The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-12-11


family the citizens of Wyandotte re
reived ii real Christmas rift Monday
evening when Mrs. Mary +. Bacon
MI. ana Mrs. John Ii. +. Bacon. and
Milton r. Bacon presented the Board
"I EuucatlOh with deed to the Ba-
con home on Biddle avenue. for the
establishment and maintenance of a
public library and for educational
purposes. The new library will bee
known as the Bacon Memorial Lii
brary"
The deed provides that if at any
lime the Board Of Education shall fail
To maintain and operate il as a nublic
library il shall be used for education
al purposes only. The legal documents
transferring the property were pre-
scented through the family attorney
John Brennan
The Bacon residence WAS built by
the late Edward Ford. who was Mrs.
bacon father. He lived there until
he moved 10 Toledo To found the glass
works and establish the town of Ross
lord. Later his son lived there, and
when he moved To Detroit. the Bacons
occupied the home
overtureS regarding the gift were
made by the family some time ago to
Charles III. Block. president of the
Board of Education After a series of
conferences definite prOffer was
made by John Il. +. Bacon who came
from California and met the president
aad members of the Board of Educa-
ton for this purpose. AT this meeting
Il tentative accentance Of the gift was
made and the legal procedures for the
transfer followed
After the sale Of the old library
last year the Board of Education
studied several possible locations for
new library. After several confer
ences. the City Council granted the
east end of the city hall site for that
purpose as the best available location
at the time. The site was rather small
but il was felt that the plans for the
building could be so drawn rs to cap
ltallZe OH the boulevard approach af-
forded on the south and the park and
river view To the east. Plans and spe-
CificatiOnS were completed for the
new structure but at this juncture the
federal government restricted building
materials and discouraged the con
structiOn of all projects not required
for the war effort. Furthermore. at
this time there were indications that
the present gift of the Bacon home
might materialize Thus the begin
ningS of an impressive civic center
WAS made possible. with the city hall
at the south end of the block and the
public library at the north end both
looking out Oyere Bishop park to the
river front to the east. Thus the trans
formation of this area into civic
center has been brought much closer
To Il reality. Within short distance
on the river front there is the Wyan-
dOtte General hospital, the nurses
home. the municipal light and water
plant. Bishop park, the American Lee
giOn club house. the city hall and
now The new Bacon Memorial library
The home, when remOdeled with
proposed additions, will provide ample
facilities for the library, IL museum,
trophy hall. and educational confer
enCe rooms for some years to come
1t Is felt that the money now OH hand
received from the sale Of the old Ii
brary site will provide adequately for
rpmUdeling. equipment and such addi-
tiOnS us may be necessary.
The grounds will be maintained and
preserved in their usual attractive
setting and everything will be done to
Keep the present dignified external
appearance of the home us it now
stands.
The gift further demonstrates the
deep community interest which the
Bacon family have always shown in
of Ga nd hni
promotion of its cultural growth and
welfare. Their generosity of the pre-
sent gift will long stand as a memoir
ial of their high community ideals.
The time of occupancy and improve
mrnt of the structure, according To
Superintendent r. W. FrOStic, will de
pend on federal approval Of the pro
ject in terms of release from the pre-
sent building restrictions.
The Board of Education. Monday
night passed the following resolution
of acceptance of the gift:
Trustee HQmeister moved the adOp
lion of the following resolution:
Whereas. Mrs Mary +. Bacon, John
Is. r. Bacon, HeloiSe L. Bacon, his
wife. and Milton r. Bacon has pro-
ferrpd To the School District, of the
City of WyandOtte. Michigan. the Ba-
con home in the city of WyandOtte,
Michigan known and described AS fol-
lows:
Lots and Of block y. according
to the plat Of the village. now city, Of
Wyandotte. recorded in the Office OF
The register of deeds for Wayne cOun-
~. Michigan. in liber "a Of deeds.
pages ). q and Z. together with the
entire vacated alley twenty feet wide
in the rear of and adjacent To said
above described lots. for the purpose
of establishing and maintaining there
on II public library. and
Whereas. John ii. Brennan Esq.
attorney for Mrs Mary +. Bacon.
John n. r. Bacon HelniSe l.. Bacon.
his wife. and Milton +. Bacon on
their behalf has this day rendered to
the School District of the City OF Wy
andotte. Michigan. deed OF gift
which reads as follows:
This indenture. made this 9TH day
or December 1912. between Mary F. i
Bacon. John Il. r. Bacon and Heloise
T.. Bacon. his wife. and Milton +.
Bacon. an unma rried man. all OF Pas