History of the Library

Article printed in the Daily Democrat, 1904.

Laying of the Library Cornerstone

Carnegie's Munificence Makes Possible a Splendid Building for Institution Founded by Unselfish Women.

The laying of the cornerstone of the new Carnegie library building occurred today. The ceremonies began at 2:15 o'clock this afternoon. It is to be regretted that a high wind prevailed at the time. Notwithstanding this handicap a large crowd had congregated around the site, corner of First and Court streets, at the appointed hour. 

A temporary platform had been erected at the northeast corner of the foundation of the building. It was the intention to stretch a canvas covering over this platform, but the wind made it impracticable.

Grand Master Nutting and Grand Master Monroe, the speakers and the city and library trustees occupied the platform. The Woodland Band and a quartet consisting of Mrs. Le Pierce, Miss Minnie Prior, Dr. A. N. Dick and W. H. Browning, were stationed near the platform.

The Woodland Band opened the program with an overture, "Plantation Echoes," which was well rendered.

Hon. A. W. North, one of the library trustees, was introduced, and spoke as follows, his theme being "The Significance of the Occasion":

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Masons, Fellow Trustees, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It may be stated almost as an axiom that he who early acquires the power to utilize his environments, and who sharpens his perceptive powers by observation and reading until, with unerring foresight, he can solve each new situation to his advantage, will, regardless of the surroundings into which the accident of birth may have cast him, arise most rapidly above his fellows. The child who has been born to luxury may have many tutors, and travel may be made easy for him, but the child of poverty who learns from his environments the lesson of "help thyself," and applies it truly, is making ...st of life un- ...dowed with greater endurance than his fellows. He may begin his education by analyzing the people about him; continuing, he may go to the common schools that are open to all alike throughout this wide land of ours; and, once possessed of the ability to read, he may seek the nearest library and there acquire the education of travel through the recorded observations of the greatest travelers, as set forth in their journals.

Time and place shall not limit him. He may study the programs of science and commerce, art and literature from the earliest dawn of civilization. He may follow the development and the uprising and the downfall of the nations which have made the history of the world, and he may delve in the biographies of the men who have made those nations. Whether his taste be for art or for literature or statesmanship or science or commerce, he may find recorded, in the manifold pages of history and of biography, the trials of those who have risen from obscurity for the success which he covets, and the paths which they have blazed in their onward course will lie plainly and invitingly before his eyes. With common schools within his reach and a goodly and well selected supply of books accessible to him, no child need be handicapped in education.

Something over 50 years ago a Scotch-American lad of 11 sought a beginning in business as a factory boy in Alleghany City, and he found it at the munificent salary of $1.20 per week. He studied business methods and industry by observing the successful men about him and by reading, during his evenings, in the nearest library, of the labors and methods of successful men in other fields. Perhaps that serious-faced boy perceived that life is but a succession of experiences and that, while experiences personally undergone are understood the most keenly, one may nevertheless prepare himself against the coming of the inevitable uncertainties of life by taking lessons from the experiences of others. Certainly he seems to have adopted as his rule the principle that he who accurately and most rapidly extracts the pith from each new experience will travel most readily and with the greatest facility toward the goal of his success. Time has demonstrated the correctness of his judgment, and has made of that lad the great philanthropist and captain of industry, Dr. Andrew Carnegie, the man who we honor, and today the city of Woodland is sharing with hundreds of other cities in the generous gifts, exceeding in all over fifty millions of dollars in coin, made by him who, half a century ago, was making $1.20 a week. Reflect upon it.

Usually those who have acquired vast fortunes by their own labors give nothing to the public, from whom their money came, but endeavor to carry it to the grave with them, and, failing, leave fortunes for their heirs, posthumour widows and attorneys to quarrel over. Fortunately for the public of America, Andrew Carnegie believes in the theory that "the test of a man is his manner of using means, not of acquiring them," and that "the saddest sight is that of an elderly man in comfortable circumstances trying to obtain yet more means." Years ago he enunciated the principle that "people never appreciate what is wholly given to them as much as that to which they themselves contribute," and in pursuance thereof, he only makes donations for library buildings to cities which have theretofore collected books and agreed to provide an annual income for the maintenace of a library, equivalent to 10 per cent of the amount of his gift.

