Celebrating 60 Years in the Historic Maine Street Building
The Public Library of Enid and Garfield County celebrates its 60th anniversary in the present location in October of 2024. The year 2024 also marks the library’s 125th year in existence.
The following information is a recreation of a booklet created in 1974 for the Enid Public Library’s 10th anniversary in the Maine Street building.
"We are greatly indebted to Mrs. Maude English, who had the foresight to keep history of the early days of the Enid Study Club and the Library - and to Miss Bessie Truitt, who continued the history, covering many years - and to Lish Cromwell Glasser, who edited their materials and brought it up to date."
Jean Harrington, Library Director
Public Library of Enid and Garfield County
September, 1974
ENID STUDY CLUB
The library was founded by the Enid Study Club, whose membership in 1899 included Mrs. Mary C. Lee, the founder, Mrs. Louise Lee Cromwell, the first president, Mrs. W. S. Denton, Mrs. Sam Evans, Mrs. Edmund Frantz, Mrs. O. J. Fleming, Mrs. Guy Hallam, Mrs. F. B. Hodgden, Mrs. M. A. Kelso, Mrs. James Kershaw, Mrs. Frank Kirk, Mrs. W. D. Lee, Sr., Mrs. Jean Brohard-Meeham, Mrs. J. D. Minton, Mrs. C. L. Moore, Mrs. H. B. McKenzie, Mrs. W. O. Purmort, and Mrs. Frank Worcester.
These ladies made the library a chief goal and set to work raising money to finance such a project. A reading room at 120 North Independence was opened and the members took turns “minding the store” each afternoon. The library was equipped with three chairs, a table, a small stove, and a few shelves.
Because there were always expenses, the Enid Study Club had several projects to raise money - library tickets were sold, a lyceum course was presented, and a Scandinavian quartette came to Enid. Probably the most memorable money-raising project the ladies undertook was a Minstrel Show, which included a parade around the square. The ladies themselves were the cast and created quite a stir but their efforts netted the library one hundred dollars.
The Study Club offered the library to the City of Enid, more than once. In 1905 the City accepted the responsibility of the library project and the facility was moved to North Grand, just across the alley from the First National Bank.
ENID STUDY CLUB MEMBERS
Carnegie Foundation Grant
The need for a new library building encouraged the city fathers to seek a grant from Carnegie. The Foundation offered $10,000 which was rejected. A grant for $25,000 was accepted and the site at 402 North Independence was bought for $4,000 in 1908. The Enid Carnegie Library was officially opened August 1, 1910.
The problems for the next 10 years were insignificant when compared to those of the 1920’s. The library appropriation was cut by the city, in 1924, as the library was beginning to rapidly fill the building. The appropriation was cut again in 1928 and 1929. The library was forced to cut the hours of operation, the staff, and almost close altogether.
Despite all this, due in part, to the efforts of Mr. George F. Southard, the library continued to acquire new equipment and badly needed building repairs were made. Mr. Southard was instrumental in acquiring the services of Miss Mabel B. McClure as Librarian in 1928. He also presented the Library his collection of rare books.
Depression Years - “Friends of the Library”
The 1930’s brought more financial struggles to the Enid Library, as the Depression hung on stubbornly. Several projects were completed by federal grants from the Civil Works Administration and workers paid by the Nation Youth Administration helped with various aspects of the library during the time of drastic staff reductions.
In the spring of 1938, Mrs. R. G. (Amy) Carl organized “The Friends of the Library” to make people of Enid more aware of the Enid Carnegie Library and its services. Many books, collections, drawings, and memorial gifts were the outgrowth of this organization.
The 1940’s brought back lean years again to the Enid Library. The appropriation was cut once again and the building was declared outdated in 1943 by at least one Enid architect. Despite these problems the book circulation increased as did the files and collections.
1957 - Library Bond Issue Failed
The 1950’s were marked by an increased spirit as many new services were added by the staff. A story hour was started for children. A column entitled “At Your Library” appeared regularly in The Enid Morning News. Great Books discussion groups were also started. The Library Board also started stressing the need for a new building — this was in the Annual Report for 1955.
In 1957 a gift of $200,000 was offered by The Champlin Foundation for a new library if the City of Enid would approve a $300,000 bond issue. Despite the backing of the City Commission, the Enid Chamber of Commerce, and various civic clubs, the issue was defeated by 700 votes. (The land for the proposed library was sold several years later to the Young Men’s Christian Association Board and eventually their building was erected there.)
The library carried on - making the best of an almost impossible situation. The building had been condemned by the State Fire Marshall, the City Building Inspector and the Assistant City Engineer both sent letters to the board recommending the main floor be re-enforced.
1959 - Garfield County Library and Enid Public Library Merge
In 1959, the Enid Public Library and the Garfield County Library merged becoming the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County with the city paying 7/8 (seven-eights) and the county paying 1/8 (one-eighth) for the maintenance and operation of the library. This consolidation made more books available to more people, as well as the reference materials and non-book aids (framed prints, records and film strips).
A simple illustration of how the library grew during the decade of the 50’s is to compare the book circulation totals - 75,617 in 1950 and 348,368 in 1960.
