History of Toulon Public Library 1891-2001. Chronology of Library History l 1890-1893, Toulon public library founded l 1893-1915, library reading rooms

History of Toulon Public Library

1891-2001

Chronology of Library History

1890-1893, Toulon public library founded

1893-1915, library reading rooms located

in Toulon businesses

1915, Toulon library building built with

$6000 from Andrew Carnegie

1991, library changed from city to district

library

Toulon Public Library Founded

25 May 1889 Speaker James H. Miller led effort of GeneralAssembly to establish Illinois State HistoricalLibrary.

27 Jun. 1890 Speaker of General Assembly, James H. Millerfrom Toulon, died from flu.

29 Jan. 1891 Bradford F. Thompson wrote petition for freecirculation library in tribute to James Miller.

21 Apr. 1891 Toulon Village referendum approved 2-mill taxfor free circulation library.

19 Apr. 1892 Founding Library Board elected.Bradford Thompson, Martin Shallenberger, Dr. TheodoreBacmeister, W. W. Wright, Gus Hulsizer, U J. Overman.

Reading Rooms in Toulon Businesses

1891-1893 Tax money accumulated for startup -- books,rent, other expenses.

2 Feb. 1893 First meeting of Founding Library Board --plans for by-laws and book purchases.

29 Apr. 1893 Toulon Public Library opened in CaverlyBuilding (now FBFM Building)

5 June 1893 First Librarian Report: 535 books and 129membership cards issued

25 Apr. 1898 Library moved to B. F. & E. W. ThompsonBuilding (now American Legion Building)

1 Sept. 1907 Library moved to new Packer Building

Location of First Library Reading Room

First Reading Room

Location of Second Library Reading Room

Second Reading Room

Location of Third Library Reading Room

Third Reading Room

Building of Carnegie LibraryBuilding in Toulon

4 Aug. 1902 First letter from Village of Toulon to AndrewCarnegie

21 July 1910 Percy Shallenberger offered $10,000, lot andbuilding plans for a Library building

16 Oct. 1913 Library Board renewed request for funds fromCarnegie because Shallenberger offer fell through

7 Oct. 1914 Library Board received word from Carnegie thathe’d donate $6000 for new library building

July 27, 1910 article

Carnegie Libraries

From 1889-1923, Carnegie donated funds for 1679 libraries in U. S.

Two conditions: City provides the

site City supports the

library through tax funds

Andrew Carnegie

Building of CarnegieLibrary Building (Cont’d)

19 Nov. 1914 Percy Shallenberger donated lot for LibraryBuilding, plus $500 for landscaping

27 Feb. 1915 Library board awarded construction contract toF. L. Boher, who built Wyoming Public Library

7 Sept. 1915 New Library at corner of Jefferson & HendersonStreets opened to the public

19 Jul. 1917 Percy Shallenberger donated $1000 to Libraryfor books

Memorial Plaque

•Lot for Carnegie Library

•$500 for Landscaping

•$1000 for Books

•Total Value about $3000

(compared to Carnegie’s $6000)

Percy Shallenberger’s Contributions

The Other Side of Percy Shallenberger’s Generosity

In 1910, his $10,000+ offer was greeted with fanfare, but he never gave it. Delayed Carnegie grant.

In spring of 1936, Percy H. Shallenberger died.

He bequested $10,000 to Toulon Public Library.

The Old Settlers Association made him the 1936 Badge Honoree.

The Library received no money from his estate.

Library Furniture

Most furniture & fixtures bought through popular subscriptions (~$900).

Library desk donated by Erle W. Thompson in memory of Bradford F. Thompson

Library table donated by Toulon Woman’s Club

Magazine rack donated by The Musical Club

Oak shelves built by James R. Wrigley

Change from Toulon CityLibrary to District Library

9 Nov. 1981 President Vicki Moutoux received thanks from theLibrary Board for her leadership in getting a taxincrease referendum passed in Toulon

20 Dec. 1990 Attorney Phil Linzini explained to Library Board theoptions for financial survival, including the stepsnecessary for joining Projects Plus Program.

1991 President Vicki Moutoux led the Library Board’s effortsto convert from Toulon City Library to a DistrictLibrary

17 Mar. 1992 Voters approved the Toulon Public Library district’sproposed annexation of all Toulon-LaFayette schooldistrict boundaries, except LaFayette.

