The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-03-19
5ELLEvIEW

Following is little bit of Belle
views history:
The writer has been secretary.
treasurer and director in the Belle
view Library Association for many
years and knows whereof he speaks
The land On which the library stands
was given by the Marion Land and
Investment Company.
Twice the Association met with
misfortune, once by the failure of
bank in Ocala, again by the burning
of all their books when the Masonic
block burned In 1917 they had $251-
| 26 in bank in Quincy, Mass, and
$4,000 in the hands of r. G.. Ridge.
March 4, 1917, Judge Hopkins moved
that the directors procure plan for
a library building, which was voted.
March IL it was voted by the directors
to get stone for building in Sep
TENDER or October December 2, 1917
the directors voted that Mr.. Doolittle
purchase material and procure work
on the library. which was done, by
using money of the association, con-
tribution of work and money from our
home people and people in the north.
The Town Council gave $500, the
Belleview Workers, $4S.55; fourteen
people gave work. April IA, 1908 the
Treasurer reported $716.2S in money
expended. Mrs. Bush AID Mr.. Gale
appointed an Auditing Committee.
April % the Committee reported that
the treasurer's account had been audit
ed and found correct. The report that
w. ". Cowles built the stone walls
for nothing is an error. February %
re was paid $4,000. The erection of
the library was labor of love and
pride in the building of such unique
building. The call for the forming of
the Association was issued November
10, 1886, there being eight signers, of
whom only one is living, viz: Arthur
Brown of Manatee. A constitution
was adopted, article of which reads
this association shall be called the
BelleView Library Association.
December /, 1886, Professor G. G.
Bush was elected president From
that date to the present time only one
man has called the library the Bush
Memorial Library Prof Bush was
a student and gentleman of high
standing to whom much honor is due.
His widow, Mrs Ellen F. Bush and his
sister, Mrs. F. F. Wendell are highly
winter residents of Belle
view. /
At the dedication of the Library
building, March 10, 1908. there was an
Indebtedness of SLIP, which was i'm
mediately subscribed, Mr.. G. L. Bit
finger, editor of the Ocala Star, one
of the principal speakers giving five
dollars There were many people
present. The laying of the corner /
stone was performed with appropriate
ceremony The room was beautifully |
decorated. After the dedication ice
cream and cake was served. In the
evening there was an entertainment.
March End, 1918, Mrs. Bush gave to
the Library Professor Bush's 500 or
more books mostly classical, resum |
ing the right to re-possess to herself
certain books of the gift, not to exceed
Is in number. A vote of thanks was
given Mrs. Bush for the books.
Mrs. E. B. Haywood has bought the
Millsom home.
Mrs. Mary Armstrong; son, Stewart
Armstrong, of Boston, Mass, is visit |
ing his mother.
Mrs Ella French, Mrs. Belle Col |
cord, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Martin and I
Lorin Martin have returned from Wis. /
ting Daytona and other places.
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Smith, their
daughter, Mrs Clark Hull and son
have returned to their home in Dan
bury, Conn. on account of their son
and brother, Lieut.. Louis Smith, Jr,
who is critically i'll. Before leaving
Mr. Smith sold his new Ford to Walt |
er Nelson.
On the 18th E. S. French and G. w.
Coggswell in motor boat they have
bought, tried the fishing in the Ockla-
waha With them were Messrs Belts
and Pratt, they went from Starks Fer
ry TO where the U. S. Boat is having
the channel dredged and the river
Strengthened In a cutting of three
miles distance of twelve miles is
gained. The party caught fine mess
of fish. One fish weighed five pounds
~ @hn Nv