The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 23, 1904:CARNEGIE LIBRARY DEDICATEDYears of Faithful Service and Earnest Efforts Crowned With Splendid AchievementBuilding Now Open to PublicAppropriate exercises at the Presbyterian Church Wednesday Evening Followed by Reception at the Library Building — History of the Library from its Inception to the Completion of its Beautiful Home. No event in the history of Luverne is more noteworthy than the formal dedication of the beautiful new Carnegie library building which this week has been opened to the public.The dedication exercises at the Presbyterian church Wednesday evening called out a large audience. G.L. Alder, president of the library board, presided, and the program previously announced in these columns consisting of music by the orchestra, prayer by Rev. Augustus H. Carver, address by E.H. Canfield, Esq., solo by Mrs. Edith Carpenter Klock, with piano accompaniment by Mrs. Jay A. Kennicott, address by H.J. Miller, solo by Mrs. Klock with accompaniment by Mrs. Kennicott, piano; Prof. Hopfner, violin cello; and Thos. Thomasson, flute; concluding with the address on behalf of the library board by G.L. Alder in which he announced that the Carnegie library had been formally dedicated and opened to the public.A pleasing incident at the close of the exercises was the presentation to the library of a beautifully framed picture of Emerson and Longfellow by the Sunday school children of Unity church, with appropriate remarks by Rev. E.A. Cautrell. At the conclusion of the exercises the audience repaired to the Carnegie library where they were received by the members of the library board and entertained with music by Prof. Hopfner’s orchestra while they examined the beautiful interior arrangements of the beautiful structure. The introductory portion of Mr. Canfield’s very able address was as follows: "Great oaks from little acorns grow" was one of the trite sayings of our childhood days. Twenty-three years ago this winter I started a subscription paper for the creation of an association library. The plan was for each subscriber to pay 25 cents a month, all of which was to be used for the purchase of books. I agreed to keep the books in my office for the members, and to serve as librarian without compensation. Most of the then business men subscribed. …Some of the books selected by me were not very well received, and my reputation for literary taste and judgment fell below par. One of the books selected and purchased was Herbert Spencer’s Synthetic Philosophy. I recommended the book to one of the members of the association, and, on my suggestion, he undertook to read it. In the course of a few days he returned the book to my office with a look of unutterable disgust written upon his face. He said: "I tried to read the blamed thing, but I couldn’t see no sense in it." He also declared in language more forcible than elegant that he would pay no more money for such stuff as that. He ceased to be a member, and I was humbled. In course of time, like most voluntary undertakings, the interest began to lag. Many members of the association found homes elsewhere. Some journeyed onto that undiscovered country, and others ceased to pay their dues. Finally the library association quietly and peaceably went the way of all things earthly, leaving the remains on my hands, with no one to perform the funeral ceremony.I must have kept the books down to as late as the winter of 1889 and 1890. What to do with the books I did not know. Occasionally I tried to induce the village council to take them off my hands and start a village library. To all such appeals they turned deaf ears. …I had about despaired of ever seeing a public library in Luverne when, about 1888 as memory serves me, an organization of ladies called the Broom Brigade, headed by Mary Gillham, succeeded in renewing some interest in the project. There were some three hundred volumes of books in my possession, and these I offered to turn over to them. The offer was accepted and the books were placed in a public reading room over the room now occupied by the post office and in charge of Miss Gillham. To that collection of books was added a Scandinavian library contributed by a society called the Heimskringla and also some books formerly owned by a library society of ladies organized some time back in the ‘70s and long since disbanded. For a time all went well. Eventually, however, the general interest decreased, while the burden of maintaining it by private contributions correspondingly increased. Miss Gillham, with her well known tact and energy, and aided by her associates, appealed to the village council to take the books off her hands and establish a public library. About that time Hon. H. J. Miller became president of the council. With the aid of his influence and cooperation the public library became an established fact. During the greater part of the time since its establishment the library has had a somewhat precarious existence. The appropriations for the support of the library, while as much as the existing laws would permit have never been adequate. It was with considerable difficulty, and after much persuasion, that the village council finally, but reluctantly, admitted the library into a room in the village hall. …About two or three years ago the Library board confronted a serious problem. Word came from the village council that the library room in the City hall would, in all probability, have to be vacated. What