USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 26
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 26
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In 1881 was formed the San Bernardino Library Association, with five directors, of whom John Isaacs was president, Henry Goodcell, Jr., secre- tary and librarian, and Lewis Jacobs, treasurer. Each member paid an admission fee of $3 and quarterly dues of 50 cents, entitling them to the free use of the library, while outsiders could secure books by making a deposit and paying a small fee. The membership soon approached 100, and 500 volumes, mostly standard works were secured. After three or four years interest in the library seems to have waned, and in 1885 the books were placed in the reading room of the Y. M. C. A., where they remained for several years, and when the Y. M. C. A. ceased to exist at San Bernardino, they were turned over to John Isaacs, who kept them in trust until they were turned over to the Public Library.
A movement to secure a circulating library was started in 1891, the leading spirts being C. C. Haskell, F. W. Richardson, J. W. Stephenson and others, and a paper was circulated soliciting subscriptions. It was stipulated that the subscriptions should not take effect until $1,500 had been subscribed, and when it was found that only $1,200 could be secured, it was suggested that a Free Public Library be organized under the State law authorizing cities to levy a tax for this purpose. A petition signed by many of the heaviest taxpayers of the city caused the city trustees to take action, and in January, 1892, a free city library was opened, with Miss Ella Lawson as librarian. The library was established in the resi- dence of I. R. Brunn, on Fourth Street, and the first library board was appointed November 3, 1891, consisting of J. W. Stephenson, chairman, C. C. Haskell, Mrs. Henry Goodcell, H. L. Drew and John Andreson. During 1901 it was suggested that application be made to Andrew Car- negie for assistance in building a suitable library, and after corre- spondence between Mr. Carnegie and Judge Gregg and others, the city trustees, in January, 1902, made formal application for the funds. Mr. Carnegie accepted the application, and in July of that year a certified check for $20,000 was placed to the credit of the board of library trustees. The new building was completed and thrown open to the public August 10, 1904. It is located at the corner of D and Fourth streets, and is a one-story building with basement, containing general reading room, librarian's room, children's reading room, workroom and directors' room, with a museum in the basement.
Even though the library building was large and commodious, it became evident as the years passed, that it was too small for the growing needs of the community, and in 1920 bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted to build an addition; this amount with that of a second contribu- tion from Mr. Carnegie-this time of $7,500, the trustees used to erect a splendid addition to the already handsome structure. This addition was completed and opened to the public on November 1, 1921.
The trustees are: Celia M. Hilke, president ; Joseph E. Rich, secre- tary: A. S. Maloney, Marion L. Goodcell and Oscar A. Peterson. Miss Caroline S. Waters held the position of librarian to February 1, 1914, going from the City Library to install a County Library. On February 1, 1914, Miss Estelle Hadden, who had served as assistant for twelve years, was elected librarian. On February 15, 1916, Miss Hadden resigned, and Miss May Coddington was appointed librarian, and Miss Leah Waters, first assistant. There are on the shelves 21,600 books and the library hours are from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. The circulation from July 1, 1920, to July 1, 1921, was 113,771 ; with a card circulation of 8,532.
Record book of library patrons when the San Bernardino library was first founded was uncarthed by Dwight Towne lately, as he was
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searching among a lot of old books and papers in Towne-Allison Store No. 1. On the first page of the ruled memorandum book there is a note to the effect that it is to be reported to the Board of Education that the library was founded December of 1883, that it is a free library, San Ber- uardino and the Y. M. C. A. library, and that it contains 500 volumes. Glancing through the pages, however, one sees that there are a number of books taken out in January of 1882, book No. 1 being drawn by H. Goodcell, Sr. At the top of each page is written the name of the patron, and underneath space for name of book drawn, when drawn and when returned. It seems that when anyone wanted to take a book out of the library in those days he paid down a deposit of $1.25 or $2, as the case might be, on the book and then a fee of 10 cents, probably what the librarian retained when the initial amount was returned. Date at the end of the book is some month of 1885.
