The Rock Island Public Library
The public library building of the
City of Rock Island, is
very beautiful in design and architecture, and is the most imposing
edifice belonging to the city, and of it all its citizens are justly
proud. In fact it is readily con-ceded to be the most beautiful and
commodious public building in the county, and with its valuable and well
selected library, both for reference and general- literature, its
influence for good in the community is very great and cannot be
over-estimated. Its architecture is of "Ionic " design. Its interior
decoration is in "Italian renaissance" and most beautiful in design and
execution. The building complete with all furnishings together with lot
cost approximately $94,000.
The present library is the result of arduous and incessant toil and
attention; and it is to be deplored that no record of the exertions and
sacrifices of the intellectual men and women who were primarily
responsible for its being, has been preserved. All the facts are therefore
not obtainable, but this much is known:
Early in June, 1855, a few public spirited citizens of the city begun the
serious consideration of this question, and it began to take definite form
June 26, 1855. The Rock Islander of July 4, 1855, announced that "one of
the oldest and most eminent citizens will gladly give one hundred dollars
toward a library; provided nine others would, give a like amount." On
September 15, 1855, a public meeting of citizens was held in the basement
of the First Presbyterian Church, and was organized by the selection of
Honorable M. B. Osborn as chairman and H. C. Connelly and O. P. Wharton as
secretaries. The desirability of a library organization was discussed by
Messrs. Bailey, Hayes, Pershing, Knox and Marshall, and resulted in the
appointment of Messrs. Knox, Velie, Steel, T. J. Buford, Pershing, Fish,
Bailey, Conway, Harper and Kelly a committee to solicit subscriptions upon
the conditions that those giving one hundred dollars, their children
between the age of fourteen and twenty-one, should be life members;
persons giving fifty dollars should be life members; those giving
twenty-five dollars should be members for ten years, those giving ten
dollars should be members for four years, and those giving three dollars
should be members for one year. Five hundred dollars was subscribed at
that meeting, and Messrs. Knox, Pershing and Wilkinson were appointed a
committee to draft a constitution.
On October 3, 1855, the organization was completed by the adoption of the
name of the "Rock Island City Library and Reading Room Association" and
the election of the Honorable Joseph Knox president, H. C. Connelly
vice-president, Honorable W. M. Bailey treasurer and R. M. Marshall
secretary. At this meeting Mr. C. B. Waite of Chicago donated lot three,
block fifty-three, Chicago or Lower Addition, valued at two hundred
dollars, to the Association, and the hall committee was instructed to fit
up " Library Hall" on the third floor of Bailey and Boyle's block. On
October 24, 1855, an advertisement was inserted in the Rock Islander for a
librarian, and Mr. Richard P. Cropper was chosen librarian. The reading
room was opened about November 7, 1855, from 10 A. M. to 10 P. M. On
December 3, 1855, announcement was made that a large invoice of books had
been received from New York and that the fully equipped library would be
opened to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday following, from 10 to 12 A.
M., .1 to 5:30 and 6:30 to 10 P. M. In 1857 the number of volumes had
increased to 1,000. For many years this association was prosperous, and
proved a great benefit to the city. After some years the interest seemed
to wane, and Mr. Charles Pettifer became librarian. During his incumbency
the library substantially ceased to be popular and it was closed.
Afterward some of the young men of the city organized an association known
as the "Young Men's Library Association," and the library of the original
association passed to its control. It continued to be a live and valuable
association until the organization of the present City Library, having
increased the number of volumes to 2,000, and was sup-ported by the annual
dues of its members.
It was not until August, 1872, that full public cognizance was taken of
the manifold and far-reaching value of such an organization. In this last
mentioned year the General Assembly of this State passed the present
library law, and it was approved and came in force March 7, 1872. A few of
the leading citizens of the City readily realized that a public library
would be of inestimable value to the City, and they promptly proceeded to
avail themselves of the law, and their efforts to that end were readily
supported by the mayor and City Council of the City. On August 12, 1872,
the City Council passed an ordinance organizing a public library as a part
of the City government, and at the same meeting Messrs. Henry Curtis and
E. D. Sweeney appeared before the council, and on behalf of the "Young
Men's Library Association," donated the entire library of that
association, consisting of about 2,000 volumes, to the City. Thus the
present public library was established, and it is believed to have been
the second library established under the law of 1872.
On October 12, 1872, Mayor Bailey Davenport recommended to the City
Council that Messrs. Edward Burrall, Cornelius Lynde, junior, E. D.
Sweeney, W. H. Gest, L. M. Haverstick, Milton Jones, Conrad Spiedel, R.
Lloyd and P. T. McElhern should constitute the first board of directors,
and they were unanimously approved as such directors. The board organized
by the election of Edward Burrall as president and E. D. Sweeney as
secretary.
The discussion of the proposition to erect a new library building in the
City begun as early as 1895, and serious consideration was given it by the
board of directors, collectively and individually, from time to time; but
definite action to that end was delayed for the reason that the majority
of the board thought it inadvisable to increase the taxation upon the
citizens to the extent necessary for such purpose. During these years the
different members of the board gave the question much thought, and various
wealthy citizens of the City were approached upon the subject, with the
view to elicit their co-operation and financial aid toward the erection of
a suitable building as early as 1897. Mr. Frederick Weyerhaeuser early
showed an interest in the project, and proposed to join with others he
mentioned in providing a fund with which to build; but as no one else
would co-operate the project failed. Mr. Andrew Carnage's attention was
called to the needs of the City by one or more citizens other than members
of the board of directors, but with-out being able to interest him in the
matter.
