DEDICATION of NEW ADDITION

DELPHI PUBLIC LIBRARY

DECEMBER 9, 1990 DELPHI, INDIANA

HISTORY OF LIBRARY

The Delphi Public Library was first organized at the end of the last centurt through the efforts of the Oracle Club, w ith the support of the Delphi City Council and the citizens Delphi. The library was housed .for a while in the old high school, and later in a back room of the A. T. Bowen Bank (now the Alltel Telephone Co.).

In I 904, the library was reorganized under the State Library Law. Later in the same year, the newly formed Library Board w rote to the Carnegie Foundation requesting funds for construction of a public library in Delphi. The city Council appropriated $2,000.00 for the purchase of a library site. In 1905. The Library Board received a Carnegie grant of $10,000.00 for construction of a library on the condition that the city appropriate $1,000.00 a year to maintain the library. The Library Board accepted the offer, and the city purchased the present site at Main and Indiana Streets. Construction began in the summer of 1905.

In 1915, Deer Creek Township asked to be served by the Delphi Library and levied a tax to help support the library . Up until 1989, the Delphi Public Library was supported by the taxpayers of Delphi and Deer Creek Townships. However, at th.at time the residents of Jefferson, Adams and Rock Creek signed petitions requestion their townships merge with the Delphi Library distri ct and receive free library service for their tax support. The Northwest Branch was established in the Yeoman area to help provide service to residents in the northern part of the county.

Badly out of space in 1984, the Library Board commissioned an architectural firm to review the physical condition of the library and to assess the practicality of maintaining the present sturcture. The study showed that an addition to the building was feasible. In 1989, the Library received a Title II LSCA grant for $271 ,116.00, approximately Y3 of the funds needed for the addition. A fund raising drive wa$ launched to supplement the building funds on hand. Starting from its earliest days , the library has had a long tradition of support . Many of the needed funds were quickly · raised, with all sectors of the community contributing. The ground breaking for the new addition was in March 1990.

' Major Contributor Gerber-Globe Valve

Grand Patrons

Anderson Foundation

Patrons INB-NW

Burr and Anne L. Swezey Albert and Margaret Burkle

Benefactors William Funkhouser and Sons William S. and Evelyn Kerlin

Tom and Mary Ives Myron and Lois Beesley

John Peterson

Lewis N. and Hazel E. Mullin Mohasco Memorial Fund

Joseph and Elizabeth Peterson Arlene Bradshaw

Salin Bank Ann Campbell

George and Alice Christian MEMORIALS

Al and Joan Moss Psi Iota Xi Sorority

For Ted Brown by Jane Brown For Manson Campbell Family by Mary Ellen Campbell

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Irene Dewinton

T. Neal and Kaye Petry Eldon Baker Ruth Liebert Edgar Stuntz

LaVaune R. Million Public Service Indiana

Wanda and John F. Klepinger Bonnie and Denis Horn

William H. and Doretta Bradshaw Tri Kappa Sorority

Frank and Rosie Fitch Jack and Donna Cross James K. Miller Family

MEMORIALS For Mike Brodar by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Brodar

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Franklin Roseland McCain

Gary and Ruth VanMatre Virginia Emerson

H. Jane Smith Cohee Farm Drainage

Delores Thompson Barry and Rebecca Emerson

Leo and Clara Rider John H. and Marilyn Crowell

Michael and Anne fletcher Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Fowler

Fran and Terry Lacy Wesley Wed Sunday School Class

Delphi Business Women Rev . and Mrs. James Rankin

Alltel Corp. Willi Wallmann

Mrs. Bernadine Eastwood David and Debbie Horton

MEMORIALS

For Bryam Crosby by John Walker For Bryam Crosby by Tom and Mary Ives For Bill Freeman by Tom and Mary Ives

For Mary Bradshaw by Tom and Mary Ives and

Joseph and Helen Ives

John and Mary McCormick Mr. and Mrs. Larry Welborn

Don and Mary Kelly John and Betty Beach Ron Christy Insurance

James and Frances French ]. P. and Lois Sumpter

Shirley and Richard Weidner Elmer F. Talbert Kevin Fossnock F. W. Morrow W. H. Parks Cora Dunlap

MEMORIALS

For Betty McCormick by Tom and Mary Ives For Craven Smith by Anna B. Smith

For Velma M. Brown by Audria CJe;'nents For Ona Shindler by Virginia Shindler

For James H. Obear by Carroll Co. Abstract Co., Inc.

Irene Mason Terry and Nancy Beach

Rob Ives Mr. and Mrs. Claude Robinson

Bill and Judy Schock Timothy Ward Harold Hayden Fay A. Fannin

Wayne and Sarah VanSickle Modern Mrs. Extension Homemakers Club

Donnabelle r. Sieber Ronald W. Buck

Helen Louise Morrow Sharon Hobaugh

Patricia Ross Oracle Club

]. Paul and Lena W. Jones

MEMORIALS

For Mary Bradshaw by Mrs . Watson McCormick For Dr. George Wagoner by Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club

For Florence Weaver by Delphi Library Board For Faye Woods by ]unto Club

The 1990 addition and renovation project signals a new era of -library service to the community. In addition, to space becoming available for many new services, the addition allows handicapped accessibility to the entire building. Now the Delphi Public Library will be able to play an ever greater role in the education, entertainment and well being of the people of Carroll County~

PROFILE

Cost of Building $829 ,735 .1 1

Existing 4, 785 square feet Addition 5,965 square: feet

H : L. Mohler, Associates Architect

Eden Enterprises General Contract

~

LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS

Donna Cross Dave Horton Bill Harford Bill Trueblood Annette Manahan Julia Potts

Dorothy Mills

FORMER LIBRARIANS

Iona (Gertrude) McCain 1904-1907

Isabelle Reinhart Baum 1907-1920

Mary Cochrane 1920-1960

Hazel Fry 1961-1968

Barbara Hanna 1968-1975

Elizabeth A. McAlhaney 1975-1978

Dennis L. Noble 1978-1980

Suzannah Walker 1981-1985

Martha L. Miller 1985

It has been very gratifying to be a part of this project. One always likes to feel their efforts have contributed to the general good of the society in which they live. This addition and the added services it will allow the library to provide to the community will make a real difference in the quality of life in Delphi and Carroll County, both now and in the years to come.

I

New residents to the area and those who have left and returned for a visit often ask me why Delphi is able to have such strong library service. The answer is simple. It is the people who have started this library and those who have continued to support it through the years. The residents of Delphi and Carroll County have always demanded high standards of service and recognized the importance of a public library, as the underlying educa­tional structure ofa community.

I salute each and every one of you, who contributed their time, effort and money , to make sure Delphi continued to have the library it needed.

Marti Miller