Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/317

 lll-loKY OF GOODHUE COUJNTY 257 tribution toward the library fund was a cord of wood, con- tributed by Mathias P. Ringdahl. To the money obtained from life membership fees and voluntary contributions was added the proceeds of an oyster supper, given to celebrate the organization of the new association, and with these funds about 27.") books were purchased and placed in a room over the store building owned by Mr. Thacher and located where the Great Western station now stands, ( >. II. Parker being appointed librarian. .Many of us who now lake pride and pleasure in our beautiful library building can distinctly remember, as children, walking the length of the store, climbing the narrow, dusty stairway at the back. traversing a dark lane formed by piles of packing boxes, to the front of the store again, where we selected a library book from one of the two cases stationed by the window, then through the lane and down again to have the book charged to our name at the desk in the rear of the store. Sometimes we made the charge ourselves, for. since the librarian's labors were gratuitous, they must be as lighl as possible. In February. 1 S 7 7 . Zumbrota became an incorporated village and not long after the library became the Free Public Library of Zumbrota, to be supported by a one-mill tax. Henceforth we find it in charge of a board appointed by the village council, and almost immediately the books were removed to Good Templars' hall, in the building owned by Charles Anderson. Mrs. .lames ('ram was elected librarian, with Ida Weatherhead, Mrs. Cooper and Amanda Dam as assistants, and these ladies kept the reading- room open two afternoons and one evening of each week, giving their own time to this for the good of the cause. After a year or two came another change. The library was moved into the building occupied by the Misses Walker's millinery establishment and Miss AValker became and was for many years librarian. Dr. O. H. Hall, for twenty years chairman of the committee for selecting new books, in writing of this period said that much of the prosperity of the library during these years was due to Miss Walker's faithful and painstaking work in its behalf, for which the small sum paid her for rent and care was no adequate compensation. When a change became necessary by reason of Miss Walker's retiring from the millinery business, the library was moved into the Security State Bank building, and for some time a great deal of the work of conducting and caring for it was done by George A. Thacher, who selected new books, catalogued those on hand, and was first to agitate the question of a Carnegie library, al- though it was some years before the building became a fact. James Farwell. while mayor of Zumbrota. which position he