There is a significance in this occasion. It is not merely that the municipality has received a $10,000 gift and is having erected in its midst a building which will be a credit to the city, not merely that the gift, coming from such a man as Andrew Carnegie, evidences that there is no limit to the power and wealth to which, unaided, an ambitious and industrious boy can attain in these United States; not merely that the gift coming from such a millionaire shows that wealth may be concentrated and yet return to the people by the free will of those who amassed it; not merely that the city of Woodland has made itself worthy of this gift; and when we consider that, even as long as thirty years ago, some of the good women of this town, such matrons as Mrs. Frank Baker, Mrs. P. C. Fenner, Mrs. E. Craft and Mrs. G. D. Fiske, freely and gladly gave their time and money to supply books for the perusal of those who lived about them; when we consider that in later years out of our citiznes, Mr. A.D. Porter generously doanted $500 for additional books for the library; when we consider that the municipality took upon its shoulders the library and added to it until today, with over 5000 books in its collection, the city of Woodland can boast of the fact that no city of its population within this state has a greater number of books; and when we consider that the citizens of this community have presented the municipality with presumably the largest building site possessed by any city library in the state, when we consider that civic spirit shown by our citizens in making this day successful, as has been evidenced by the generousity of Mr. Fred Haase in giving this great stone hewn from mother earth within the borders of our own county, for the cornerstone of this library, and as shown by the band and the vocalists in volunteering their services for the day, nor must I forget the courtesies of the press, when we consider all these matters, I say, we may feel that Woodland has been deserving and is appreciative of the gift made to her.

The broader significance of this occasion, however, lies in something deeper than these mere material facts recited. In our devotion to the lares and penates of our firesides, we beautify our residences according to our means; instilled with patriotism, we adorn with magnificence our state edifices; imbued with devotional fervor, we build temples for our religious observances; and in a corresponding frame of mind, and filled with love and respect for literature we have assembled here with the worthy grand master of that time-honored and ever respected order of Free and Accepted Masons, to assist in the laying of a cornerstone of the building which is to shelter the best books that this municipality can obtain for the diversion and development of its citizens and for the education of its youth.

If in the daily routine of life, that day by day monotony which often seems unbearable, we would find hope and escape despondency, we have but to reach to the ever-open book shelves and over the magic pages of some cheery author drift in pensive gladness to the fields of Asphodel. If our ambitions become sluggish, we have but to turn to the biographies of the successful, and be awakened as by a bugle call. And idle existence is a vain thing. An industrious life is the most satisfactory existence and he who can round out a busy day with a few hours of evening time devoted to the perusal of well-chosen books has attained most nearly to a perfect existence.

In its broadest sense, therefore, the significance of this occasion lies in the erection of the building which is to house our library: without such appreciation we would be derelict to our duty; with such keen appreciation, the community does honor to itself.

Mrs. W. P. Craig, president of the Women's Improvement Club, was the next speaker, and in behalf of that organization, she discussed, "Women's Work in the Foundation of Our Library," as follows:

'As president of the Women's Improvement Club of this City, I have been asked to perform the very pleasant duty of tracing the early history of the free library in Woodland. When we are reminded of the fact that the first library was started, and afterward maintained by the ladies, it seems fittingly appropriate that some representative of the Women's Improvement Club should direct your attention to the early history of the free library movement of the city of Woodland. The Library Association was organized just thirty years ago on the 22d day of this month. The library was formally opened to the public on the 4th day of July, 1874, in a building on the south side of Main Street between First and Second Streets. The library was organized by the efforts of the ladies of Woodland, and the entainments [sic] for the benefits were given under their auspices. The first volumes were donated and additional volumes were afterwards purchased with the proceeds from these various entertainments given for the benefits of the library. A librarian was in constant attendance, and the people were permitted not only to visit the library, but also to take books to their homes. Although the expense of maintaining a library was quite heavy, the association was able to add additional books each quarter; thus constantly making valuable and numerous additions to its collection of books. From 1874 to 1879 the ladies spared no pains and worked diligently to make the enterprise a success, but notwithstanding they did all in their power, they were unable to secure sufficient funds to maintain the library as first instituted. They gave many entertainments, but the decrease in membership, the neglect of many to pay their dues and other obstacles which they could not overcome compelled them to close the library in 1879. This step was reluctantly taken by the ladies after every effort was exhausted to secure sufficient funds to continue the good work.