Names prominent in San Bernardino thirty-six and more years ago were noticed throughout the book, many of which are still well known
CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY, SAN BERNARDINO
citizens. Among them are: H. Goodcell, Sr., H. Goodcell, Jr., M. Katz, D. B. Sturges, John Brown, Jr., Mrs. H Goodcell, Sr., Mary H. Bennett, J. D. Bethune, J. Parazette, R. F. Garner, M. E. Coy, L. I. Coy, H. C. Rolfe, N. G. Gill, John Ward, R. E. Trask, Jennie Peacock, John M. Foy, John C. King, A. D. Boren, R. E. Bledsoe, H. K. Davidson, Miss C. Magoffin, John Isaac, Mrs. Ashbaugh, W. J. Curtis, Clarence M. Mylrea, John Anderson, Ida M. Bennette, Will A. Harris, Anna Boley, John Feudge, Lewis Jacobs, James A. Gibson, W. G. Wright, J. D. Boyer, M. M. Flory, John I. Connor. Elmer Rowell, E. M. Hadden. Other names which are partly erased or stricken out are Ed Daley, Jr., A. C. Champion, Guthrie, Grow, Rousseau, Dr. Wozencraft. The book has been turned over to the public library for preservation.
THE PRESS. The San Bernardino Herald, which made its appearance June 16, 1860, was the first paper ever published in San Bernardino County. It was managed by J. Judson Ames, a veteran newspaper man, who was succeeded in January, 1861, by J. S. Waite. E. A. Sherman rechristened it the Patriot, but in 1862 it went out of existence, and San Bernardino presumably had no newspaper until February 16, 1867, when
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there appeared the first issue of the Guardian, published by H. Hamilton. In 1868 F. J. C. Margetson and Sidney P. Waite managed this paper, and in 1869 E. A. Nisbet became a part owner, other later partners being E. G. Harper and Joseph Brown. In October, 1874, the paper was sold to Arthur Kearney, who made of it the first daily in the city, January 1, 1875. The hard times of 1876 proved too much for its resources and it passed out of existence. Mr. Kearney later became editor of the San Bernardino Courier, which had its initial issue October 10, 1886, and of which J. H. Lightfoot became editor in 1892.
The Gazette, an evening paper, made its appearance in 1887, with Messrs. Nash, Buck and Jones as proprietors. The Free Press was launched as a weekly, January 1, 1896, Henry Clay Warner being owner and editor, and the following year was made a daily evening paper, being a five-column folio.
Succeeding the Courier came the Daily Sun, September 1, 1894, A. W. Selkirk and N. J. Levison being its promoters. Mr. Selkirk disposed of his interest in April, 1896, and August 1 of that year R. C. Harbison and R. E. Newton assumed responsibility. Mr. Harbison became sole owner in 1897, and in 1898 installed a linotype, to which he added another in 1902. In 1900 a new brick structure had been erected for the Sun, and in 1903, when it was elected a member of the Associated Press it was found necessary to enlarge the building. From time to time Mr. Har- bison increased the equipment, making this one of the most complete printing plants in the county.
In 1873, with Will D. Gould as publisher, there appeared the Argus, which had a brief career, and in the fall of 1878 W. R. Porter and F. F. Hopkins purchased the equipment of the defunct paper and began the publication of the San Bernardino Valley Index, an interest in which was sold in 1880 to Warren Wilson, later proprietor of the Los Angeles Journal. Mr. Wilson became sole owner in 1881 and changed the publi- cation to a daily. In 1888 E. W. Holmes became editor of the Index and in 1889 it was merged with the San Bernardino Times and became the Times-Index.
In March, 1874, John Isaacs brought a press from Salt Lake and, with F. T. Perris, began the publication of a small sheet known as the Adver- tiser, supported entirely by its advertising patronage. On September 1, 1875, this was changed to the San Bernardino Times, with Mr. Isaacs as editor and proprietor, it being a daily and weekly publication. In 1886 it was leased to J. A. Studebacker, and in 1887 George F. Weeks was in the editorial chair, he being succeeded in 1888 by L. M. Holt, under whose editorship. it was merged with the Index, as the Times-Index, which is today the oldest paper in the county. Mr. Holt was succeeded by C. C. Haskell, who was followed by Col. W. L. Vestal and J. A. Whitmore. In 1900 C. E. Dunscomb became the owner.