James H. Miller(1844-1890)

Speaker of General Assembly in 1889

Founder of Illinois State Historical Library

Discussed idea of free circulation library with B. F. Thompson

Died of flu in June 1890 Father of Fred Miller,

Board Member 1911-1927

Portrait of James H. Miller, 1844-1890

Founding Members of Library Board

Bradford F. Thompson

Martin Shallenberger

Dr. Theodore Bacmeister

W. W. Wright II

Gus Hulsizer

U. J. Overman

Bradford F. Thompson(1837-1912)

Capt. in 112th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Wrote 1886 history of 112th Ill. Inf. Studied law in office of Martin

Shallenberger County Judge, 1902-1912 1891, wrote petition for Toulon Library tax Library Board Member, 1892-1912 Thompson mausoleum, Toulon Cemetery

Stark County Officials, 1907: E. G. Williamson, Sheriff; E. B. Redfield, Circuit Clerk; G. C. Baker, Co. Supt.; W. E. Nixon, Co. Clerk; C. W. Bocock, Co. Treasurer; B. F. Thompson, Co. Judge; P. M. Blair, Master in Chancery; W. A. Fell, Deputy Sheriff; C. L. Cravens, Co. Surveyor; J. H. Rennick, State’s Attorney

B. F. Thompson Mausoleum, Toulon Cemetery

Martin Shallenberger(1825-1904)

Pioneer Toulon attorney Fascinating personality in early Stark Co. history Extremely widely read with prodigious memory Excellent knowledge of law, skilled orator, strong

debating skills, powerful influence over jurors Married Eliza, dau. of Dr. Thomas Hall, pioneer physician Had eight children, successful in their professional lives Lived at Jefferson & Henderson for 50 years House and law library burned in 1890’s Member of Library Board, 1892-1899

Dr. Theodore Bacmeister(1830-1911)

Born and studied Engineering in Germany Came to America at age 18; worked in locomotive shops Med student friends led him into homeopathic medicine In 1856, graduated from Philadelphia medical school

and moved to Toulon Practiced medicine until he died at age of 81 Member of Library Board, 1892-1910 Father of Louise Bacmeister Younger, Board member

for 16 years in period from 1910-1946 Subject of interesting reminiscence by Thomas M.

Shallenberger

T. M. Shallenberger column in Stark County News in 1931

“Remember when a young doctor, Theodore Bacmeister, came to town as a homeopath? He rode a white horse to visit his patients. This led the “old school” doctors to allude to this fine young German as “death on a pale horse.”

“How the boys did like to gather in his little house near the Eastman home to gaze on the large collection of wild birds he had preserved.”

Judge W. W. Wright II(1842-1912)

Served in 139th Illinois Infantry, 1864-1865 Father was in 112th Illinois Infantry and received

mortal wound at Battle of Resaca, GA, 1864 Studied law under Hon. Miles A. Fuller County Judge for 25 years Served on school boards of Toulon High School

and Toulon Academy Member of Library Board, 1892-1910 Grandfather of Joel Wright

Gus Hulsizer(1842-1925?)

Member of 134th, 124th & 33rd Illinois Infantry (1863-1865)

Civil War pensioner Was editor and publisher, early owner of Stark

County Sentinel and Stark County News Member of Library Board, 1892-1907 First Toulon Librarian, 1893-1898, at $1.00 per

week, for 30 hours Moved to California about 1910, wrote many letters

to Stark County News recounting his memories of pioneer days

U. J. Overman

Owned corner drug store and pharmacy in Toulon, ~1888-1900

Drug store handled a complete line of drugs, patent medicines, paints, oils, school books, supplies and stationery

