Smyrna times., 1948-10-21
APPOINTED TO
LIBRARY POST
Henry C. Webb Named Treas
urer and Corresponding Sec
retary of Commission Here
LIBRARY FOUNDED 1858

Announcement has been made OF
the appointment by Charles L. Ter
ry. Resident Judge of Kent County,
of Henry C. Webb as treasurer and
corresponding secretary of the
Smyrna Library Commission. Mrs.
C. L. Harmonson is president of
the commission and other members
are: vice-president, Glenn S. King,
Miss Elizabeth Thornley,, and Rich
ard C. Price. Miss A. Louise Den
ney is librarian and recording Sec
retary. Mr.. Webb replaces George
w. Wright, resigned. The library
boasts a long and colorful career
since it was founded in 1858 with
funds derived from the sale of
shares of stock and also from a
series of lectures given in the libr-
ary room. The formal public in
auguration of the Library Associa-
tion was on March 15, 1858, and
was held in the room which had
been rented in Odd Fellows Hall.
The first officers were: President,
Daniel Cummins; vice-president,
Rev. Brisbane; recording secretary,
Robert d. Hoffecker; corresponding
secretary, DR.. c. D. Daley; treas
urer, w. D. Eliason; managers: j..
M. Denning, Robert H. Cummins,
and DIR. J. C. ClaWson. DR.. w. T..
Collins labeled and catalogued all
books and was the first librarian.
Moved To Town Hall
John C. Stockly was president in
1869 when the library moved into
the new Town Hall. Liberal con-
tributions were made from time to
time by Daniel B. Cummins, of
Philadelphia, provided his gift was
matched by a like sum raised by
the Association. Among those OF
earlier Smyrna generations who
were active in its affairs were JAM
es P. Hoffecker, John Henry Hof-
fecker, H. G.. Budd, Col. George H.
Raymond, A. H. Smith, William
Bell L. ]. Handy, and w. E. Wat
ers. w. A. FAIRIES was an officer
for 40 years from 1888 to 1928.
From its creation the library was
not a free library in any actual
sense, the use of its books and
reading room was rigidly restricted
to those who were subscribers to
it's stock and those who paid an
annual subscription fee. The Asso-
citation continued without any in
terruption in its activity, gradually
increasing its books from the 1900
volumes reported at the end of the
tenth year to more than 5000 vol
umes now on the shelves. 1t is
conceded to have one of the finest
collection of reference books in the
state. In its later years Clarence
Raymond, Heryey Hall, Howard R.
Jones, and Robert Denney carried
on the traditions of the old Smyrna
Library Association until 1889. At
that time the directors were DR.. r.
F. Corley, DR.. C. G. Harmonson,
Mrs. Marion Coverdale, ]. Wells
FAIRIES, C. B. Raymond, Mrs. c. L.
Harmonson, and Roland w. Bell,
and it was these directors who in
1910 decided that the best interest
of the Association and the COM
munity as whole would be served
by converting the library into a
free public library for the Smyrna
Special School District, thereby Sc
curing state financial aid and en-
larging the library and its useful
ness. Accordingly, a library COM
mission of five members was ap-
pointed by the Resident Judge of
Kent County.
Open Tuesday and Friday Nights
The library is open on Tuesday
and Friday evenings from $50 to
8 D. m. In addition to the books a
large and varied list of magazines
is available for reading, and may
be taken out on library cards as
soon as replaced by current issues.
Keeping abreast of the times, sew
eral volumes of modern fiction and
non-fiction are added each week.
A friendly atmosphere pervades
the reading room and everyone is
welcome. An increase in use by
younger patrons has become evi-
dent in recent years.
Revival Services at Wesleyan