On May 6, 1898, appeared the first issue of the Evening Transcript, edited by H. B. Martin, and owned by Mr. Martin and his sons. In 1902 the Transcript was sold to Franklin Holbrook, who incorporated the Transcript Company with a capital of $25,000. On January 1, 1903, the Transcript Company bought out C. E. Dunscomb, who owned the Times- Index, and the enterprises were merged under the name of the older paper. On April 11, 1904, the Holbrook interests were purchased by I. S. Scott.
SAN BERNARDINO CHURCHES. The churches of San Bernardino number about twenty, all own valuable properties and have strong follow- ings-prosperous in all ways. They stand breast-forward with buildings
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and equipments for the task of the time, and are in present day evolution in their service rendered to the community-each church a center of Christian friendliness with no denominational barriers. The Catholic Church property comprises the three acres of the block, of which Pioneer Park is the other five acres. It is a very valuable holding, and when the buildings are completed, which for the past year or more the plans have been in the making and money contributed, the property will approximate more than half a million dollars.
About as far back as anyone can remember, Father Stockman was resident priest, who was followed by Father John (Juan) Caballeria. Father Caballeria wrote a history of San Bernardino Valley from 1810 to 1851. This history is recognized authority on everything pertaining to the early life of the valley, and even of the Southland. Father Cabelleria in his preface, says: "History may be compared to a skein of tangled threads, gathered here and there. After a time, often years, these strands are taken up, sraightened and woven into a fabric that may satisfy the weaver-for the story is not of his day. So, as the present weaves the story of the past, it prepares the web of its own story, for the future to weave. The shears of Atropos never rusts." Father Caballeria was transferred to Los Angeles, and Rev. Father Brady took charge of the parish, and it was during his pastorate that the new church was built, the cornerstone laying being part of the program of the city's centennial celebration in 1910, when the late Bishop Conaty officiated, assisted by all the priests of the Deanery.
Father Nicholas Conneally, of Redondo Beach, was appointed by Bishop Cantwell to follow Father Brady. Father Conneally is the present incumbent, coming in November, 1918, and is assisted by Fathers Patrick Curren and Leopoldo Ferrandz. The church is handsome and substantial, built to stand for the ages and is of Moorish architecture. The parish rectory is of the same durable construction as the church and same in general style, and is pronounced the finest parish rectory in Southern California ; it is of colonial architecture. When Father Conneally came to the church, there were nine or ten buildings on their half block. All of these have been, or will be removed with the exception of the church, as not in keeping with the property, and in their stead will be erected up- to-date buildings ; the first, the parish rectory, has been completed. An architect of Los Angeles, Albert C. Martin, has been in charge of the plans, and will continue in that capacity.
The Knights of Columbus is a strong organization, as is the Ladies' Altar Society.
The first Catholic church in San Bernardino County was the little church of Agua Mansa, built during the '50s. Early in the '60s, a half block of land was secured at San Bernardino, upon which was erected a small chapel, which was destroyed by fire in 1867. This was replaced by another chapel in the same year, and in 1870-71 a new brick church was built at a cost of $9,000, which, at the time of its dedication, June 25, 1871, was one of the finest church buildings in the State. The church has been greatly enlarged, has a large membership and is active in all good works. It includes a rectory, orphanage and an academy, the latter of which was established during the '60s and is under the charge of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
St. Paul's Methodist Church South began to hold services in 1858, and was regularly organized in 1863, two years after which it purchased a lot, upon which a church building was erected in 1866. This was later remodeled and refurnished, and was finally sold to the Christian church, when the present church was erected. This most attractive church is Vol. I-12
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well situated, having had its home on the same lot for over forty years. It has every convenience for up-to-date demands and has a congenial, harmonious working force. The minister in charge from October. 1908, to October, 1912, was Rev. George H. Clark; Rev. Clark was followed by Rev. W. J. Lee, who remained until October, 1916. The Rev. L. J. Milliken became the pastor in October, 1916, and in 1920 Rev. J. W. Campbell came, remaining one year. On October 15, 1921, Rev. George H. Givan came to the church, was received with a hearty welcome, and was fast entering into the confidence and esteem of the church family, when on December 21, while making preparation for Christmas festivities, he suddenly passed on, leaving a gloom and a sadness for the Christ- mas season.