to do, or where to go, the board did not know. For a while it looked as though the library, built up by so many years of thankless labor under discouragement, would have to be abandoned. About that time I wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for aid to construct a public library. The answer to my letter stated in substance that Mr. Carnegie would not give for the construction of library buildings in towns the size of Luverne. Some time after that Mr. Carnegie extended his benefactions to smaller towns. The library still remained in the town hall under a very uncertain and indeterminate tenure, with the cheerful prospect that it might be kicked into the street at any time. However, the library still had its loyal friends among the ladies of the various clubs, and others. By persistent efforts, and with woman’s art of persuasion, they succeeded in arousing the interest of two of our distinguished and susceptible townsmen, A.P. Adams and Angus Ross, in securing a public library building. They began correspondence with the representative of Andrew Carnegie, resulting in his offer to donate $10,000 for the construction of a library building, provided, however, that the village would furnish the site and agree to annually appropriate a sum equal to ten per cent of the amount donated by him for the maintenance of the library. The proposition was thereupon submitted to the village council, and be it said to the everlasting credit of the men then composing the village council, that they were wise enough, and public spirited enough to accept the proposition. A client of mine was induced to contribute $1200, and the public spirited and progressive citizens of Luverne contributed enough more, to pay for the site for the present beautiful structure — the present and future home of Luverne’s public library. … The accompanying cut gives a fair idea of the exterior appearance of the building, as it faces the conjunction of Lincoln street and Freeman avenue, with a frontage of fifty feet on either street. In shape the building nearly represents a letter "V." It is built of stone and brick, Red Japser stone being used from the grade line seven feet to the window sill line and sand pressed brick from that point to the plate. The cornices and trimmings are also of stone, which with the well designed entrance gives the building pleasing and artistic appearance. The interior of the building is finished in Old Golden oak with plain hard finished walls and ceiling. In this particular no expense has been spared and the woodwork, beautiful and artistic in design, is used extensively and with rich and pleasing effect. The building is divided into five apartments with a cloak room and a closet. The waiting lobby at the entrance to the building, extends across the front of the stack room and delivery counter. The general reading room occupies the south part of the building and is lighted by three large triple windows of plate glass. It has a large fireplace in the northwest corner, and is furnished with three long reading tables and numerous chairs. Off from this apartment and near the entrance is the cloak room. The stack room adjoins the reading room to the north and is lighted by fourteen long, narrow plate glass windows. At the front of this apartment, which is located in the center of the building, is the delivery counter. This counter is quite broad, of crescent shape, and at each end is a large round pillar extending to the ceiling, while on either side extending for several feet to the partition walls is a box railing with gates to permit the librarian’s passage from the stack room to the reading room or lobby, and to the reference room or her office. The pillars, counters, railings, etc., are also of Old Golden oak. In the northeast corner of the building is the reference room, lighted by two large triple windows, and adjoining that and on the east side is the librarian’s office, which is lighted by one large triple window. Both of these rooms are separated from the main part by solid partitions with glass and panel work extending about eight feet high. Plate glass is used in these partitions and also in the windows in the two rooms. The floor throughout is covered with imported cork carpet, and all of the apartments are amply furnished with tables, desks, chairs, etc. The building is fitted with about sixty electric lights neatly and conveniently arranged, and is heated by steam throughout. The height of the ceiling on this floor is twelve feet. The basement, which has a ceiling ten feet high, contains the engine and coal rooms, lavatories, etc. This leaves a large room in the basement which is as yet unfinished. The basement is well lighted and when this room is completed it will be used as a store room and work room. …The development of Luverne’s public library is not particularly to be noted for its rapidity, but its growth has been steady, and has been fostered by strong, earnest and willing workers, backed loyally by an appreciative public. For their disinterested zeal and personal sacrifices the fullest credit is due to those who first interested themselves in the establishment of the library and to all who have since been chiefly instrumental in sustaining it. Their work has brought forth results which are today and will ever be a source of pride to every citizen of Luverne. Donations to the Rock Countay Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156. Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
