| Charleston Had It All #63
Charleston Library Spurs Interest
By Mildred Reeves Burnett
Library interest in Charleston had already spawned many years before the old Y. M. C. A. building was ripped down for a Charleston Library given by William H. Danforth.
April 30, 1931, in The Enterprise-Courier the Business and Professional Women’s Club announced they had 1,500 books and wanted more readers. In 1930 they had established a public library located on the lower floor of the Y. M. C. A. building.
The library formally opened on September 12, 1930 with 1,200 books. Miss Frances McFadden was in charge. In addition to the local collection, every three months the library received books from the Traveling Library at Jefferson City.
In 1933 the library was moved to a room north of Ashby’s Lunch Room on Main Street, and then later to the basement of the courthouse, but eventually closed from lack of interest. 1
In 1942 books were packed and the library moved from the courthouse to the Armory when the Business and Professional Women’s Club again took over sponsorship. Miss Mildred Thrower served as librarian in the afternoons and Miss Nona Thompson in the evenings, when open. 2
“In the summer of 1946 the Legislature passed a bill establishing the Missouri State Library as a department of the new State Department of Education and authorizing the appropriation of funds for aid to tax-supported public libraries.
“State Senator L. D. Joslyn actively lined up a group of interested persons and a public meeting was held at the courthouse. A citizens’ committee formed with Clifton Banta as chairman…. Dr. Geneva Drinkwater, Mrs. L.D. Joslyn, and Mrs. Lawrence Simpson did much to promote a tax-supported library, and at the April election in 1947 the proposition for a one-mill tax was adopted.
“The County Court appointed a library board — Miss Geneva Drinkwater, president; Mrs. Carleton Moreton, secretary; A. C. Goodin, Clifton Banta, and with County Superintendent of Schools, J. Abner Beck, as an ex-officio member. Miss Elizabeth Turner, a professional librarian, was hired by the library board.” 3
Books and Bookmobile
Purchased
In The Enterprise- Courier— November 6, 1947, Miss Elizabeth Turner and members of the library committee announced the purchase of a Bookmobile and hundreds of books for the Mississippi County Library. The Bookmobile, a green Dodge panel truck, was bought at Moore Motor Company, and sent to St Louis where special shelving and equipment was installed.
“The books will be for adults, teenagers, and children — all-around basic material in constant demand at most libraries,” Miss Turner said.
The Enterprise- Courier— November 13, 1947: “Books, books, and more books were received by the Mississippi County Library District here at the Armory the past week. Fact is the first shipment numbers about 3,000 volumes, all of which must be classified, indexed and shelved by Librarian Elizabeth Turner…
“Meanwhile, the question of adequate quarters continues to be the pressing problem, because neither the proposed East Prairie nor Charleston library buildings have been constructed. Only one room has been set aside at the Armory to house the library in its temporary quarters.”
In Armory quarters, Miss Turner cataloged the books. By January 1948 they were ready for circulation. The Bookmobile was stocked, and both the Charleston and East Prairie library branches were opened. 4
The East Prairie branch was housed in Beauton’s Drug Store and sponsored by the Woman’s Improvement Club. The library branches were open to the public twice weekly. 5
“The bookmobile started the same time with visits every six weeks to all forty-one school districts in the county and twelve adult stations. By March of 1948 sixty three library centers had been established throughout the county.
“Both branches were being operated in extremely crowded quarters, but William H. Danforth had offered a contribution of $25,000 for a building in Charleston and Harry S. Roberts had pledged $10,000 for a building in East Prairie.
“The formal opening for the East Prairie Branch was held November of 1948. It was the first library ever built in the county and named Mitchell Memorial Library.”… 6
Library Staff member, Ted Pierceall, drove the “roving library” five days a week to county schools, both black and white, delivering books. Two days a week he delivered books to special appointed houses and general stores, Joe Dark recalled.
Pierceall parked and lifted open the side doors on the truck exposing long shelves of books for those at the designated home to check out. He stayed for a while so others living down the road close could come to check out books, too. Days of his coming were announced in the newspapers, Pierceall said.
“Ted Pierceall was special,” Joe Dark praised. “He was very well loved and long remembered for his delivering books throughout the county. Rural children ran to meet him when they saw him coming. Citizens inquired about him after he retired.”
Numerous gathered round the mobile library and lined up, stepping inside when turn came. Once inside the Bookmobile, being near surrounded by books, they glanced through and pulled out those they desired to read. Some children checked out many. Adults also checked out books. Charleston Library pictures say so.
Books were important to rural children, since they had little or no access to activities in town. A book was all some children had, Joe Dark said.
1 Info—Betty Powell History of Miss. Co., Chapt. XII
2 Info—Enterprise- Courier, Nov 26, 1942
3 Ibid. 1, 4 Ibid., 5 Ibid., 6 Ibid.
To be Continued
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