Overman’s soda fountain was a popular feature in town

Member of Library Board, 1892-1900 Made the trip to Chicago in 1893 and bought the

first books in the Toulon Library Apparently left Toulon after about 1900

Library Board Presidents

Bradford F. Thompson 1883-1898 15 years

W. W. Wright II 1898-1899

Dr. Theodore Bacmeister 1899-1909 10 years

Bradford F. Thompson 1909-1912 3 years

Fred J . Rhodes 1912-1923 11 years

Dr. Fred Brown 1923-1926

Floid B. Brian 1926-1927

Charles E. Griffith 1927-1937 10 years

Clare McKenzie 1937-1938


Iva Cover 1938-1940

Agnes Cole 1940-1943 3 years

Louise Bacmeister Younger 1943-1945

Agnes Cole 1945-1950 5 years

Annie Lowman 1950-1960 10 years

Virginia Keller 1960-1967 7 years

Richard Finney 1967-1969

Howard Erickson 1969-1971

Verna Cooley 1971-1972


Violet Cox 1972-1977 5 years

Vicki Moutoux 1977-1992 15 years

Calvin Shroeder 1992-1993

Dave Jackson 1993-1995

Rob Joy 1995-1997

Dave Jackson 1997-1999

Mark Wilson 1999-

Library Board Secretaries

Dr. T. Bacmeister 1893-1897 6 years

Gus Hulsizer 1897-1899

B. F. Thompson 1899-1909 10 years

J. Knox Hall 1909-1910

Henrietta Silliman 1910-1910

Ellen Silliman Rennick 1910-1916 6 years

Elmer H. Buffum 1916-1920

Dr. Fred Brown 1920-1922

Elmer H. Buffum 1922-1924


Henrietta Silliman 1924-1926

Elizabeth Lyon, Librarian 1926-1933 7 years

Florence (Brace) Kinney, Librarian 1933-1946 13 years

Harriet Nicholson, Librarian 1946-1960 14 years

Charles M. Wilson 1960-1961

Mary Streitmatter 1961-1963

Velma Durbin 1963-1967 4 years

Mary Dunlap 1967-1969

Velma Durbin 1969-1970 1 year


Pat Trickle 1970-1971

Kay Jenkins 1971-1980 9 years

Betty Franklin 1980-1993 13 years

Karin Parrott 1993-2000 7 years

Curt Rowen 2000-

Librarians

1. Gus Hulsizer 1893-1898 5 years

2. Pauline Nowlan Hartley 1898-1907 9 years

3. Miss Martha Cree 1907-1911 4 years

4. Miss Harriet Byatt 1911-1920 9 years

5. Miss Elizabeth Lyon 1920-1933 13 years

6. Florence Brace Kinney 1933-1946 13 years

7. Harriet Nicholson 1946-1960 14 years

8. Ella Silliman 1960-1974 14 years

9. Betty Cinnamon 1974-1990 16 years

10. LaVon Franklin 1990-1993 3 years

11. Ann Turnbull 1993- 8+ years

Composition of Library Board

1892 Founding 6 members

1910 Village to city 9 members

1991 City to district 7 members

Library Board Members

George Nowlan 1899-1905 6 years

Frank E. White 1900-1906, 1910-1914 10 years

Dr. Walter T. Hall 1905-1908 3 years

George A. Lowman 1906-1911 5 years

J . Knox Hall 1907-1910, 1916-1919 6 years

James H. Rennick 1908-1910 2 years

Louise (Bacmeister)Younger

1910-1911, 1919-1928,1940-1946

16 years

Henry Nowlan 1910-1911 1 year

Mrs. Lester T.(Elvene) Jackson

1910-1926 16 years


Prof J . T. Kirk 1910-1914 4 years

Ellen Silliman 1910-1916 6 years

Fred J . Rhodes 1910-1923 13 years

Miss Bess Stonier 1911-1912 1 year

J . H. Baker 1911-1915 4 years

Miss GertrudeSickles

1912-1914 2 years

Elmer F. Buffum 1912-1925 13 years

Florence BraceKinney

1913-1926, 1932-1933 14 years

C. W. Bocock 1913-1915 2 years


Dr. Clyde Berfield 1914-1923 9 years

Walter F. Young 1915-1917, 1926-1929 5 years

George S. Walker 1915-1917 2 years

Dr. Fred Brown 1917-1926 9 years

Miss HenriettaSilliman

1917-1926 9 years

Dr. McIntosh 1923-1925 2 years

