This Month in
Morrisson-Reeves Library History
May
The
Evening Item announced on May 28 that sealed bids would be accepted
at the Wayne Township Trustee's office "for the erection of a brick
addition to the Morrisson Library building according to drawings and specification
to be seen at Architect John Hasecoster's office." The addition was
to be "40x42 feet, two stories in height, of brick, and so made as
to be simply an extension of the library as it was.... When completed, which
will be this fall, we will have the finest library building in the state,
and perhaps in the entire west outside of Chicago." (click
for larger image)
After
nearly a year of construction, the new Morrisson-Reeves Library officially
opened on May 22. The remodeled building was designed by local architect
John Hasecoster and financed by the $30,000 gift of Mrs.
Caroline M. Reeves. "Hundreds of people visited the library this
afternoon and were delighted," wrote the Evening Item. The
library was open from 2 to 5 o'clock, and that evening was a dedication
at which Mrs. Eliza G. Browning of the Indianapolis public library made
an address. Also included were short talks by William
Dudley Foulke, Timothy Nicholson,
and John W. Tingle (township trustee).
In its coverage of the dedication the Item reported the next day that "there were at least 3,000 people who made an endeavor to gain entrance to the library last evening, and the building was crowded from top to bottom. Many people were unable to get in at all, and many who succeedd in running the gauntlet of pushes and crushes and finally reached the upper floor found it almost impossible to leave again. The reading room seemed to be the most attractive spot, probably from the reason that an orchestra was situated in the gallery of the room, and the music was elegant."
Morrisson-Reeves Library hosted an exhibit of pictures by J. A. Seaford and rare books arranged by Esther Griffin White. Seaford loaned 47 items including pastels, water colors, and pen and ink drawings all of which depicted "Old Richmond." Also on display were rare books loaned by local citizens, including "the oldest book in Richmond, printed at Venice in 1184, loaned by Mr. Jesse Reeves." Also displayed were American and foreign bookplates, including original designs by Carl Bernhardt and Gaar Williams.
On
May 12, a small item appeared in the Palladium-Item stating that
the fountain
on the north side of the library would be removed because "children
playing around the fountain persist in the practice of spraying water
on the library windows." By May 26 that decision had been reversed
due to public outcry over the removal, especially by the Richmond Animal
Welfare League. The fountain, installed in 1912, was originally intended
to provide water to the neighborhood dogs in an effort to prevent rabies.
The Altrusa Club of Richmond presented to the library a large photograph of Mrs. Ada Bernhardt on May 22. Mrs. Bernhardt, who had died the previous year, was an organizer and long-time member of the club and had been Morrisson-Reeves' librarian for 42 years. (Click to enlarge)
The Library Board and the Richmond Redevelopment Commission made a joint announcement on May 27 that the new library building should be built on the site the Board had intended, namely the north half of the block bounded by North A, North 5th, North 6th Streets. The Library Board had been acquiring land in this area since 1966. The Redevelopment Commission had earlier proposed that the new library be an "anchor point" at the west end of a proposed Main Street Mall, but agreed with the Board that the site originally proposed was the "ideal spot" for the new building.