USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume I > Part 24
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"This report was read and approved at a meeting held December 12th at the Academy of Music. This meeting was called to order by E. J. Cartlege and
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Chancellor Benton presided. Speeches were made by J. R. Webster, Judge O. P. Mason, N. S. Harwood, and others. As an incentive to prompt action on the part of the citizens, Mr. Webster alluded to the record the town had already made, especially in the matter of railroad building. Donations of books and money were called for : promises of assistance previously made were renewed. The best gift at this meeting was a set of Appleton's American Encyclopedia donated by Prosper Smith. A committee was appointed to canvass the town and the meeting adjourned until December 18th.
"At this meeting N. S. Harwood presided and O. A. Mullon acted as secre- tary. The chairman of the canvassing committee reported that they had secured twelve life members and 130 annual members, amounting to $984. The Commit- tee on Permanent Organization reported the following names for officers: N. S. Harwood, president ; Mrs. Sarah F. Harris, vice president ; Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, secretary : H. W. Hardy, treasurer ; Joel L. Franklin, Otto Funke, O. A. Mullon, trustees : C. H. Gere. T. H. Leavitt, J. R. Webster, S. S. Brock, May Bostater, Miss N. Cole, directors.
"The first meeting of the board of directors was held December 20th at the office of Tuttle and Harwood. At this meeting various committees were ap- pointed. The next meeting of the board, held December 30th at the same place, voted to rent the entire second floor of the Briggs Block at $240 per year. The lease was afterwards drawn by J. R. Webster. When the bells rang in the centennial year the Lincoln Public Library and Reading Room Association was practically established. There being no provision in the statutes of Nebraska for the founding and maintaining of public libraries, it was of necessity a subscrip- tion association. The two old associations had combined. The ladies turned over their property, consisting of some articles of furniture, fixtures, and $21 in cash, and the young men of the lecture association gave the proceeds of their lectures amounting to about three hundred dollars to the book fund, making their own selection of books.
"On January 28, '1876, the library was ready for the public and Mrs. Van Pelt, the librarian, commenced to give out books. The floor was covered with a bright red ingrain carpet ; there was a table covered with green cloth at each end of the room, and the walls were hung with pictures donated by members of the associa- tion. On the shelves were 367 books. The library was kept open on Sunday, the directors serving in alphabetical order in place of the librarian. This custom they continued until the summer of 1882, when the finances were sufficient to allow the directors to pay extra for Sunday service. On March 7, 1876, the librarian made her first report. There were then in the library over one thousand volumes. During the time that the library had been open 212 books had been drawn out for home use and 665 used in the room.
"The first half of the year 1877 found the new and struggling library con- stantly in arrears. In February a committee consisting of Messrs. Harwood, Franklin and McBride presented to the city council a petition signed by the prin- cipal taxpayers of the city and asked for an appropriation. This appropriation was passed March 10th and vetoed March 28th by the mayor, R. D. Silver. popularly known as the watch dog of the city treasury. Of the many reasons given for this veto, three are here given. First, because it would lead to other foolish appropriations and tend to extravagance ; second, because of its unconsti-
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tutionality, there being no provision in the city charter for such action ; and lastly, because he 'did not think the citizens cared to be taxed to furnish a resort for boys and young men inclined to be wild.'
"In April, the treasury of the library association being empty, the rent was paid by Messrs. Harwood and McBride. Soon after the association was author- ized to borrow $100, the note being signed by Otto Funke, trustee, and endorsed and guaranteed by J. R. Webster, N. S. Harwood, C. D. Hyatt and C. H. Gere, jointly and severally.
"It was most fortunate for the city library at this crisis that the newly elected mayor, H. W. Hardy, was friendly to its interests. He had been one of the committee on constitution and by-laws at the time of its organization, and had been its first treasurer. He urged an appropriation of $100, which was promptly passed, only two members of the city council opposing. This appropriation kept the library association alive until, under the act passed by the Legislature Febru- ary 17, 1877, 'for the establishment and maintaining of free public libraries,' an ordinance could be passed and a levy made for its support. This ordinance was passed by the city council and approved by Mayor Hardy June 15th. On July 25, 1877, the property of the Lincoln Public Library and Reading Room Asso- ciation was conveyed by deed to the City of Lincoln, and the Lincoln Public Library established.
