Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 19: Libraries, Literary and Other Associations, 1905

The liistoiy of this institution, which was dedicated and opened to pubHc use on January 15, 1903, and which, in its educational value to the people, not to mention its contribution in architectural beauty, is one of the most elevating influences in the community life of the city, had its beginnings in enthusiastic ixading clubs, which broadened their scope and activity until the volume of their efforts concentrated and culminated in the beautiful library. These excellent reading clubs of Goshen, vitalized and maintained through the energies of its intelligent and public-spirited ladies, formed the nucleus from which the public library emanated. Early in January, 1897, a small coterie of them met to discuss the necessity of a public library, and soon after an organization was formed known as the Goshen Public Library Board, with the late Mrs. Rogers as president. Without a dollar in material assets, the}- were rich in determination and enthusiasm. The first of two arm loads of books which came into the possession of this new board was as a donation from two of the reading clubs. Then followed a series of entertainments, the proceeds of which went toward the purchase of more books, until the board was possessed of about one thousand volumes of well selected literature.

At this point they were confronted by two difficulties - first to make the library free to all the people when its sole basis of maintenance was the fund derived from the sale of membership tickets; and second, the library had grown much faster than had been anticipated and permanent and suitable quarters must be provided for it or the objects for which they had sO' strenuously labored could not be attained.

x\t this point the attention of the board was directed to the philanthropic gifts of Andrew Carnegie for the founding of libraries, and a committee accordingly waited upon the great iron master, who gave his assurance that upon certain conditions, which were easy to comply with, lie wuiild donate fifteen thousand dollars toward the construction of a building. Goshen was the first city of its size in the United States to secure a similar donation and the tirst city in Indiana of any size. The donation, nevertheless, seeming inadecjuate for carrying" out the purposes of the board, the gift was subsequently increased b}- 'Mv. Carnegie to twenty-five thousand dollars.

The site for the library building was procured through p(_)pular subscription, nearly f[\e thousand dollars being subscribed within a week's time under the direction of Hon. C. ^^^ Miller, who was chairman of the finance committee. The corner-stone was laid in Januav}-, 1902. the work progressed uniler most favorable auspices, and on January 15, i<;o3, the library was dedicated ior the use and enjo}'ment of the public through all time.

The ]iLirar\' building is of French style of architecture, with French Renaissance entrance. Through the marlile decorated corridcir une comes directlv into the rotunda. This, the central feature of the bniilding. is tile-floored, finished in mahogany, with imitation ony.\ columns. Overhead an art-glass dome is, as it were, an .architectural climax, and around its base appear the names of many famous in literature. The color scheme of decorations is yellow or soft wood color and green.

Behind the librarian's de>^k is the stack rdom, to the left of the entrance is the general reading room, at the opp(jsite end of the building the chikh'en's reading room, and north of the l)()ok stacks is a reference room. An auditorium or assembly room. occu]\ving the principal part of the basement, and seating two or three hundred persnns, is used for small gatherings whose meetings pertain to literature, music, art and education.

The officers and members of the Goshen I-^ublic Library Board at the time the building was so auspicious]}' dedicated were as follows: L O. Wood, president; Mrs. J. A. Mitchell, vice-president; George B. Slate, secretary: D. A. Sanders. H. H. Gortner, Mrs. F. P. Abbott and Mrs. J. yi. Bowser. The building committee was comjiosed of Joseph Smith, the local superintendent, D. W. Neidig. IT. H. Gortner. The librarian. INIrs. Ella R. Heatwole: the assistant lilirarian, ]\Iiss Elizabeth Rockwell, and the janitor. Ch;irles R. Barry, have retained the same ofiices to this writing. The numVier of vulumes in the librar\' at the time of its opening was about three thousand, and subsequent liberal accessions have Ijrought the number to 5.800. The iiresent librarv board is as follows: I. O. Wood, president; D. A. Sanders. Joseph H.

" The present organization ni the Goshen Public Lilirary dates from March, 1901, when it took advantage of the Alummert law of that year and succeeded a small public library which was maintained by the various ladies' literary societies of the city, which societies are therefore responsible for the inception of the library work in this city. The numbers of volumes at present, 1904, are five thousand two hundred and eighty-six, between eig'ht hundred and nine hundred being added annually. Forty-four current magazines are taken, which are liound and placed in the reference rooms as fast as the \-olumes are comjileted. The total annual expenditure is one thousand nine liundred ami seventyfive dollars, which is raised by a six mill tax, levied under the iMummert law. under which the library was organized.

" The total circulation since the opening" of the present library, Januarv 15. 1903. to December i, 1903, was twenty-fovu" thousand one hundred and four, making a total daily average of ninety. There are two thousand and fifty-one borrowers' cards on file, this being from a total population of nine thousand two hundred and fifty, and but four of these are country borrowers, who pay an annual fee of one dollar. The library is open from 9 a. m. to 12 m. and from 2 to S p. m. for the changing of books. The general reading rooms remain open until 9 p. m. on week days only. During the summer months the schedules of \\ork of the various literary clubs are obtained and sjiecial preparation made to assist them in reference work' during the ensuing winter."'

