Historical souvenir of Greenville, Illinois : being a ... - University Library

Sheriff W. L. Floyd,
Born and raised in Bond county;
Constable six years; Deputy Sher-
iff four Tears and elected Sheriff ol
Bond Count V in 1902.
Library Association, to communicate
with Mr. Carnegie in regard to the
matter. Mrs. Hoiles had already
had correspondence with Mr. Carnegie,
having been delegated to
write him by the Ladies' Library
Association. In reply to her first
letter, Mrs. Hoiles received a blank
to be filled out signifying that the
city council was favorable to the establishment
of a Carnegie Library.
The resolution passed by the council
was forwarded to Mr. Carnegie as
A. A. Jackson,
Of Muncie, Ind., a former Greenville
resident.
Historical Souvenir of Greenville, Illinois. 115
proof of the good faith of the city
in desiring a Carnegie Library. In
reply to this Mr. Carnegie, through
his private secretary, James Bertram,
stated that if the city would,
by resolution of council, agree to
maintain a free public library at a
cost of not less than $1,00 per
year, and provide a suitable site
for the building, he would be pleased
to furnish ?lu,000 to erect a free
public library for Greenville.
On August G, 1903, the city council
passed a resolution providing for
the establishment of a free Carnegie
Library to cost $10,000, and pledging
the required two mill tax for
the support of the library. In the
same resolution the city accepted
the gift of $1,000 from the Ladies'
Library Association. Mayor Ed De-
Moulin appointed a board of nine
directors as follows: J. Seaman, F.
P. Joy, G. B. Hoiles, W. W. Lowis,
S. Van Deusen and Mesdames C. D.
Hoiles, W. A. Northcott, A. L. Hord,
and K. M. Bennett. The board afterward
organized, electing J. Seaman,
president, Mrs. A. L. Hord corresponding
secretary and Guy B. Hoiles
recording secretary.
Several sites were under consideration
for weeks but the solution
came with the purchase of the
Presbyterian church site, lots 2S
and 29 of Davidson's Addition to
Greenville, where the old Congregational
church stood for more than
half a century. The purchase price
was $1250, the money being made
up by popular subscription.
On June 17, 1904, the contract
was awarded to J. F. Rees for $8,-
500 and actual work commenced
July 20, 190 4. The corner stone
was laid September 9, 190 4, by the
Masonic fraternity. Grandmaster
William B. Wright of Effingham
officiating. The chief addresses
were made by Lieutenant Governor
Northcott and Hon. Charles E.
Whelan of Madison, Wis.
On December 14, 1903, the plans
of Paul O. Moratz of Bloomington,
III., were adopted, and he was employed
as the architect. The building
is 50 feet by 50 feet, 22 feet
high, with a large tower on the
northeast 28x28. and 30 feet high.
The building is of pressed brick and
stone, the building is steam heated
and finished in hardwood and has
electric lights, and is equipped with
stacks for 12,000 books. Miss Emma
Colcord is the librarian. The building
was completed in the early part
of 1905. and the work of moving the
books was commenced in the month
of May. They were then catalogued
and placed on the shelves.
The library was formally opened
with a public reception and program
on August 4, 1905.
Mrs. W. L. Floyd.
The Greenville Building and
Savings Association
T^ HE history of Greenville would
^ be lacking in an important par-
ticular, if a brief sketch of this corporation
were not made a part of
the same, for many of our best citizens
are now the owners of beauti-
ful and comfortable homes as a result
of the timely acceptance of op-
h Oii^
MKS. .a. X. J.\CKSON,
Of Muncie, Ind.. daughter of Sheriff
and Mrs. Flovd.