White Hall Library plans Open House for Nov. 9

By Editor | October 26, 2022 |

Not much has changed on the exterior of the White Hall Township Library since it was built 100 years ago with funds provided by Seth N. Griswold. The library, located on the north side of Whiteside Park, was given to the city of White Hall under the terms that the city agree to maintain the building rent free to the library board. The library will celebrate its 100th birthday on Nov. 9 with an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. with refreshments and a chance to tour the library and view the improvements, which includes new carpeting. (Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press)

By Carmen Ensinger

The White Hall Township Library is planning an Open House in celebration of its 100th birthday on Nov. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and tour the library, see the changes and improvements and view the minutes of meetings over the last 100 years and enjoy some refreshments and meet the new director.
“We would like to invite everyone to come in and take a look at some of the changes that we have made recently,” Friends of the Library Chairman Mary Jane Steelman said. “Our most recent improvement has been laying new carpet throughout the library, but we have also added some new programs.”
Those programs include a new “Move and Groove” program for young children and a 0-5 program held each Monday.
There have been many, many directors over the last 100 years and this year there was also a change in directors when long-time director Penny Eilers stepped down from the position and Arletta Clatfelter took over the helm as director.
In addition to Clatfelter, the library also employs five other part-time employees. A new position this year is that of tech-director, a position held by Hayden Sheppard, who works two days a week dealing with the library’s technical needs. Other part time employees are: Jessica Morr, Lora Steele, Amy Isham and Steelman.
The White Hall Township Library Association was organized on Jan. 17, 1876 as a stock company with shares selling for $10 each. Shareholders had free access to the library and those not having shares were charged a fee of $2.50 a year to use the library.
About $800 was spent to purchase books and provide necessities for the library, which was located in the upper part of the original Peoples Bank building. The first librarian was G.R. Adams.
There were originally 1,200 volumes on the shelves, but minimal income and lack of enforcement of library rules was not sufficient to keep it in good condition and in 1879 it only contained 625 volumes and the directors decided to close the library and give the remainder of the collection to the schools.
An entire generation would pass before discussion would come around about starting up a library again.
In 1915, at a meeting of the Round Table, it was decided to start a new library. Each member of the club and any other interested person were asked to donate a book. In 1916, the library opened a room over what was then the post office. Miss Nell Strang was appointed librarian. Later, the library was moved to the Fox Building.
The White Hall Township Library came into being in 1917 through the people voting a half mill tax for its support, supplemented by private donations of money and books. It was under this organization that plans for a new library building were drawn and arrangements were made.
Mr. and Mrs. Seth N. Griswold donated the land that the library is built on. Mr. Griswold said that his wife had contemplated such a building before her death and that he intended to carry out the plans and specifications as nearly as possible at his own expense.
Mrs. Griswold had exquisite taste and the 38’8” by 58’8” building was built of the finest quality materials. The woodwork of the entire first floor is finished red oak and the exterior is constructed of buff brick with stone trimmings.
The cornerstone of the library was officially laid under the auspices of the White Hall American Legion Post No. 17 on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1922. The final cost to construct this masterpiece in 1922 was $30,000. Adjusted for inflation, to build that same size building today would cost roughly $513,000.
Sadly, Mr. Griswold passed away before the building could be completed so he never got to see the dream he was completing for his beloved wife. The building was officially dedicated in 1926.
Back in April, the White Hall City Council approved another 99 year lease with the library with the city continuing, as it has for the past 99 years to pay for the lighting, heating, and upkeep of the building and that there be no rent charged to house the library in the building.