The accommodations for the library became so poor and inadequate and the
growing needs of the library so great, that finally the board of
directors, which consisted of Charles L. Walker, president ; John W.
Welch, secretary; and Walter Johnson, Louis Kohn, Charles J. Larkin, C. W.
Foss, Charles Fiebig, Alexander de Soland, and Joseph Kerr, were compelled
to take action looking toward the erection of a new library building by
general taxation, and in view of the steady advance in real estate it
seemed imperative that a suitable site be secured without delay, and the
board finally, on October 10, 1899, appointed a committee to consider the
matter and report. On March 6, 1900, the committee reported that they had
obtained an option on the present premises for $8,500, and the committee
was continued to further consider the question. On April 7,. 1900, they
reported that Messrs. Drack and Kerns had been employed to prepare
preliminary plans for a suitable library building, and such plans were
submitted, with the estimated cost of $70,000. The board unanimously
approved such report and plans, and passed the required resolution for the
erection of the building, out of general taxes, to be collected in seven
yearly installments. On April 9, 1900, the City Council authorized and
directed the board of directors to proceed to have such building erected.
For this action, and the liberal and progressive spirit manifested, the
people are indebted to the following city officers: Honorable William
McConochie, Mayor; H. C. Schaffer, city clerk; and Aldermen George W.
Aster, Fred Gall, John Lawhead, Thomas A. Fender, H. L. Wheelan, Andrew
Soderstrom, Michael Concannon, Charles Willis, Albert Johnson, Robert
Beck, Charles Heidemann, Basilius Winter, J. O. Freed and Henry Elwell.
On June 12, 1900, the board requested that the first installment of
$10,000 be levied, and the City Council on June 26, 1900, duly ordered
such levy. August 20, 1900, the board of directors obtained a deed for the
lots on which the building now stands.
On November 13, 1900, Mr. Walker re-ported to the board of directors that
Mr. Frederick Weyerhaeuser, in order to permit the immediate erection of a
library building, had very generously offered to give the board outright
$10,000 and to loan them $50,000 at five per cent, provided a fire proof
and ornamental building be erected. This offer was gladly accepted and
plans for such a building were ordered. Mr. Leonard Drack, architect,
submitted plans of the present building, but when the bids for its
erection were opened, it was found that it could not be erected within the
amount at the disposal of the board, except by eliminating the beautiful
columns and pilasters. This dilemma was submitted to Mr. Weyerhaeuser, and
he insisted that the beauty of the building should not be sacrificed; and
in order to prevent it, generously gave $2,500 in addition, and persuaded
Mr. F. C. A. Denkmann to give a like amount. Subsequently, in order to
enable the board to liquidate the extra cost of the building occasioned by
the difficulty of getting a safe foundation and some other necessary
changes, Mr. Weyerhaeuser gave the further sum of $5,369.32, and finally
his generosity induced him to purchase thirty feet additional ground
adjoining the library lot on the east, so as to make the lot one hundred
and fifty feet square, thus making his total gift to the library
$20,769.32.
The contract for the building was entered into September 10, 1901, with
Collins Brothers as general contractors, for $58,147, who immediately
begun work. The corner stone was laid in the Fall of 1902, and the
building was opened to the public for general use December 15, 1903. The
first floor consists mainly of one large room, divided only by the
delivery desk with its attachments and metal stacks, into stack room,
reading room, reference room and children's room. To the right of the
stack room are the librarian's office and the work room. The stack room
will accommodate 60,000 volumes. Up stairs are the directors' room, art
room and audience room, the latter to be used in the future for a general
reading room. In the basement are rooms for Government documents,
newspaper files, heating plant, lavatories, etc. All are finished in
quarter-sawed oak, in antique finish. The rooms are thus conveniently
arranged for entire supervision from the delivery desk, and the rooms are
spacious and airy.. It is, withal, a public institution for which the
people of the city and county are justly proud, and for this they are
largely indebted to the generosity and public spirit of Mr. Weyerhaeuser.
It contains, in round numbers, 18,000 volumes, besides pamphlets, which
are freely loaned to all citizens. The art and assembly rooms are large
and well adapted to such uses, and the directors' room is beautifully
decorated and furnished.
The building committee consisted of Mr. C. L. Walker, elected member of
the board in July, 1891, and who has been its president since July 25,
1893; Mr. J. W. Welch, appointed a member of the board in 1890, and has
been its secretary since July 25, 1891; C. J. Larkin, appointed in 1886,
and Louis Kohn, appointed in 1894. The present members of the board are
Charles L. Walker, John W. Welch, Claude W. Foss, Charles J. Larkin, Louis
Kohn, Charles Fiebig, Alexander de Soland, C. P. Comegys and Doctor Joseph
DeSilva, Miss Ellen Gale is the librarian, and Miss Fanny F. Cleland first
assistant librarian, and Miss Elsie Schocker second assistant. The library
and reading rooms are open from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. on week days.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908