The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1962-04-12


newly organized Woman
Club of Durant collected
books for circulation to tn,
rural schools of Holme.
County.
Bad roads and other trans
portation problems made the
project impractical, so the
books were called in and do
mated to Durant High School;
but the idea of a free circu-
lating library for he county
remained one of the dreams
Of the Woman's Club and 81
years later il became true.
in 1927, during the admin
stration of Mrs. Charles Hun
oldstein as president, a move
nent was started which re-
ulted in opening of the Du-
rart Public Library in Oc-
sober of that year.
Mrs. Eugene Cole, presi-
lent of Twentieth Century
Club and Mrs. Ross Rhyme,
president of the Gamma
Club, assisted Mrs. Hunold-
stein in having the members
Of the three federated clubs
make a drive in Durant and
rom this drive 200 books
we're donated and $125.00 in
cash. mos. of which had been
called from the sale of
membership cards in the
own of Durant.
The Board of Supervisors
f Holmes County appro-
priated $500 a month to-
ward the support of the Lii
orary. This financial plan
continued for two years; but
n January 1880, when the
City of Durant began to give
$500 a month to the sup
oort of the library, use of it
was made free to the people
IF Durant and the county.
The first board, elected by
popular vote of the paid up
patrons, was composed of
Mrs. Charles Hunoldstein,
Mrs. G.. B. Ramsey, Mrs. c..
A. Doster, G.. R. Bennett,
Mrs. j. T. Nicely, Mrs. Ross
Rhyme, J.. L. Longinotti, H.
B. Sargent and J. E. Ham.
Mrs. Doster was chosen presi-
dent, Mrs. Ramsey, vice presi
'ert, Mrs. Hunoldstein, secre-
tary and Mr.. Bennett, trea-
surer.
Miss Winifred Mcintyre, a
member of the Twentieth
Century Club, was elected
Librarian, a place she held
for eighteen years. She was
assisted by twelve public
spirited women of Durant.
In 1880 the county in
creased its appropriation: to
10000 a month, continuing
this for two and one-half
ears, during which time a
sum was set aside each month
toward a building fund, for
the library was rapidly out
growing its quarters in a
mall room in the Durant
City Hall, which it occupied.
IE 1888 when the Federal
Government created the RFC,
the Library Board deemed it
wise to build, and prepare
ton was begun on a lot fac
Highway 81, just north
of Durant City Hall. Before
the building could be COM
pleted the CWA was created
to handle relief labor, and it
took four months to transfer
the library project from
RFC to CWA. The building
was completed in March 1884
of brick construction with
light and ventilation,
and was thought to have suf-
ficient space for at least Is
years. Air conditioning has
been added in recent years.
At this period the board
was composed of Mrs. w. E.
Mcclure, president, Mrs. H.
B. Sargent, vice president,
Mrs. c.. w. Drane, secretary,
Mrs. w. P. Taylor, treasurer
and Mrs. Charles Hunold-
'tein, Mrs. C. A. Doster, Mrs.
L. Longinotti, j. T. Nicely
and DR.. R. C. Elmore.
The building was erected
and furnished at an approx
mate cost of $4,000. OF this
sum $4,000 was borrowed by
the trustees and approximate
" $1,750.00 was furnished by
the relief agencies for labor;
the balance had been saved
out of the annual income over
four years. At this time the
name was changed to Holmes
County Library.
The Library operates on the
plan of trustees meeting to
execute the business of the
organization. The present
BOARD members are: Mrs.
James R. Bowie, West, chair
nan; Mrs. Frank Eakin,
IL