice.President, Mrs. Caroline Siddall
Secretary. Timothy Nicholson; Treas.
urer, John w. Tingle.
Library Committee - Charles H
Burchenal, Mrs. Caroline L. Siddall
Timothy Nicholson, John w. Tingle.
Trustees of Reeves Fund-Mrs Car.
oline NJ. Reeves, Lewis D. Stubs
VIM. Dudley Foulke.
Librarian-Mrs. Sarah Wrigley.