At the annual Methodist conference of 1867, San Bernardino Mission Charge was organized, and in the same year a small congregation was formed. A presiding pastor was appointed at the first quarterly conference thereafter, and in the next year Dr. J. C. Peacock presented the church with a lot and a small building which had been erected for the old Fire Company, located on the west side of E, between Second and Third streets. During 1870 the church was reorganized and in 1876 Doctor Peacock and his wife deeded the building and lot to the church. About 1887, purchase was made of the lot upon which stands the present edifice, corner Sixth and E streets, on which was erected a structure costing $30,000, at the time the most complete and handsome church building in the county. Later a pipe organ was installed and a parsonage was added.
Following a disastrous fire, early in 1916, which seriously damaged the church building, the church was rebuilt and enlarged, by the addition of a commodious and modern Sunday school room. This was at the cost of $20,000. The reopening occurred on the fiftieth anniversary of the establishing of a Methodist church in the city and was celebrated with a jubilee that lasted from November 18 to December 23, 1917. It marked a decided forward movement. This was under the pastorate of Rev. W. C. Geyer. In the great centenary movement, in which Methodism gave one hundred and five million dollars to its missionary work, this church went beyond its quota of $32,000, and subscribed $37,000. Pro- vision was also made at the same time for the payment of $8,000 church debt. The membership of the church has advanced during this period from 415 to 660, making a net increase of 170 in the past two years.
The following is a list of pastors of the First Methodist Church of San Bernardino: 1867, James M. Lerhy ; 1870, A. L. A. Bateman ; 1871, George O. Ash; 1872, William Knighten; 1873, W. S. Corwin; 1874, C. W. Tarr; 1875, J. M. Hawley; 1877, William Nixon; 1878, S. K. Russell; 1879, George F. Bovard; 1880, James M. Campbell: 1881, George Elwood; 1883, William Nixon; 1885, C. W. Summers; 1886, J. A. Wachof ; 1888. George W. White; 1893, C. A. Westenberg; 1895, E. O. McEntire : 1897. F. V. Fisher : 1898, Alford Inwood; 1900, Isaac Jewell ; 1902, D. H. Gillen ; 1905, C. M. Crist; 1913, Eli McClish; 1913, Charles H. Scott; 1915, W. C. Geyer; 1918, John E. Hall; 1919-21, Charles B. Dalton. All of these pastors have been factors in the upbuild- ing of the city by advocating a high standard of citizenship. The church property-all told-is about $70,000.
First Union Sunday School in San Bernardino-taught by Mr. Ellison Robbins and his wife, Eliza P. Robbins.
SUNDAY SCHOOL-1858. Ellison Robbins, superintendent; Eliza P. Robbins, assistant superintendent. Class No. 1, Mrs. Robbins, teacher.
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Hanna Huston, Belle Huston, Lucy Dickson, Melinda Wallace, Celia Daley, Mary A. Seely, Margaret Wilson, Lucia Huntington, Linnona Boren, Ann Keir, Ellen Jackson, Marion Keir, Maryette Parrish, Robert Huston, Taney Woodward, John Brown, Jr., Loami Daley, Henry Good- cell. Jr., Harry Payne, E. R. Peacock, Will Goodcell, George H. Crafts, W. P. Cave, D. R. Payne, William Peacock, William L. Peacock, Leroy Blackburn.
