STOCKTON

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY

In the spring of 1898, members of the Twentieth Century Club opened a reading room for members in the home of Mrs. Dewey Dunaway. The first books were donated by members and obtained through subscription to the Kansas Traveling Libraries Commission. Interest and enthusiasm resulting from this first library attempt prompted the club to bring the suggestion of a public library to the attention of the citizens. A meeting was held at the Opera House November 13, 1900; the majority of those present agreed with the plan and the Stockton Library Association was established. The twenty-three original stockholders contributed $10.00 each; the number was later increased to seventy-eight members who agreed to pay $2.00 each over a period of five years.

In December, 1900, the Library Association found that a building could be purchased by paying $40.00 in taxes and $25.00 to the owners. With financial assistance from the Twentieth Century Club and O. A. and Leora Higgins, the Association acquired a small cottage. Contributions were secured for books, equipment and operations.

During 1902, Mrs. P. S. McCracken, a board member, wrote to Miss Helen Gould, daughter of Jay Gould, the railroad industrialist and speculator, believing that because the Missouri-Pacific Railroad went through Stockton, she would be interested in helping with the library improvement. Miss Gould responded by sending 500 books and $50.00 to purchase enclosed bookcases for them.

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY

W. L. Chambers, in May, 1909, on behalf of the Library Association, opened correspondence with Andrew Carnegie, who agreed, December 24, 1909, to donate $5,000.00 for a library building, The Library Association, on January 4, 1910, pledged to donate its property to the city for the new library site if the city agreed to support an annual library tax. An election was held February 8, 1910, and the electors voted in favor of maintaining the library operations.

The general design of the Carnegie library building in DeWitt, Iowa, was liked the best of the half-dozen submitted to the board from various architects. The plans were forwarded to Andrew Carnegie for his approval in April and bids were advertised in June. The contract was let to Nigel Wilson, of Hoxie, for $5,178.00. The Twentieth Century Club headed up various fundraising activities and the building was completed at a total cost of $5,700.00.

The library was dedicated in January, 1911. O. O. Osborn gave the dedicatory address. Judge C. W. Smith presented the library building and the deed to the lots to the City of Stockton at that time.