The Founding of the Public Library
Ed Houck,
Jr.
(Originally published in
the Emmitsburg Chronicle)
On August 1st, 1906, the late Mr.
Sterling Galt, appointed a committee to consider plans for the founding
of a Public Library in Emmitsburg. The meeting was held on Wednesday
evening at 9 o’clock in the home of Mrs. J. Harry Stokes. Officers
that were elected were Rev. A. M. Gluck, president;
Miss
M. Belle Rowe, secretary.
Three weeks later the executive staff
was augmented by the addition of Dr. John Forman, Miss Ruth Hoke and
Miss Gertrude Annan. These last two officers were commissioned to canvas
the town for members and to accept any books which might be offered. The
result was excellent and 30 odd charter members were secured. As seen in
the 25 year old book of minutes of the Emmitsburg Library, the charter
members appear as follows:
Mrs. Albert Patterson, Mrs. George
Eyster, Miss Edith Nunemaker, Miss Ruth Gillelan,
Miss
Helen Zacharias, Miss Nellie Eyster, Miss Mary McNair, Miss Eva
Rowe, Miss Maude Derr, Mr. Clarence Hoke, Mr. Harry Whitmore, Miss
Madeline Frailey, Mr. Lewis Higbee, Mr. T. E. Zimmerman, Mr.
Isaac Annan, Mr. Annan
Horner, Misses Marian Hoke, Anna Adelsberger, Mrs. D. E. Stone,
Mrs. Edgar Annan, Miss Sue Guthrie, Mrs. Geo. B. Resser, Dr. B. I.
Jamison, Miss Eva Shulenberger, Mr. G. Zimmerman,
Mrs.
James A. Helman, Mrs. A. A. Hack, Mrs. H. G. Beam, Mrs. A. A.
Annan, Mr. J. Stewart Annan, Miss H. White, Miss Helen Knouff, Mrs.
James Eichelberger, Mr. Samuel Rowe, Dr. Brawner, Mrs. Reinwald, Mr.
Reinwald, Mr. William Colliflower, Mr. G. L. Palmer, Mr. Breichner, Mrs.
John Henry Stokes, Miss
Ruth Hoke, Miss Belle Rowe, Dr. Forman, Mr. A. M. Gluck, Miss
Gertrude Annan, Mr. Sterling Galt, Mr. Joseph Elder, Mr. Andrew Annan,
Mr. William Troxell, Mr. Angelo Saffer.
Mr. Sterling Galt was the prime factor
and in reality the originator, of a public library for Emmitsburg, and
despite his death some six or seven years ago, the little institution
has manfully enlarged itself into a respectful source of knowledge for
the town folk. Miss Mary Higbee, present librarian, has announced that
more convenient quarters have been selected and the library is to be
moved to Miss Belle Rowe’s house, below the square.
A plea for more patronage has been
extended and it is felt that the good work begun by Mr. Galt, will not
have been for naught.