Class No. 2, Mrs. J. Judson Ames, teacher: Margaret Keir, Deborah Woodworth, Mary Keir, Margaret Payne, Carrie Craw, Jane Cadd, Mary Curtis, Jennet Woodworth, Henrietta Curtis, Orissa Thorn, Sarah More, Susan Boren, Aurelia Stoddard, Louisa Brown, Annetta Daley, Miranda Blackburn, Emma Seely, Annette Ames, Mary Craw.
Class No. 3, Mrs, R. A. Pearson, teacher : Evaline Stoddard, Mary Boren, Adaline Yager, Alice Ann Gregory, Hildah Wight, Susan Thorn, Sierra N. Clark, Emma Huston, Elizabeth Parrish, Emma Craw.
Class No. 4, Mrs. Dickson, teacher : Laura McDonald. Myra Daley, Caroline Seely, Sylvia Brown, Teresa Cochrane, Annie Heap, Margaret Logsdon, Alice Blackburn, Mary Highmore, Olive Button, Caroline Bingham, Annie Henderson, Mary Keller.
Class No. 5, Elizabeth Folks, teacher: Aurelia Curtis, Mary Brown, Laura Johnson, Adaline Yager, Althea Bottoms, Florence Wilson, Emma Ames, Frances Woodworth, Emily Blackburn, Isabel Heap, Licetta Blackburn, Hattie Stoddard, Isabel Seely.
Class No. 6. F. P. Bowland, teacher: James Peacock, Levi Black- burn, Wilford Boren, Charley Wixom, Joseph Brown, Augusta Yager. Randolph Seely, Roy Parrish, Alvah Downey, Lemuel Logsdon, David Wixom, Hyrum Clark, Lafayette Parrish, Phineas Daley, William Moke, George Fulgham, Edward Daley.
Class No. 7, David Seely, teacher: Chauncey Wixom, Edwin Dick- son, Nelson Crandall, Edgar Wilson, John Blackburn, Samuel Mathews, Montague Whitlock, Henry Wilson, Matthew More, David Miller.
Class No. 8, W. S. Clark, teacher : Moses Daley, George W. Dick- son, Frank Yager, Thomas Blackburn, John Huntington. John More, Charles Button, Thomas Harris, Eugene Whitlock.
Class No. 9, J. W. Wilson, teacher : John Daley, John Stutchberry, John McDonald, S. Nickerson, Jesse Buck, B. Clark, Charles Blackburn, Edwin G. Baker, Jeffie Daley, William Curtis.
Class No. 10, Mrs. Wilson, teacher : Thomas Peacock, Frank Well- man, Will Clark, James Clark, Lutie Crandall, John Bottoms, Robert Bingham, George Clark, George More, Eli Curtis, James Clark, Stephen Clark, Daniel Gilbert, Hyman Stone, Alfred Heap, John Stone, Willie McDonald, Osso C. Tripp.
Class No. 11, Mrs. Blackburn, teacher : Perry Blackburn, John Mayer, Byron Blackburn, Charles Tripp, Dudley Yager, John S. Baker, Shasta Tripp, Warren Wilson, John Cochrane, Joseph Baker, Henry T. Ringham, Robert W. Bingham.
In 1865 M. H. Crafts induced the Congregational Missionary Society to send a minister to San Bernardino, and services were held in the old Court House until December, 1866. After several conferences and various delays, the First Congregational Church of San Bernardino was organized with ten members, February 17, 1867. In 1875 it was decided to build a home for the growing church, and M. H. Crafts donated a lot on the corner of D and Fifth streets. A plain, substantial building was erected and furnished, and was dedicated, May 7, 1876, free of debt. In 1894 the church was enlarged and renovated, and a furnace and large organ added. The Sunday school has been a prominent part of the work
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of this church, and the church likewise maintains a Chinese mission. The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in 1871 and has been untiring in its good services.