"One mill upon each dollar of assessed valuation was the amount allowed for the library fund. When this levy was made, the library had already incurred an indebtedness of several hundred dollars. The tax not being collected for a year the board issued warrants and sold them at a discount. The levy being subse- quently reduced to three-fourths of a mill, it took until 1888 to pay off the indebt- edness and bring the warrants to their par value. In the meantime, in order to raise a book fund, the board was obliged to charge $1 a year for membership tickets. This method, which often subjected the directors to severe criticism, but which fortunately was never stopped by legal proceedings, was discontinued September 1, 1888, when the library being free from debt, the books were loaned on guaranty cards.
"On January 1, 1881, the library was moved from the Briggs Block to the second floor of the building long known as The Little Store, next to the Alex- ander Block at the corner of O and Twelfth streets. Here the library remained for nine years, and notwithstanding its poverty, gradually expanded until there was no more room for alcoves and the reading room would not longer hold the crowd that came daily to the library. On January 1, 1889, the library was removed to the Harris Block on N Street, between Eleventh and Twelfth."
This concludes the history as written by Mrs. Pound
The library remained for five years at the Harris Block location, and at the end of this time, after a canvass, the Masonic Temple was selected and a five years' lease secured. The library was installed in rooms on the second floor.
On September 16, 1899, the city library, at the above location, was totally destroyed by fire. Immediate steps were taken, however, for its restoration. Books were collected and catalogued as rapidly as possible and the following winter the library was again open to the public. For 21/2 years it was located on the third floor of the Oliver Theater Building, and on May 27, 1902, moved into its permanent home.
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Soon after the fire the needs of the library were brought to the attention of Andrew Carnegie and on Christmas of the year 1899 he offered to the city the sum of $75,000 for the erection of a building. Steps were taken immediately to secure a site and though several were offered as a gift none were wholly suit- able for the purpose. The library board, therefore, appealed to the citizens of the city for voluntary donations with which to purchase a site, with the result that about $10,000 was subscribed for the purpose by the residents, numbering 5,500, in amounts ranging from 5 cents to $1,000. Later Mr. Carnegie gave $2,000 more to finish the structure. Fisher & Lawrie, of Omaha, were the architects of the building. Ground was broken December 1, 1900.
Preliminary plans were adopted by the board after a careful investigation of modern libraries and the particular needs to be met in this case. The prime feature in determining the essential details of the plan was the possibility of economical administration. It was recognized that no library is so rich in funds that its usefulness cannot be enhanced by economy in administrative expenses. With this in view it was necessary to bring all the essential departments of the library together on a single floor, with the rooms so arranged as to allow com- plete supervision from a single point. The main portion of the building is a rectangle, 68 by 104 feet. In the rear is an extension for the main stack room, 20 by 43, and a small extension for the librarian's and cataloguing rooms, 19 by 27 feet. The building consists of a main floor and a high basement, the floor of the latter being but 31/2 feet below the building grade, which itself is about three feet above the level of the street. The entrance is directly to the main floor. The base- ment to the top of the water table. a distance of about ten feet, is faced with first quality blue Bedford stone, accurately squared and rubbed. Above this, the build- ing is constructed of the best quality of gray pressed brick, with trimmings of gray terra cotta several shades lighter. The roof is covered with a dull red tile and the whole is surmounted by a low dome, faced with gray brick and roofed with copper.
The entrance, which is approached by a flight of easy stairs, is surmounted by a pediment in which are ornamental designs of terra cotta in high relief. The pediment is supported by two fluted Ionic columns, one on each side of the en- trance. The entrance through the outer door is into a broad light vestibule, wainscoted with dark Tennessee marble. The upper portion is finished in Keen's cement, the sides being moulded in the form of pilasters. A short flight of stairs of easy steps brings the visitor to the level of the main floor, and from the vestibule he passes into the spacious and well lighted delivery room. To the right of the delivery room in front is the reading room for newspapers and periodicals. To the left is the staircase, leading to the basement. To the left and next to the staircase is the reference room, in which the arrangement of the books is such as to permit the doubling of the initial shelf capacity, without rear- rangement in any essential particular.
