The History Of
LaGrange Carnegie Public Library
They may not have had
the right to vote, but the
women of LaGrange knew how
to get things done. Thanks to some
visionary women and a handful of
men, LaGrange County has a public
library. It was around 1912 that the
Women’s League established a public library in LaGrange. With Miss Florence
Herbert as librarian, and the assistance
of her mother Mrs. Georgia Herbert,
the book-lovers of the community began to be served. More than 50 citizens
pledged $4.00 a year for two years.
The official organization of the library took place on November 9, 1912.
According to LAGRANGE COUNTY
CENTENNIAL HISTORY 1828 – 1928,
the first members of the library board
were: F.J. Smith, Leon Rose, Lillian M.
Ganiard, Mrs. R. H. Rerick, and Mrs.
R. L. Poterfield. It should be noted that
R.H. Rerick authored the “1882 Counties of LaGrange and Noble Indiana
Historical and Biographical” published
by F.A. Battey and Company Publishers
of Chicago.
The library’s popularity continued
by Harold Gingerich
to grow and soon created the need for a
larger permanent location. The children of Soloman and Caroline Rose, of
whom no doubt Leon Rose was one, offered to donate property on the corner
of Spring and High Streets provided
that the Carnegie Foundation would
donate a specified sum for the
erection of the building and that
the town along with Bloomfield
Township would agree to establish a tax rate for the perpetual
upkeep of the library. The town of
LaGrange then levied a tax of one
mill on the dollar as did Bloomfield Township. Thus began the
public funding of the library.
Leon Rose, with the help
of Judge John W. Hanan (complier of the 1828 -1928 history
of Lagrange County), negotiated
with the Carnegie Foundation and
secured the needed $12,500.00 to
construct the building. The Town
of LaGrange built a town hall on
the adjacent property south of
the present library. In a unique
partnership arrangement with the
town, the heating plant was in the
town hall and connections were made
to also heat the library. As a result the
library didn’t have issues with heating related dirt and could utilize their
basement for restroom and committee
rooms. Construction began in 1917.
continued on next page
The Hometown Treasure · Oct. ‘11 · pg 17