The old church building so closely identified with the early life of the city, with its site at the corner of Fifth and D streets, during the pastorate of Rev C. N. Queen (1911-1914) was sold to the Federal Gov- ernment. A new selection was bought at the corner of Ninth and E streets from R. F. Garner, Sr. November 1, 1914, Rev. Henry Bucking- ham Nowbray of Cleveland, Ohio, accepted the unanimous call to the pastorate. He found a membership of 157 ready to build again and to serve the city in a larger way. From the sale there was $5,500, a goodly sum to start with. An additional $30,000 was subscribed by the members and friends. October 1, 1916, the move was made into the beautiful, commodious, durable new plant-a frank adaptation in architecture from the Franciscan missions. To magnify the new opportunities as well as to celebrate the Tercentenary of the Pilgrim Fathers landing at Plymouth Rock, the church set as goals for 1920-500 church members, and 400 Sunday school pupils, a pipe organ. At the close of 1921 both goals have heen exceeded. Due to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Harris, a Moller pipe organ, with 1,200 pipes and 40 stops was dedicated, October 12, 1920, to the glory of God in the memory of Pearl Harris Swing. The parsonage was not built, principally on account of the church's identifica- tion with the great war. Forty young men of the club went into service and every one spent himself or his nerves. The organ has helped by its ministry of music, and the organist, J. M. Spalding, often giving rehearsals by the vested choir, solo, quartet and chorus, leads the con- gregation in high grade music and oratorios. The use of motion pictures begun in 1916 has had much to do with evening increase in attendance. On Forefather's Day, December 18, 1921, sixty-five new members were welcomed to fellowship. The church is the oldest Congregational church in Southern California.
Into the charming San Bernardino Valley came Rev. I. C. Curtis from Iowa, crossing the mountains and plains in an ox-wagon with his family- a wife and ten children. This was in 1864. They found here a few other Baptists, of whom Dr. Benjamin Barton and his wife were earnest for the upbuilding of the moral life of the community. A Methodist church had already been organized in a little union chapel which the community had erected for the center of their religious life. So the Baptists had a meeting for organizing their forces, and in the language of the records of that day: "According to previous arrangement, the church met at the Methodist meeting house at early candle lighting, and after preaching by Rev. I. C. Curtis, the church was organized." This was on May 10, 1866. Those present were: Rev. I. C. Curtis and Lucy M., his wife ; Benjamin Barton ; William F. Shackleford and Ruth, his wife; Robert Long, Hilda Johnson: Ezra Kerfoot and Mildred M .. his wife, and Sarah C. Kerfoot, their daughter (now Mrs. H. C. Rolph).
The above persons were constituted a Baptist Church of San Ber- nardino-the first church of that denomination in all of the Southland. The Rev. I. C. Curtis and wife above referred to were the parents of W. J. Curtis of San Bernardino, and grandparents of Judge J. W. Curtis of the Superior Court, Holman Curtis and Miss Harriet Curtis, who have lived in this city all their lives. On December 15, 1866, the church called Rev. I. C. Curtis to become its pastor. It appears in the records : "Rev. Curtis was ordained to the ministry in Marion County, Iowa, February 22, 1851, in the Nassau schoolhouse." And the years came along bringing discouragements and trying times. In 1875 there was a member-
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ship of twenty-eight, and as $2 per Sabbath soon advanced to $15 per month rental, so they commenced to look about for a building lot, and bought one on Third street, between F and G. In the year 1874 a Baptist church had been organized in Los Angeles, with its 11,000 people and assessed valuation of $200,000; where lots in the center of the town could be purchased for $50, and farms at the city's edge for $5 per acre. About this time San Bernardino Church provided through a solociting committee the sum of $35 per month for all expenses. In 1881 a building was erected on the Third Street lot, again to quote records: "By the unselfish giving and toil of all the members." And the church grew and prospered greatly. On July 2, 1902, a committee was appointed to correspond about buying the lot on the corner of Fourth and G streets. This was finally bought for $2,500, turning in on the deal the old lot, thus reducing the net cost to $1,800. The work of raising funds to build went on slowly, finally the construction, under the superintendency of H. A. Reed, resulted in a beautiful building, costing about $18,000, and with the fur- nishings brought the total up to $22,000. The cornerstone was laid on May 9, 1905, and on October 8, 1905, the church came to the glad hour of its dedication.
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