Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/663

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 581 ence books fill a room on the left of the entrance, leading into the main stock room, and corresponds in size and general features to the reception parlor. The interior finish is of highly polished golden oak, with a delicate color scheme of pale cream and olive green combined with simple Grecian decorations, form a picture pleasant to the eye, and in harmony with the highest artistic in- stinct. Mrs. Tandy resigned from the position of librarian in September, 1904, and was succeeded by Lucia Danforth, who in turn was succeeded by Arabella Martin, who remained two years and resigned April 28, 1909, and Effie Sands, of Lincoln, Neb., was chosen to fill the vacancy, and entered upon her duties in May. November 2, 1906, a branch and reading room was opened in the western part of the city" in a building on Main street, next to Akenson's grocery. This reading room is open every day from four in the afternoon to ten in the evening. Books are issued once a week. The public library is open every day from two until six and from seven until half past nine in the evening, and books are issued daily except Sunday. T. B. SHELDON MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM. The T. B. Sheldon Memorial Auditorium is said to be the only municipal theater in the United States. It is the gift of the late T. B. Sheldon, who in his will provided that a certain part of his estate should be used in erecting a memorial to be used by the city of Red Wing. The trustees were Annie L. Sheldon, Elijah II. Blodgett and F. Buseh. After consulting with the leading citi- zens of Red Wing, the trustees decided that the wishes of the doner and the desires of the people were best satisfied by the erection of a theater. The building, a magnificent structure of gray brick, was turned over to the city authorities October 7, 1904, and formally opened May 11. A tablet in the entrance bears a suitable inscription, and the interior is beautifully decor- ated in appropriate designs. The architect was Lowell A. Lamor- eaux, and the builders, J. and W. A. Elliott. The Charles Betcher Lumber Company furnished the lumber, mill work and wood- carvings and the scenery was supplied by the Twin City Scenic Company. None of the trustees are now living. The present board consists of B. Gerlach, 0. M. Hall, A. P. Pierce, C. A. Betcher and C. E. Sheldon. "W. A. Scott is the manager, suc- ceeding Ralph G. Taber, the first manager. The aim of the board is to supply the city of Red Wing with the best of theatrical at- tractions. The amount received from the estate for the building of the auditorium was $77,641.67. The remainder was derived from the income accruing from this sum.