History of our library Pt. 2

Early in 1912, the city fathers advanced a new plan for the library. Brigham had a large enough population to be eligible for a Carnegie Library. The idea was put to the people the next election and they agreed to be taxed extra to raise the $2,000 for the first year's maintenance. Negiotations were started with the Carnegie Commission asking for $20,000. Mr. Carnegie felt $10,000 should satisfy Brigham City. After more negiotations, $12,500 was offered, with the provision the city contribute the site and raise taxation for one-tenth of the total amount for general maintenance.

Before building could begin, the old library had to be moved. All the materials were moved to the Booth building and Afton Peters writes "trying to run a library in this building proved very unsuccessful, and Miss Lillie Stranquist had a very unpleasant time".

The new building was completed in December of 1915 at a cost of $13,032 complete with furniture and fixtures. The Box Elder News wrote of the new building "....the library is a thing of beauty both from within and without. The interior finishing is beautiful and harmonious. The walls and ceilings are done in panels in exquisitely dainty design which is enhanced by the subdued light which comes through the art windows and from the indirect electric light. The entrance hall is finished in brown marble". With a large upstairs library centered by a librarian's alcove that afforded a view of the entire room, a downstairs lecture room, and workrooms in the south end of the basement, the new library offered plenty of room for books. The lecture room downstairs was never used as such. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers used it for a relic room and the children's library was installed there later.

As you visit our library today, you'll see the old entrance upstairs just as it was in 1915 though our librarian's desk now faces a different direction. You'll see the same stained glass windows and old shelves lining the walls. The downstairs auditorium is where the children's department once was. Thanks to smaller heating and cooling units placed on the roof, the furnace room is now the conference room.

I must have been here a long time, I was actually here when that huge furnace was housed downstairs. It was a pretty scary room. Next installment - THE ADDITION.

Susan