Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/412

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

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C^mmiitte of AffangtmenU. Messrs. G. M. Shoop. David Clark, S. A - Yorks, Jas. Cruikshank, C ^. B. Brown, D r. S. S. SchuUz.

Finonce Ccmmiiitet Messrs. John E H ill, I L L. Gross, W. Kasc W est.

CommiiUt on Resolutions. Messrs. Chas. ChalfanL Jas. Scarlet. H. M. Hinckley, W. M. Gearnan, A. J. Frkk.

Committee on Sotifieoticn. Messrs. S. A. Yorks. J. E. H ill, W. K. West.

Commiitee on 3fusic, Messrs. W. C Johnston, M. E Insher.

Chief Morshoi A. J. Frick. •

Aides.

M csirs. Joho SwcUfort. C. P. Ilanccxlc, C h u. C h all.n i, W m. G. Kramer.

T he trustees named by M r. Beaver at the time of the dedication of the iibrarv were as follow s: H. M. Hinckley, President. M a­ honing Presbyterian Church; S. A. Yorks, G rove Presbyterian C hurch; Wm. J. Baldy, Christ Memorial Church, vice president; W il­ son M. Gearhart, Secretary, St. P au l’s M. E. C hurch; H enry Vincent, T rinity M. E. Church; Joseph Johnson, Evangelical Luth­ eran Church: William E. Gosh, T rinity Luth­ eran Church; Jonathan Sw eisfort, Shiloh R e ­ formed Church: Lew is Rodcnhoffcr, St. J o ­ seph’s R. C. O iu rch; W. F. McCormick, Emanuel Evangelical Church; John Purpur, St. Joh n 's German Lutheran Church: Jam es Bateman, W elsh Conpegational C h u rch; Samuel Goldsmith, D'nai Zion Syn agogu e; F. M. Herrington, First Baptist Church. These buildings were erected at a cost of between one and two hundred thousand dol­ lars. A. G. V oris w as the builder. A n en­ dowment w as left fo r the su[>port of the libraf)’, but in the present time, through de­ preciation o f securities, it is scarcely adequate to carry on the work and provide for improve­ ments. T he first year the library contained six thousand books. The dimensions of the building are 48 by 78 feet. A strip o f lawn separates it from the annex. The ibrary building rises three stories from the pavement. T h e frontage of the structure recedes five feet from the building line of the street, with the first floor level

rising four feet above the street level, and presents a perspective o f a massive base har­ monizing with the somewhat broken lines of its elevation. The building is constructed of light g ray stone, which is trimmed with granite. The Scotch granite columns used in the exterior construction add much to the architectural appearance of the structure. .Marble tiling and stone newels mark the sub­ stantial interior of the library, which is spa­ cious in distances and arranged in perfect con­ form ity to the usage o f such .in institution. T o the rear of the Librar)- is the annex building, which was leasetl to the State E x ­ ecutive Committee of the Young Men's C h ris­ tian .Association fo r the use of the local A sso­ ciation, for a long period at a nominal rent per year. T his addition occupies a frontage on F erry street o f 70 feet and is attached to the library building by a covered passage way. 'Phe exterior finish of the Y . M. C. A. build­ ing i.s the same as that of the adjoining library building. l l i e first librarian was M iss Mollie Wetzel. She w as succeeded by her niccc. M iss M ary Wetzel, now the w ife o f J . R . M . Curry. M iss Jennie B ird w as elected librarian in 1Q09 and still holds that responsible position. H e r as­ sistant at the present writing is Miss M argaret I.ovctt. Thom as Beaver, the donor o f this free library, was a man o f warm and generous im­ pulses. H e was atway.s studying some method o f doing good and took much pleasure in spending his money freely fo r the public wel­ fare and the happiness o f Other people. Dan­ ville has been the recipient o f much that is substantial from his hand, but no more endur­ ing monument could be erected than the free library that bears his nam e: and through the years to come many who never knew Thom as Beaver, but who have been helped and in­ spired and refreshed at the fountain o f knowl­ edge that he erected, will bless his memory and testify to his wisdom and generosity. Thomas B eaver w as born No%'. t6. 18 (4 . in P erry county. P a., son o f Re’. Peter and Elizabeth (G ilbert) Beaver. H e came to Dan­ ville in 1857 and from that time fo r many years was associated with the thrift and indu.stry and development o f Danville. Mr. B eaver was m a r r i^ Jan . 23. 1838. to Miss F.iizabcth, daughter o f Robert B . and Cassan­ dra fB c rryh ill) W ilkins. T heir children, though not horn in D anrille. came here at an early age and were identified with the people o f Danville until (hey married. TTic family consisted o f : Em ily, married to William II.