In the fall of 1880, the association arranged to place the books in a mercantile establishment conducted by one of the directors under whose direction the people were once more permitted to enjoy the benefits of the library. New books were added from time to time. But again the location was changed and again they were unable to secure sufficient fudns to pay the expenses of maintaining and conducting the library. In about a year from that time, discouraged and by no means in a prosperous financial condition, they were compelled to box the books until such time as prospects seemed brighter. In 1881, undaughted by the experiences of the past, they rented rooms in the Thomas & Clanton Building and re-opened the library. They secured funds and completed and furnished the rooms, which were thrown open to the public three evenings and one afternoon of each week under the direction of one of the board of directors who tendered her services gratuitously.

In August 1888 the members of the association arranged with the Young Men's Christian Association to consolidate the two libraries. A library was maintained for the benefit of the public for some time. After about five months had elapsed, the association regretted t learn that the Y.M.C.A. library rooms, through lack of financial support, were not kept open or the books looked after properly. Owing to this situation, the directors in January 1889 took charge of the books and stored until May, 1891, when they were placed in the hands of the city board of library trustees of the city of Woodland.

From this history it will be seen the people of Woodland are indebted to these good ladies for their energies and gratuitous work, not only in organizing but in maintaining and supporting a free library until such time as municipal authorities became interested in the movement and opened the free library supported by the municipality.

The history of the free library shows conclusively that unless such enterprises are in the hands of the municipal authorities and maintained by taxation, so the burden is borne by all in proportion to the amount of property they possess, they will then fail entirely, or will have to be carried on by the few who are wiling to sacrifice the time and devote their energies to such causes, as was done by the ladies of the library association for more than sixteen years.

Then, at this hour, while we are all rejoicing over the laying of the cornerstone of this magnificent building, we should not forget we owe the dallies of the free library association a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.

The quartet rendered “America” in a very impressive manner.

C. W. Thomas, president of the chamber of commerce, was next introduced and spoke on “The Library Under Municipal Control.” His address was notable for the statistical and historical information it contained. It might be classified under the following heads:

  1. Introduction—Schools, Colleges, Churches and Libraries
  2. Literary History of Woodland—Clubs and Kindergartens.
  3. Private Libraries and that of the Woodland Library Association.
  4. Woodland, the Pasadena of the North.
  5. Ordinance for Public Library passed April 6th, 1891. Trustees: Diggs, Crutcher, Charmak, Maxwell and Jackson. C. W. Thomas, City Attorney.
  6. Library Organized April 14th, 1891. First Board of Trustees: J. H. McGoffey, L. W. Walker, C. E. Dingle, L. B. Holmes and C. W. Thomas. Formal Opening May 30th, 1891.
  7. Finances:
    1. From City General Fund ………………………. $239 45
    2. From Woodland Business Men’s Association ….. 200 00
    3. From W. C. T. U. ……………………………….. 175 00
    4. From Collection Concert ..………………………     9 25

      Total…………………………………….$623 70
  8. A.D. Porter, on opening night a check to buy books ........ $ 500 00

    Total;.. $1123 70

  9. Books from the Woodland Library were surrendered on May 9th. Members of the Woodland Library Association at surrender of books were: J. D. Stephens, Mrs. P. C. Fenner, Mrs. J. L. Simpson, C. T. Bidwell, P. Krellenberg, Mrs. F. E. Baker, C. W. Bush, J. F. Hink, J. K. Smith, F. Grimes, H. H. Henley, L. B. Holmes, C. W. Thomas, M. Diggs, G. D. Fiske, Mrs. S. E. Peart, J. W. Freeman, Mrs. F. S. Freeman, H. E. Coil, A. D. Porter, and Mrs. J. L. Thomas.
  10. Library opened as a Reading Room. First salary of librarian $15, with six candidates. Two librarians from organization, Mrs. S. A. Huston and Mrs. Ada Wallace.
  11. Public Library test of progress.
  12. Conclusion—Library and Institution.

