The Library Through the Years

In early 1914, a committee of seven members of the Culver community was formed to correspond with the State Library Association, and to talk to the people in town to get donations of books to help form their first library. At this point, S.C. Shilling donated three rooms above the doctor’s office to be used as reading rooms, and places to store the donated books. The first board meeting was held on September 29th, 1914, and the first Library board was composed of A.B. Holt, Reverand Michael and Edna Stahl, J.P. Walter, Blanche Fisher, Dr. E.E. Parker (President), Dr. N.S. Norris (VP), W.S. Easterday, and Minnie Osborn (Secretary). After this meeting, they applied for a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation, and it was granted. They rented rooms, hired a janitor, and the very first librarian, Zola Moss. By the end of December 1914, there were already 1500 books on the shelves, all donated by the community. The lot where the library now stands was bought on November 30th by a group of local merchants for $1450, and a log cabin on the lot was purchased for $10. The library was then named the Culver City-Union Township Public Library. A donation of $350 was given by a group of the town’s summer residents due to their interest in a free library. 

On May 3rd, 1915, an architect was chosen, Mr. Brookie. Many more financial donations were given by the town’s residents. The first meeting in the new building took place on January 5th, 1916. They bought a piano for the library for $225, and the seller, Welcome Miller, agreed to keep the piano in tune for three years for no charge. The Culver City Club donated the light fixtures, and a clock was loaned until the library could afford their own. Elizabeth Marmon donated $1000 for the construction, then paid for several magazine subscriptions for the library for many years, and then finally donated an additional $2000 after the library started paying for their own magazines. She also donated many rare books for both juvenile and adult readers. The very first card was issued on January 26, 1915 to Edna Stahl, an original board member. The library has been serving the community for 110 years now, and will be here for years to come.