Mr. Hawkes 1923-1925 2 years

Charles E. Griffith 1925-1948, 1952 22 years

Miss Elizabeth Lyon 1925-1926 1 year


Mrs. E. H. (Ada) Lloyd 1926-1939 13 years

Miss Clare McKenzie 1926-1941 15 years

F. B. Brian 1926-1931 5 years

Mrs. F. M. Davis 1926-1927 1 year

A. S. Gibson 1927-1930 3 years

Mrs. J . A. (Cora)Nowlan

1927-1940 13 years

Mrs. A. F. (Iva) Cover 1927-1940, 1945-1955 23 years

Miss Cynthia Cox 1928-1941 13 years

Mrs. Marguerite Davis 1929-1945 16 years


Mr. Sutherland 1931-1933 2 years

W. E. Lehman 1933-1937 4 years

Kathrine LowmanBrace

1933-1940 7 years

Agnes Hartley Cole 1937-1944, 1945-1950 12 years

Miss Anna Lowman 1940-1964 24 years

Pearl Williamson 1940-1952 12 years

Marie AntoinetteWilliamson

1940-1945 5 years

Charles M. Wilson 1941-1943, 1958-1973 17 years

Iona Richards 1941-1955, 1957-1976 23 years

Library Board MembersRalph O. Cover 1944-1950, 1953,

1955-196012 years

Marshall U. Faw 1945-1948, 1951-1955 7 years

Effie Bergin 1946-1957 11 years

Lester Winans 1948-1951 3 years

Esther “Polly”Claybaugh

1948-1960 12 years

Mary Streitmatter 1950-1963 13 years

Katherine “Kate”Lloyd

1952-1958 6 years

Robert Pyle 1954-1955 1 year

James Shearer 1955-1956 1 year


Virginia KellerVirginia Perrin

1956-1967, 1967-1968,1979-1992

25 years

Velma Durbin 1956-1970 14 years

Merlyn Kidd 1957-1958, 1963-1968 6 years

Barbara Joley 1960-1962 2 years

Mary Walker 1962-1967, 1980-1984 9 years

Mrs. Lois Drake 1962-1971 9 years

John Cover 1960-1968 8 years

Mary Dunlap 1964-1974 10 years

Richard Finney 1967-1969 2 years


Miss Verna Cooley 1968-1972 4 years

Howard Erickson 1968-1975 7 years

Pat Trickle 1969-1971, 1980-1986 8 years

Joel Wright 1968-1984 16 years

Mrs. Wayne Ater 1970-1971 1 year

Kay Jenkins 1971-1980 9 years

Lilllian Ziegler 1971-1972 1 year

Violet Cox 1971-1977 6 years

Miss Elizabeth Crowe 1972-1979 7 years


J im Howard 1972-1980 6 years

Esda Franklin 1974-1978 4 years

Barry Taylor 1974-1976 2 years

Vicki Moutoux 1976-1992 16 years

Elizabeth West 1975-1980 5 years

Jane Murray 1977-1980 3 years

Janet Boldman 1978-1980 2 years

Betty Franklin 1978-1993 15 years

Mary Patterson 1980-1991 11 years


Claudia George 1980-1982 2 years

Roy Schmidt 1980-1989 8 years

Elmer Hampton 1982-1985 2 years

Nancy Rennick 1984-1992 8 years

Paul Brown 1984 1 year

John Hatfield 1984-1986 2 years

Mary Duffy 1984-1985 1 year

Art Ritter 1985-1988 3 years

Elaine Rutledge 1986-1989 3 years


Diane Pearson 1986-1992 6 years

Calvin Shroeder 1989-1993 4 years

Rev. Ron Dickinson 1988-1991 3 years

Sandy Christian 1989-1992 3 years

Karin Parrott 1992-2000 8 years

Pam Hendricks 1992-1996 4 years

David Jackson 1992-1997 5 years

Ann Castagna 1992-1993 1 year

J im Ballowe 1993-1998 5 years


Kathie Gibler 1993-1995 2 years

Rob Joy 1993-1998 5 years

Barb Kraklow 1993-2002 8 years

Nancy Smith 1995-1999 4 years

Evelyn Roark 1996-2002 6 years

LaVon Franklin 1998-2002 4 years

Mark Wilson 1998-2002 4 years

Curt Rowen 1999-2002 3 years

Wayne McLeod 1999-2002 3 years

Linda Carter 2000-2002 2 years

1949 Censorship Letter

Novel on Bishop Hill

Documents

History of Toulon Public Library 1891-2001. Chronology of Library History l 1890-1893, Toulon public library founded l 1893-1915, library reading rooms