City Trustee Balfour, on behalf of Mayor Beamer, unavoidably absent, read the record prepared by the library trustees, and which was one of the papers deposited in the cornerstone. The record is as follows:

To Him Whose Eyes Shall First Again Behold These Records, Greeting:

Know ye, that we, T. W. Prose, L. H. Stephens, J. T. Grant, J. R. Shelton and A. W. North, constituting the Board of Library Trustees of the Woodland Free Public Library being impressed with the propriety of preparing and placing within the cornerstone of the Carnegie Library building at Woodland, California, a brief record of the construction of the same, do by this writing make such a record, as follows:

Upon the 20th day of February, 1903, W. A. Porter, Esq., then Secretary of the Board of Library Trustees in this City, received in reply a communication theretofore sent forth by him, a letter from James Bertram, Esq., Private Secretary to Andrew Carnegie, Esq., of New York City, promising to said City of Woodland a grant of Ten Thousand Dollars, upon certain terms and conditions, for the purpose of erecting a library building within said City. Thereafter, and on the 11th day of April, 1903, said City of Woodland, by and through its Board of Trustees, by an ordinance duly passed, accepted the offered donation of the said Andrew Carnegie, Esq., upon the terms and conditions by him submitted. Thereafter and on the 30th day of September 1903, there was filed in the office of Hon. J. T. Goodin, County Recorder of the County of Yolo, State of California, a certain grant, bargain and sale deed, by the terms of which the Capay Land and Stock Company conveyed to the City of Woodland a certain lot of land, situate, lying and being in the City of Woodland, County of Yolo, State of California, and bounded on the North by an alley, on the East by First Street, on the South by Court Street, and on the West by the lands of Diggs, and having a frontage of one hundred and ninety feet more or less on First Street, and two hundred and thirty-two feet more or less on Court Street. Thereafter and on the 2nd day of October, 1903, the City of Woodland, by and through its Board of Trustees, by ordinance duly passed on the said day, accepted, for and in behalf of the said City, the aforesaid parcel of land, and directed that the same be offered to the Board of Library Trustees of the City of Woodland for the location of the said Public Library building. Thereafter, said City of Woodland, by and through its Board of Trustees, by ordinance duly passed on the 19th day of October, 1903, further ratified the acceptance of the aforesaid donation made by the aforesaid Andrew Carnegie, Esq., directed that the library building should be erected on the parcel of land hereinbefore described, and ordained that the Board of Trustees of the City of Woodland should levy annually a tax for the library fund of said City, sufficient to raise the sum of One Thousand Dollars, said sum so raised to be annually devoted and applied to the support and maintenance of the public library of the said City. Thereafter, and on and between the 10th and 15th of January 1904, Messrs. A. W. North and L. H. Stephens, and a committee from the Board of Library Trustees of the said City of Woodland, visited Carnegie libraries in a number of the different cities of Northern California, and upon their return made report thereon to the said Board. Thereafter, and on the 28th day of January, 1904, after a competition held in due and legal form, the building plans submitted by Messrs. Dodge & Dolliver, architects were duly adopted by a unanimous vote of the full and entire Board of Library Trustees. Thereafter, and on the 5th day of February, 1904, a full report of proceedings to date was rendered to Andrew Carnegie, Esq., by the secretary of the Library Board, and thereafter and on the 23rd day of Februray [sic], 1904, a first installment of Two Thousand Dollars was received from the said donor. Thereafter and on the 26th day of March, 1904, after due and legal advertisement for bids, a contract for the erection of the library building was let to W. H. Curson, Esq., the building to be erected within one hundred and fifty working days, at a cost of $9,628.50. Thereafter, and one the 5th day of April, 1904, a donation of Fifty Dollars was received by the Library Board from Mr. Fred Haase for the purchase of a corner-stone for the library building. With the sum a corner-stone was secured of Yolo County Stone, cut from Putah quarries, by B. Bertholet & Son. Oh the 5th day of April it was decided that Dr. Chas. W. Nutting, the Grand Master of the F. & A. M. for California, should be invited to lay the corner-stone, with Masonic ceremonies, and that the public be invited to attend such ceremonies, the same to be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 7th day of June, A. D. 1904, and that special invitations be given to His Excellency, George C. Pardee, Governor of the State of California, to Professor J. C. Rowell, Librarian of the State University, to Hon. James Gillis, Librarian of the State Library, to Hon. E. E. Leake, the editor of the “Woodland Democrat,” to W. F. Mixon Esq., editor of the “Yolo Mail,” and to their respective staffs, to the Hon. R. H. Beamer, Mayor of the City of Woodland, and to Messrs., W. H. Troop, Douglas Balfour, E. P. Huston and J. J. Brown, his associates, on the Board of City Trustees, to President F. A. Kauffman and to Messrs. John Day, C. Q. Nelson, C. R. Wilcoxon and C. E. Dingle, his associates on the City Board of Education.