Opposite the entrance in the delivery room is the main delivery counter, semi-circular in form, where books are received and issued. To the right of the delivery room is the children's room, in which are kept all books and periodicals for the special use of juvenile readers.
The first board of directors elected by the city council consisted of the fol- lowing : C. H. Gere, T. H. Leavitt, C. D. Hyatt, S. W. Chapman, John M. Burks,
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Mrs. Paren England, Mrs. M. E. Roberts, Mrs. John L. McConnell. The fol- lowing have held the position of librarian: Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, Miss Laura Cinnamond, Miss Alice Morton, Miss Nellie Ormsbee, Miss Rachel Manley, Miss Sarah K. Daly, Miss Hattie Curtiss, Miss Carrie Dennis, Miss Jane H. Abbott, Miss Margaret Palmer, Miss E. J. Hagey, Miss Lulu Ilorne.
To Mr. S. L. Geisthardt, for many years a member of the city library board, much credit is due for the watchful and unrelenting care given by him in the superintending of the construction of the building, which is one of the best for the money in the West, and the pride of Lincoln. There are now about thirty- seven thousand five hundred books in this library.
BRANCH LIBRARY
In February, 1907, arrangements were made for a small space in a corner grocery store at Twenty-seventh and Holdrege streets. A small collection of books was sent out and on Saturday afternoons and evenings an assistant went out and lent books. This was the beginning of the northeast branch which was located at Twenty-seventh and Orchard. The citizens subscribed sufficient money for a site and Andrew Carnegie gave $10,000 for the construction of the build- ing. This was completed and opened to the public on July 29, 1909.
CHAPTER XIX
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF LINCOLN
Some of the early residents of Lincoln regard the imputation that there was only one swallow-tail in Lincoln in pioneer days as a slur upon the city. "This was always a well-dressed town," said one of these gentlemen. "The men were up-to-date young fellows from the East and wore just what they had been accustomed to wear in their eastern college or home towns. A dress coat of finest texture and finish worn in Lincoln in 1870-71 by J. W. Eckman, a banker and real estate man of those days, who died a few years ago, is preserved by his sister-in-law, Mrs. C. C. Waldo, known before her marriage as Libbie Gumaer." Further testimony as to T. P. Kennard's famous dress coat was received from John B. Wright, who settled in Lincoln in 1875. Mr. Wright recalled seeing Mr. Kennard at political conventions in the early days clad in a dress suit.
When N. C. Brock brought his bride to Lincoln in 1870 he had a Prince Al- bert coat, used at his marriage, and a silk hat. Another pioneer said that when Dr. and Mrs. S. G. Fuller, the latter Miss M. Frank Townley, were married at the Townley House in 1870, Doctor Fuller wore a dress suit.
In this connection there is a clipping now preserved which gives an account of the coming of the Townley family to Lincoln, and the building of the Townley House. It follows :
"In 1868 to call Lincoln a village was a misnomer. The magic city of the great American desert was altogether in the imagination of the real estate agent. In the early summer of that year my father came to Lincoln (written by Mrs. Fuller), purchased lots and let the contract for a ten-room house, to be built where the Lindell Hotel now stands, and to be completed the Ist of October. The only building south of this location was on the corner of Thirteenth and K streets. Reverend Little of the Congregational Church lived in a 11/2-story house with a bay window, where R. H. Oakley's house now stands, on M Street between Sixteenth and Seventeenth. Elder Davis of the Methodist Church lived on L Street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth. On August 20th we left Cin- cinnati accompanied by our household and the inevitable dog, a thoroughbred pointer. My father met us at Nebraska City with two wagons to convey us and our effects to our new home. On the morning of September 20th we reached Lincoln. I will try to picture the city at that time. It had not more than seventy- five houses, built anywhere, regardless of the points of the compass, with nothing to show which was the front and which the back door or to define the street line ; no school or church, a few small stores about the postoffice square, the office
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itself in a dwelling house and the postmaster himself very curious over the few letters.