1963 - $500,000 Library Bond Issue
The 1960’s brought another effort to get a new building for the library. The President’s Planning Committee of the Chamber of Commerce spearheaded the movement this time around. H. B. Bass, Harry Frantz, Sr. and Kenneth Martin from the Chamber of Commerce, Phil Edwards, Bill Gray and Gerald Wilkins from the Downtown Development Committee, and Wesley Mattson, Mrs. Jerry Allen and Ed Fleming from the Library Board formed the nucleus of the drive for a new building.
This time a massive effort was made to go directly to the people through a liaison committee of DeWitt Waller, O. C. Clinesmith, C. E. Loomis, Jr., Henry Lowe, Mrs. Dick Mathis, and Miss Bessie Truitt. A meeting for questions and answers was held; a speaker’s bureau was established; the many services of the library were emphasized in newspaper ads; the inadequacies of the present structure were pointed out. The bond issue of August 1963, was passed in favor by a two-to-one margin.
The concern now was to find an appropriate site and a committee of thirty-five set about this task. The working committee consisted of Dr. Albert Shafter, Mike Tuohy, Mrs. Helen Carnell, Gene Dwelle, Mrs. C. D. Brewer, and Hugh Thurman with Miss Mary Cromwell serving from the Library Board. The County Commission solved the problem by offering the present site which formerly had been the location of the old Post Office. Construction for the new building began on September 3, 1963. D. A. Smith was the architect and the Bass Construction Company was the contractor. The keys were turned over to Miss Jean Harrington on September 16, 1964, with the dedication on October 18, 1964.
1963 - Building Construction
The following information comes directly from excerpts of The Enid Morning News 1963 newspapers.
August 31, 1963 - Friday morning ground-breaking ceremonies - the prelude to actual construction of Enid's new library slated to start Tuesday, Sept. 3, was termed "the start of a program that proves this community can uphold its reputation throughout the state and nation for always giving the best in education for its citizens"
Mayor Herb Bullard and Miss Jean Harrington, city librarian, turned the first shovel of dirt that began construction of the $385,734 structure.
A group of citizens who have urged the new library for years stood on the vacated site of the old Federal Building Thursday morning and watched the simple ceremonies.
Faye Campbell, a staunch advocate of the new library, reminded the group of the day 64 years ago when the first reading room was opened in Enid "by a study group that met in the downtown square in a vacant room over a drug store."
Wes Mattson, chairman of the Library Board, offered thanks to the committee workers, city and county officials who helped make the new library a fact.
He stated the library bond issue would never have come to a vote "if it hadn't been for the city manager, our mayor, and commissioners who gave the funds to conduct the special election."
Mattson added the offer by the county commissioners to give the ground without cost had an influence on the selection of the site and made it possible to have more money available for the building and equipment.
The event was a direct result of a commission session held Thursday afternoon where it was voted to accept recommendations made by a special committee of post office, library and city officials.
The recommendations included that no revision of plans be made that the structure be places on the site with the rear of the building 24 feet from the north property line.
The portion of Maine Street between Independence and Grand will be narrowed to 80 feet by relocating the north curb five feet to the south.
And, the architect was instructed to issue a work order immediately for the construction of the library building, such work order to become effective Sept. 3 1963.
August 31, 1963 - FIRST SPADEFUL - Mayor Herb Bullard and Librarian Jean Harrington join forces to turn over the first spadeful of earth for the new library to be built on the south side of the Enid square. Ground breaking ceremonies were held at the site Friday morning with work to begin immediately on construction of the half million dollar building.
December 29, 1963 - LIBRARY FLOOR - Workmen pour concrete for the floor of the new Public Library of Enid and Garfield County now under construction on the south side of the square. Work was being hurried in order to get in as much concrete work as possible before cold weather sets in. The concrete is poured atop a plastic sheet that acts as a moisture barrier.
December 29, 1963 - WALLS THE EASY WAY - Scalloped panels of concrete wait on the street in front of the new public library on the south side of the square to be hoisted in place on the second level of the building... Each panel weighs 7,600 pounds. When in place two inches of insulation will be cemented to the back of the panels and plaster applied to form the interior walls.
1964 - OPENING DAY
Memorial Monument
The Memorial Monument on the east lawn of the library is in honor of the members of the Enid Study Club who established the first library in Enid.
On one side of the monument is the bronze tablet that was over the front door of the Carnegie Public Library which opened its doors August 1, 1910. The Carnegie Library was located at 402 North Independence.
The bronze tablet on the opposite side lists the names of the members of the Enid Study Club in 1899 and was furnished by the Cromwell Family.
Marquis James Room
The dedication ceremony was made more special by the attendance of Mrs. Marquis (Jacqueline) James, widow of the Pulitzer Prize winning author who grew up on a farm southeast of Enid. The Marquis James Room, furnished by the Cromwell Family, houses many of his manuscripts, including The Cherokee Strip.
Other special features of the library include the gallery on the mezzanine which has exhibit space for art shows, coin collections, stamps, rocks, photography, and traveling exhibits and the Great Plains Room, which will seat one hundred people and is available for public meetings.