Thereafter, the said 7th day of June, 1904, having arrived, the ceremonials of the laying of said corner-stone were duly conducted in the manner set forth upon the accompanying programme hereunto attached and made a part hereof. 

Witness our hands, at the City of Woodland, State of California, this 7th day of June, 1904.

T. W. PROSE, President,
L. H. STEPHENS, Secretary.
A. W. NORTH,
J. T. GRANT,
J. R. SHELTON..

            Upon the conclusion of the reading of the record, Mr. Balfour, on behalf of the library trustees and in a happy speech, presented to Grand Master Nutting a beautiful silver trowel with ivory handle. It was appropriately inscribed. One of these inscriptions was: “Presented to Charles W. Nutting, Grand Master of Masons, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Carnegie Library, at Woodland, June 7th, 1904.” The grand master responded in a felicitous manner.

The quartet gave a beautiful rendition of “Annie Laurie.”

The band’s next and last number was a very fine arrangement of “Alice, Where Art Thou?”

The Masonic feature, which occupied about an hour, closed the ceremonies.

Grand Master Nutting and other officers were assisted by Woodland Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M. The ceremony was very impressive.

Upon the close the grand master deposited the records and various articles, all of which were contained in a copper box about a foot in length and four or five inches wide and deep. It contained copies of the Mail, Home alliance, “Democrat” and all of the San Francisco papers; also the names of all those mentioned in the records read by Mr. Balfour; also the names of the quartet published elsewhere; also the names of the band, as follows: P. Schwert, piccolo; V. Bertolucci, E flat clarinet; Ralph Schluer, B flat clarinet; E. I. Leake, solo cornet; E. Dinzler, solo cornet; C,. Griffin, first alto; H. Leeman, second alto; C. Nichols, third alto; C. Wallace, first trombone; C. Pugh, second trombone; W. H. Lawson, baritone; E. Griffin, bass; F. Kuhn, drums; M. Everhardt, conductor. 

Gold and silver coins, minted in 1904, were also deposited in the box. They were contributed as follows: Five-dollar gold piece, P. C. Fenner; silver dollar, E. C. Toothaker; silver half-dollar, F. W. Blanchard; silver quarter, J. S. Craig; silver ten-cent piece, Douglas Balfour; nickel C. Q. Nelson.

Notes.
Grand Master C. W. Nutting and Grand Orator A. J. Monroe arrived on the noon train and lunched at the Byrns hotel with a party consisting of Dr. T. W. Prose, Dr. J. T. Grant, L. H. Stephens and A. W. North, of the library trustees, Douglas Balfour, of the city trustees, J. W. Dolliver, architect, W. H. Curson, contractor, Byron Ball, past-master Mason, E. Glendenning and W. F. Mixon.

After the exercises a party consisting of Mrs. Douglas Balfour, Miss Maude North, Miss Rowena Stephens, Miss Dron, Miss Hyde, and Miss Miller received the grand officers, members of the band and others, also the ladies mentioned elsewhere as library benefactors, and served refreshments.