In connection with the librar}- movement at Goshen, whicli finally culminated in the fine institution just described, it will be of interest to know that the county seat boasted of a library almost in the earliest years of its history. This is evident from a notice published in the Goshen Donocrat in 1842. in which the request is made that all persons having books in their possession belonging to the " Elkhart County Library " should return them to the librarian, E. ^^^ H. Ellis.

middle west b\' the gifts of Andrew Carnegie. Ever mindful of Elkhart's needs, ]Mr. A. H. Beardsley and Mr. George B. Pratt voluntarily and unassisted secured from the dom.ir a promise of thirty thousand dollars if the city would raise three thousand five hundred dollars by taxation. The first gift was afterward increased to thirty-five thousand dollars, and with the surety of this help the preliminaries of law were entered uiK.ni, the required official IxkIv appointed and the work begun.

The structure is of Indiana dressed stone and designed by Indiana architects. It is sufficiently impressive for the surroundings, and of ample dimensions for the posterity likely to need it. It is located near both the geographical center and the center of the population of the city, being particularly fortunate in this resjiiect. The state law regulating lil'raries was followed in the appointment of the board, the city council nominating two members, the school Iward nominating two and the court of the thirty-fifth judicial district appointing them, as well as three others of its own choosing. The Library Board was created by the appointment by the circuit court of Mr. A. H. Beardsley. Mr. G. B. Pratt and Mrs. O. C. Hill. The court also formally appointed Mrs. E. A. Carpenter and Dr. J. F. Werner, who had been selected by the council, and Dr. C. C. Bower and Mrs. William C. Hackman, who had been named by the school board as its choice. The board organized by electing A. H. Beardsley president : Dr. \\'erner, vice-president : Mrs. E. A. Carpenter, secretary; and G. B. Pratt, treasurer. As the members were all reappointed under the law the personnel has not been changed.

The designs submitted by Messrs. Wing and [Nlahurin of Fort Wayne were accepted, and the contract let to Mr. \\'. H. Maxwell of Angola, Indiana, who began work in September, 1901. The architecture of the building is best described as classic. On the front looking toward the west is a pediment with molded ornament, supported at the two ends by square pillars and in the center bj^ two Ionic columns ; the panels at the side of the portals are ornamented also with Greek moldings, and the recess from the columns to the main entrance gives to the front that shade of perspective which adds to the beauty and increases the impression of massiveness. The side walls are of plain stone, but varied with panel projections which give it a massive appearance and at the same time relieve it from the charge of plainness. The walls are of Indiana dressed stone of gray tint, soft and pleasing to the eye. The approach is of heavy granite curving to the street in riie impression of the exterior is perhaps more massive than the length of line and height of building would naturally give, and to the eve the effect is most pleasing. From the architectural standpoint the exterior could hardly be improved upon, and the building as it stands is in e\-er}- way appropriate to its surr()undings Iji ith near and adjacent, and it is in all respects iitting for the purposes for which it is intended. The setting of green, the handsome lawn which surrounds it, the trees at the side and frcjnt. and, in fact, all clijse surroundings add to the attracti\'eness and beauty df the whole.

When, however, one enters the swinging doors and stands within the rotunda the scene is unexpectedly beautiful. The tesselated floors, the Italian marble columns supporting the dome, other columns supporting the ceilings of the alcoves and adjoining rooms, the pilasters which stand at the ends of the heavy beams holding the roof, give one the impression of standing within the walls of some ancient classic structure, made motlern by newly adapted laws of art and of architecture. Comi'.ig from above in the daytime the bright light of the sun is softened by delicately colored artist glass, which gi\-es to the tinted walls a soft, warm and in\'iting appearance. The walls are of sage green, with chocolate friezes, shading into cream at the ceiling, and with here and there touches of bronze. Lighted In- electricity at night the rays from the white globes of the ceiling and bracket lamps fall with equally soft impression upon a scheme of color .and decoration which is artistic, delicate, harmonious and beautiful, 'idie visitor sees fourteen of the Italian veneer marble columns in front and at the right and left. The vista in all directions is pleasing and imposing, and art glass in the dome, brackets and standard lamps of brass finished in imitation of old metal, settees and tables of beautiful wood, beautifully IJolished, all add to the general attractiveness of the scene.

After passing through the \cstibule into the rotunda the separation from the alcoves on the iiDrtb and south is made hv heavv and elegant settees standing between the pillars, these in reality marking the only floor division between the rotunda and the rooms on the side. In front is the circling counter, behind which are the book stacks. At the left of the main book room is the reference library, with its elegant table and comfortable reading chairs where the reference books, many of them ponderous tomes, can be used. These books are not to be taken from the lil)iarv under any cunditinn. On the right of the main book room is the Hliranan s i:>fhce, with the conveniences which are attached to such a place. At the side of tiie vestil)ule leading from the rotunda are ste])s leading to tiie basement, where is a small lecture room or auditorium fur the women's clubs and similar organizations to meet; also the furnace room and fuel room and nther necessities of the building.