"On Tenth Street between P and Q there was a small building in which school was kept. On Sunday morning the Methodists hekt a service there and in the afternoon the Congregationalists. The first Episcopal service was held in Leighton's and Brown's unfinished store at the corner of Eleventh and O streets. We cleared a space in front, put a white cloth on one end of the car- penter's bench and made seats by placing a board on two nail kegs. I think there were twelve people there, of whom eight were familiar with the service, and of these eight seven have joined the majority. From that nucleus Holy Trinity Church came. In 1869 we had a mission priest who held service in many of the new buildings and after a while had the use of the Senate chamber.
"There are a number of people in Lincoln today who remember many pleasant evenings spent in the old Townley House with music, games and conversation, when we did what we could to help each other through that first winter."
The Lincoln Courier of 1890, in connection with an article on the Pleasant Hour Club, which had its beginning about 1874, has the following on the subject of dress :
"Good form in the early days did not demand full dress at the Pleasant Hour assemblies, and the parties were marked by the entire absence of formality that inevitably follows the introduction of the claw-hammer, carriages and flowers. For a long time the town boasted of only one 'hack' and everybody walked. Cut- aways and Prince Alberts and the usual indoor feminine apparel constituted the full dress. A new era dawned ten or twelve years ago when G. W. Farwell broke the ice and appeared in a spick and span swallow-tail. His example was fol- lowed by a few of the bravest among the men, but it took some time before the wearing of these suits overcame the feeling of sheepishness. The custom demanded carriages and the Pleasant Hour parties gradually became more and more elaborate until the present condition of affairs was reached." This was printed in 1890, when the Pleasant Hour Club seemed too important in Lincoln's social life ever to be disbanded.
An interesting collection of New Year's calling cards has been preserved by an early resident of Lincoln, and shows that the custom of extending greeting in person on the first day of the new year used to be quite general in this city. The earliest of the cards has the dates "1869-1870," and the name "Jesse M. Holden," with "A Happy New Year" at the top. Many of the cards have but one name, but more have several, showing that the men usually called in groups. A card of 1871 bears the names of N. C. Brock. R. H. Oakley. J. D. Thompson and R. C. Outcalt. Another dated 1871 shows that C. M. Parker. W. J. Turner, J. N. Eckman and I. Putnam went calling together on New Year's Day of that year. "Governor D. Butler," written in nicely shaded penmanship on a card, is a record that the governor of that period called alone. So did O. N. Humphrey, Steve Brock, and others.
In 1875 the popularity of the New Year's call must have been at its height, judging from the number of cards preserved. That year J. J. Deck, A. C. Cass, O. W. Webster and C. S. Montgomery made the rounds together. Frank Shel- don, Charlie Hamlin and Rome Hurlburt were another group. A. J. Cropsey. J. H. McMurtry, W. H. Moore and D. W. Scott were another party whose
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names appear together. Among other groups of four or five men who had cards, some plain and some appropriately decorated for the season, were the following : John M. Thayer. C. H. Gould. Silas Garber, C. H. Willard and W. P. Farwell; Charlie C. Caldwell, Ortha C. Bell, John A. Dodds and James M. Irwin ; T. C. Kern. J. H. Harley, Doc Yeazel and L. W. Coates.
In 1890 a writer for the Lincoln Courier thus described the society of 1870:
"Twenty years ago card playing was not general. Progressive euchre was as yet an unrevealed fad of the future, and high five and razzle-dazzle, so dear to the heart of the modern card enthusiast, had not been dreamed of. The facilities for dancing of the young, and at that time (comparatively) wild western town, were very meagre : consequently there was very little social activity. There were, however, a few mansions in the pioneer days whose owners were wont to entertain on occasion small gatherings of friends, which without those incidental amuse- ments so common today, were perhaps none the less agreeable. In those days the latest arrival was hail fellow well met with the oldest settler and what was lacking in ceremony was made up in perfect good will and universal friendliness.
"Many of those now in the swim can recall the old time assemblies in the ancient Tichenor House at Thirteenth and K, which was at that time a leading hotel and the greatest political rendezvous in the state. Early in the '70s there were some memorable gatherings in the Townley House, later removed from M Street near Thirteenth and the Atwood mansion which stood on the site of the present Journal Building. At the former, about 1873, there was a notable enter- tainment at which A. C. Ziemer and Charley Smails, then B. & M. ticket agent, furnished the amusement. These gentlemen operated a telegraph line from one room to another for the benefit of fond maidens and devoted youths, who kept the wire burdened with tender messages all evening.
