Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-10-13
OLD ACADEMY now
A Branch Library
Historic Ninth Ward Build
ing VIII Be Put to New
Use Tomorrow
BEST OF FICTION
ON THE SHELVES

Tomorrow a new branch OF the
Wilmington Free Library TO be known
as the Brandywine Branch will be
opened In the Old Academy on Van
dovcr avenue below Market street
The urst day will be devoted to the
registration of borrowers. The issu-
ing of books will be started on Fri
day.
The library viii open every week
day from 3 to .. m and $50 to Q
p. m. TO adults and from 3 to d.
m. TO children. The room is so small
that the library authorities have de-
cided to exclude children after Gao
y. m. II In the course of time there
seems to be a demand for more space
II may be possible to use room
ON the second floor At present the
activities OF the library will be con-
tned TO the first floor. Miss Lillian
M. ENaLs, who has had charge of the
Rockford Branch since 1912, will be in
( charge, aided by capable assistants
from the central library.
The rules at the Central Library
will be In force Those holding cards
at the main library can borrow from
the branch and those holding branch
cards are privileged to use the Central
Library.
A collection of books including
some OF the late volumes of fiction
for adults, and interesting stories for
children will be found on the shelves.
Current magazines and newspapers
viii be on file, and Librarian and
assistant in charge.
Tho building is constructed of gray
stone, two stories in height. with A
peaked roof and rising from the Gu
pola, a rod with ball and weather
yane. A bell hangs In the eupola but
IT'S strong tones are no longer heard.
one secs above the doorway an oval
white stone which tells In well-cut
letters aud figures that it was Found
ed A. ID. 1888" The exterior has the
quaintness of earlier days
The building has an interesting his
tory. About 1897 land was offered for
a school site by John Dickinson and
John Welsh. Within the year the
movement for q new school had made
such progress that the trustees. who
were 10 have charge of the erection of
the building, were appointed. AL
though there is no record of the con
struction OF the building. there is no
doubt but that IL was completed in
1898. The school property was placed
I'm trust for the benefit and accommo-
dalton of the families living i'm the
neighborhood, and it was to be used
only for school purposes. In 1916
trustees OF the Brandywine Academy
were elected, under whose direction
laws were passed which extended tho
use Of the school, and when the free
school law went into effect in 1929
the Brandywine Academy became the
school house of District No. 3, and
continued under this capacity until
Brandywinc village became tho Ninth
ward Of the city OF Wilmington.
In 1871 the State surrendered all It's
rights in the Old Acamedy to the
/ Mayor and Council of Wilmington.
From about 1854 the old academy has
had a miscellaneous experience. II
was the polling place at elections and
many warm disputes have arisen
within its walls. For many years IL
was the headquarters Of the Edward
l.. Martin Democratic Club. A kim
dergarten, gotten up by a few public
spirited men and women, was estab-
lished for the benefit of the people Of
the neighborhood; II lasted but four
years.
For a short time the building was
used by the members Of ST. Johns
Episcopal Church for institutional
work. During the end OF the year
1914 and the beginning Of 1915, the
City Council had extensive repairs
made on the old Academy and has
since placed it in the hands Of the
Free Library. under whose adminis-
tration the library branch is to be
started.