"The library (in 1904) contains about seven thousand xulumes, including public documents, and numbers one hundred and tweKc current magazines. There was a l>asis of three thousand volumes to build upon, and fifteen hundred volumes more were added by the difYerent literarv clubs of the city. There is an annual appropriation by the city of three thousand five hundred dollars fur the )'early exiienditures. raised by a tax levy of five-tenths mill per cent. This sum purchases books and covers the salaries of the librarian, librarian's assistant, janitor, etc. The hours are from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. for the senior reading room. The lo;'n department, children's room and reference department are o])en from 9 a. m. to 8 p. m. The number of borrowers is three thousand t went y-se\'en, and the a\-erage circulation per day is about one hundred and eighty-three." The present librar}- Ixiard and officers are named in the chapter on Elkhart city.

TiiF. Ei,Kii.\RT Lkcture Associatiox has fur something like thirty years exerted a strong intellectual influence in that city, bringing the citizens into contact with the brightest minds of the age and opening to diem new vistas of lilieralizing thought, art and science. The real foundation of this enterprise dates back to 1875, when E. C. Bickel, as secretary of the Elkhart Lecture Union, succeeded in securing a strong lecture course for the winter, and that gentleman has been identified with the lectiu'e moA-ement in this city since that time. The Elkhart Lecture Association was organized in 1S79, after the first moxement had been allowed to lapse for several years. But the association was organized on a permanent and substantial liasis in the fall of 1879, and each year since has brought a fine array of talent to the city. The committee for the first year was as follows: S. Maxon, president; E. C. Bickel, secretary ;md treasiuxr: Rev. ^f. A\'. Darling, J- S. Rice, D, H. Christophel and E. H. Jenkins. Dr. \\\ H. Thomas has been president of the association since 1886, and Mr. Bickel has given his influence and effort to the organization from first to last. The associa- tion lias been well managed both from a financial point of view and with regard to its fundamental purposes in affording to the people the highest class of lectures, music and dramatic and artistic efforts.

The St. Joseph Valley Chautaucpia was organized in 1905 by the citizens of Elkhart working in connection with the Slayton Lyceum Bureau of Chicago. The directors and officers are : W. V. Stanton, president; Marion Foster Washburn, vice-president; E. C. Bickel, secretary; I3an C. Thomas, treasurer; Charles L. U'agner, stiperintendent. D. \\'. Thomas, Mrs. O. C. Hill. Mrs. I. M. Clark. Mrs. F. K. Thompson.

The Chautauqua program was carried out in Highland Park, on the St. Joseph river, from August 24 to September 4, and some of the eminent lecturers and entertainers of the country were procured to furnish- the literary and other features of the program.

At Elkhart county's second annual farmers" institute, held in Goshen in January, 1893, the late Joseph Rippey read a paper on the subject of Pioneer Farming. For three years following the subject was discussed at the institutes, the second paper being presented by Thomas Miller, the third b}- John 11. Violett and the fourth by Dr. M. M. Latta. These papers brought out a great deal of the pioneer history of Elkhart county which would otherwise have been lost.

The idea l^egan to suggest itself that steps ought to be taken to collect and preserve as much as possible of the local history, traditions and records relating to this county before all of the earlier settlers here should pass away. How to accomplish this was a problem which was wrestled with for several years. Finally the conclusion was reached that there ought to be an organization which should devote itself to this work. After the project had taken definite form in the minds of those whose interests had been enlisted, it required a year or more of discussion and agitation Ijefore an organization could he effected. Finally, on Januar^- 4, 1896. the Elkhart County Historical .Society was formalh- organized with a incmhership oi twenty-six people.

The purposes of the organization are declared by its constitution to be; To secure and preserve historical data, reminiscences, records, relics and whatever else may be of value or interest in connection with the history of Elkhart county or its inhabitants." From the date of its inception the society has labored faithfully for the accomplishment of these purposes. It has collected many articles of exceptional value, a number of which it would be impossible to duplicate. It has also many rare old documents and papers bearing upon the earl\' history of the county and describing the life of the pioneers.

Public meetings have been held from time to time, at which addresses have been delivered and papers read, touching upon some phase or other of our local history. Interest in the society has been steadily growing from year to year and there are at present a greater number of people concerned in its welfare than ever before since it was organized. While it has not accomplished all that was expected or desired, its work has been very satisfactory and its future outlook is encouraging.

The active existence of the Goshen Lyceum is indicated in the following notice published in the Northern Indimiian December 26, 1840 : " The memlDers of the Goshen Lyceum are requested to meet this evening at Hinton's Hotel at early candle light. The citizens generally are invited to attend. Question : Resolved that it would be expedient for the legislature of the state of Indiana to authorize the issue of bills of a less denomination than five dollars, by the State Bank." Then follow the names of the committee - A. Stilson. T. H. Bassett, D. Parret - and Al. H. Rollin, president, and W. A. Thomas, secretary.

Another institution of the past, mentioned elsewhere, was the Pioneers' Association, which has not met for some years. It was once a flourishing organization, its meetings aroused much enthusiasm not only among members, but the entire populace, and were eagerly looked forward to as one of the annual events of the county's social life. The first annual meeting of the association was held at the court house on May II, 1858, with James H. Barns as chairman and E. W. H. Ellis secretary.