The year 2000 marks the 50th anniversary of the Saguache County Public Library and Friends of the Library are making plans for a year-long celebration.

Commissioners Proceedings for November 7, 1949 says “ A number of ladies from Center and Saguache, and Mr. Bennett, of the State Library Association, appeared before the board, and renewed the discussion of the library project. It was decided that the board should appoint the Library Board, as provided by law.”

The next mention of the February 14, 1950 Commissioners Proceedings - “A motion was made by H.K. Lockett and seconded by George H. Curtis, that a County Library be established in the County with two equal main units, one at Saguache and one at Center, following Resolutions passed by the Center and Saguache school boards. It was also moved that a board of trustees be appointed and the following were named in that capacity, 
Mrs. V.D. Olsen - Center
Mrs. Jordan McClure - Center
Mrs. Alfred Collins - Crestone
Mrs. Geo. Dominick, III - Villa Grove
Mrs. Marie Hazard - Saguache
Alternates appointed are:
Mrs. John Fullenwider - Villa Grove
Mrs. Win. Shellabarger - Moffat
Mrs. George Harlan - Crestone
Motion carried.”

The next mention of a library appeared in the November 9, 1950 Commissioners Proceedings and says, “FOR COUNTY LIBRARY purposes, to be known as the COUNTY LIBRARY FUND, the sum of $4,005.30, to be raised by a .50 mill levy.”

Thus, a County Library was formed. Commissioners at that time were H.K. Lockett, George H. Curtis and George F. McClure. Robert R. Tarbell was County attorney and Edith L. Jones was Clerk of the Board.

There had been a library prior to this time, but February 14, 1950 is the date the library was formally made a County Library.
 

Our first column under this heading outlined how our libraries became County libraries. This column will be devoted to the early history of the Center Branch.

The first mention of a Center Library states that Mrs. Richmond of the Monday History Club called a meeting at the Center Opera House Sept. 7, 1916 for the purpose of forming a Library Association. Another meeting was held on Sept. 14, and the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Catherine B. Twitchell; 1st Vice President, Mrs. Mary M. Grim; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Edna C. Feast; Secretary, Mrs. Lula Schultz; Treasurer, Mrs. Daisy M. Burns. By this time, the Library Association had 33 members and 150 donated books. In October, the Association rented the building on Main Street that had been vacated by the Bennington Coal Office and library hours were Sat. and Wed afternoons from one o’clock to five. Some early names associated with the Library Association were a Rev. Cooper, the Mrs. Twitchell, Bennington, Tallman, Hurt, Bishop, Feast, Gardner, Mosbarger, Newmyer, Britten, Durr, Bowden, Chown, Foley, Griffen, Fullenwider, Grim, Jones, Mitchell, Novens, Laur and McFee.

The June 12, 1919 Center Post-Dispatch said that the Library Association was presenting a five act play, “What Happened to Jones.” The proceeds of the play were to go to the library, and $105.00 was made. Through the years the Association members held food and rummage sales, etc. to raise money for the library and in August 1939, they purchased Lot number 12, Block 29 for $500.00.  This would be the building which later on became the American Legion Building.  Labor on the building was donated by George Morrow, plumber; Louis Bean, carpenter; Ed Hensen, Fred Holcroft and Mr. Tallman, and it is thought Mrs. Tallman designed the building.  The Monday History Club bought the front door for the building. This was a beautiful door in the Spanish tradition and cost $100.00.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Skoglund lived in the library for a year in 1932 and Mrs. Skoglund kept it open 2 or 3 days a week.  In Dec. 1936, the Library Association sold their building to the Kiwanis Club and the American Legion and evidently there was no library in Center between 1936 and 1948, and the books were given to the school.

Then on March 9, 1948, a meeting was held at Center Consolidated School for the purpose of organizing a community library.  The Tri-Club was instrumental in getting this started.  The board chosen at the time was Myra McClure, President and Lena Coleman, Vice Chairman and Secretary.   They requested donations of  books and asked that the books be left at the Western Auto Supply Store. This library was at the school library with Elizabeth Mees as librarian. When the high school was built, the school library was placed on the south side of the building to allow easy access to the library by the townspeople.  This arrangement wasn’t satisfactory, and in Sept. 1949 Eulula Lee Olsen, Myra McClure, Aletha Lewis, Betty Shoemaker, Agnes Scovil, Alma Bowles, Mary Frey and Lena Coleman contacted the Town Board who promised the ladies a room in the White House. This room had been vacated by the Triple A. It was also decided at this meeting to contact the County Commissioners and ask for their help. In March 1950, a de1egation met with the Town Board to decide upon a definite location, and it was decided to remodel the stage in the White House. A committee of Swede 0lsen. Aletha Lewis end Agnes Scovil met to decide what work was necessary.  Mr. Davidson started this work that same month and other men helped by sanding the floor, making shelves, painting and varnishing. A group from Center had also met with the County Commissioners in November of 1949 and again in February  of 1950 to ask for funding, and on February 14, 1910 the Commissioners voted to establish a County Library with branches in Center and Saguache.

From its humble beginnings in 1919 with 150 books, and housed in various buildings, the Center Branch has grown to over 9000 volumes. The present facility is still located in the White House. Various grants and other funding have been obtained which have enabled the purchase of books, computers for public access and other improvements. A recent grant of $20,000 from the El Pomar Foundation has been used for new carpeting, a circulation desk, shelving and landscaping with a new sign to be installed later.  Truly an impressive growth in 84 years!