"Nebraska City and Lincoln were united by a close bond of friendship in those days and the young people of the two towns saw a great deal of each other. Some of the trips to Nebraska City will be long remembered.
"Lincoln has boasted an 'opera house' so long that the memory of the oldest inhabitant runneth not to the contrary. Dramatic performances were given in the Academy of Music at Eleventh and O streets : but Hallo's Opera House was the most popular resort until it was rebuilt as the Centennial. Even as far back as fifteen years ago (written in 1890) strong attractions were common and society always turned out en masse when there was a 'show' in town. John Mccullough, Mary Anderson, the Florences, Janauschek and Emma Abbot were among the eminent stars who were seen here over a decade ago. Richard Golden, Pauline Hall and Jessie Bartlett Davis were seen with Carleton before their repu- tations were made, and Marie Jansen and Francis Wilson also appeared here in the years agone. 'Chow Chow' as given by Adah Richmond in the Academy of Music, was a strong favorite with Lincoln playgoers and William Gill's 'Our Goblins,' of fifteen years ago was a great event. Kate Claxton, who assisted at the burning of so many theaters, was playing in the 'Two Orphans' at Hallo's fifteen seasons ago, when the theater was partially destroyed by fire.
"The early governors were little given to entertainments; but a number of receptions were given in the old capitol, and the chancellor's receptions were also leading events but a few years ago.
"Society proper has, for the last sixteen years, been largely represented by
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the Pleasant Hour Club, probably the oldest social organization in the state. For an association dependent for perpetuation upon an annual reorganization to remain intact for more than a decade and a half is something very unusual. The Pleasant Hour Club has enjoyed a peculiar prosperity. Starting in a modest way, it has widened and broadened with time until it is now one of the most solidly established institutions of its kind to be found anywhere in the West. It stands for the active leading element in society, and its membership includes not only the younger class but a fair representation of those whose social position, long since determined. entitled them to lead in the affairs of the gay world.
"To R. H. Oakley probably belongs the honor of giving the club its name. He was present at its first meeting and at his suggestion it was dubbed .Pleasant Hour.' There is some dispute as to the exact date of the club's origin, the official records extending only back to 1883. but as near as can be ascertained, it was organized in October. 1874. at a meeting held in H. J. Walsh's office. J. O. West, later of Grand Island, was elected president, and R. H. Oakley, vice president. The next year West was succeeded by Oakley, and then W. P. Farwell was made the executive. The latter died during his tenure of office, the unexpired term being completed by O. W. Webster. After Webster the following gentlemen were honored by election to the presidency of the club : J. D. Macfarland, Thomas Ewing, Charles M. Carter, Gordon II. Frinke and J. W. Irwin. This brings the record down to 1883, when for technical reasons the original constitution was readopted with some modifications, and the following officers elected : President, C. M. Carter; vice president, Frank C. Zehrung ; secretary, D. C. Van Duyn ; treasurer. R. C. Outealt : executive committee, C. E. Magoon, R. H. Townley and C. S. Lippincott ; master of ceremonies, W. H. Green. During the season of 1884-5, W. A. Green was president and was succeeded in 1885-6 by Frank C. Zehrung, in 1886-7 by A. G. Beeson, in 1887-8 by H. P. Foster, in 1888-9 by C. S. Lippincott. in 1889-90 by W. E. Hardy, who was followed by C. E. Magoon.
"The oldest consecutive member of the club was Frank C. Zehrung, who joined fifteen years ago. Among the most notable assemblies under the auspices of the club may be mentioned the ball opening the east wing of the state capitol, which was an event of peculiar importance at the time. The custom of giving a reception to newly married members has been observed almost from the foundation of the club.
"A junior branch of the Pleasant Hour existed for a few years but was merged into the regular club at the beginning of the season in 1890."
The Pleasant Hour Club was dissolved about 1900. Many of the original members were no longer in the city and others had become too engrossed with serious matters to take the interest in planning gay affairs that they had felt when younger.
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