Library Site Chosen  

1914 - Dec. 3 - Library Site Chosen

New Carnegie Library Building to Be Located on Main Street, Adjoining M. E. Church.

The Carnegie library building, if it is built will be located on the Main Street lot south of the M. E. church

This was decided on Monday evening by a vote of the library board when it unanimously accepted the offer of the lot from the business men.

The question of a site has been under consideration for several weeks. Several sites were at first proposed
the Schilling lot
the Rea corner
the corner west of W. S. Easterday's residence
the Cline lot on the corner near the school building and
the Parker corner on Jefferson Street one block east of Main


The choice soon settled upon the Rea or Schilling lot. Mr. Schilling made s splendidly liberal offer in tendering his lot at its actual cost to him that is, the price he paid for it with interest at 6 percent from the time of its purchase by him and the cost of the curbing and tapping the water main. He will also head a subscription list with $250.

Mrs. Rea, in behalf of herself and her children, also made a liberal offer of $1,500 for 90 X 99 feet. She said she would not sell at that price except for library purposes, but the her interest in Culver and its people was great enough to induce her to make a concession she would not make to an individual.

The members of the board were greatly impressed by the attractiveness and accessibility of this location, but it was evident from the start that the business men and people in the country wanted the building located on Main Street.

When a communication was present to the board Monday night, signed by nearly every business man of firm on Main Street, guaranteeing to raise the purchase prince of $1,450 and to present the board with a deed to the lot, the matter was settled, and the offer was accepted

The application to the Carnegie corporation - the blank form for which has been in the hands of the board for some time has been prepared and will be sent to New York this week. It contains a statement of the population, the accessed valuation of the town and township, some matter descriptive of the surroundings of he lake, and catalogues of the academy.

The amount of 1 mill on the $100 levied on the town property, and one-half mill levied on the township property will produce a little over $1,200 per year which goes to the maintenance of the library and the purchase of books.

It has been customary for the Carnegie corporation to donate $10 for every $100 levied, consequently the library board assumes that the amount which will be placed in its hands for the building will be at least $12,000. This is expected to erect a building not far from 50 x 60 feet completely equipped and ready for use.

The advantage of a public library and such a building as is contemplated are to manifest to need recounting here.

The fine thing about it is that it will be the property of all the people of the township, not alone the people of the town.

It will be a farmer's building as well as a townsman's and will be available for such public meeting as the people of both country and town desire to hold.

It is hoped that there is sufficient interest in the project to induce everybody who can afford to do so to donate berally to the lot purchase money which the business men will undertake to raise.

When the committed visits you, do what you can. It will be a source of gratification to know that you had a part in an institution of permanent value to you community.