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Library Plans Initiated
The city voted to create a library in a referendum on May 3, 1899. -
Library Construction
Library construction began. -
Construction Halted
Library construction was forced to stop construction when torrential downpours and thunderstorms hit the city every day for over a year. -
Construction Resumes
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Construction Complete
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Ribbon Cutting
The library was officially opened on August 15, 1902 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon. In the staggering heat, thirty-five attendees fainted. -
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Mysterious Hailstorms
For a decade, the town is hit by mysterious hail storms. The library becomes a place for residents to escape from the mysterious weather and to find information about how to repair and properly prepare their homes and businesses. -
First Librarian Retires
Librarian Margaret May Reynolds retired in 1936 after thirty years of service. -
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Library Moves
Too big for its original building, the library moved its materials and services to the old malaria hospital in the center of town.
The moving took all summer and was completed at the beginning of September. -
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Library Shutdown
The library was shut down for seven years when a herd of buffalo got into the library building. Town services were unable to remove the buffalo; the town was forced to wait for the animals to vacate the premises before being able to resume services. -
50th Anniversary
The fiftieth anniversary celebrations were held at the library on this day in 1977. The celebration included a parade and an evening with fireworks that had been left over from the July 4 celebrations from that year, which had been cancelled due to freak snowstorm. Unfortunately, one of the fireworks set the roof of the library on fire. The library was closed for a year while repairs were made. -
Groud breaking on new library
