Thoughts About A Library

By Harry Austin Clapp

A library? Well what of it? What is it? It is one of two things. It is either a building or a room appropriated for holding a collection of books or it is a collection of books not kept for merchandise. Just the moment books are offered for sale it ceases to be a library.

And so this is what we have in Collegeport. A real public library free to all members of the community. It is opened every Friday and is in charge of a librarian appointed by the Women's Club. Not knowing much about how this work was started I called on Mrs. Burton D. Hurd, who really conceived the idea many years ago and called the first meeting and for this reason much that follows has been gleaned from her memory and recorded in her words. January 11, 1912 , five Collegeport women braved a cold wet norther and at Hotel Collegeport, founded the first public library in Matagorda County . They were Mesdames Burton D. Hurd, O. B. Kone, E. E. House and J. M. Elmer at which time 17 books were received. The first week in February was designated as Library Week and for the purpose of adding to the work begun, letters were sent to friends with the result that on February 10, the Collegeport Public Library was formally opened with 35 books, properly catalogued and numbered and housed in the office building formerly occupied by Mr. Walter Wilkinson, who kindly donated its use to the library committee.

No endowment or income has ever been enjoyed by the library which was sponsored and built by the Collegeport Woman's Club, assisted principally by the Collegeport Industrial League which gave the building now in use and a free lease on the lot on which the building is located. The opening day register of the library bears 126 names as visitors, no books were issued and no donation received but almost all of those calling at that time sent books afterwards. A loan of 50 volumes was made to the Citrus Grove community as a nucleus around which that thriving little town might build a library and since its beginning the Collegeport library has constantly supplied not only the community with well selected, well kept assortment of books and magazines, but has provided for the school the reading and reference material not only required in school work but that suggested for reading by the state board of education.

All books sent to the library are reviewed by the committee from the Woman's club and finally passed upon by the library committee and quietly rejected if not desired.

The Woman's club has just reason for its pride in the library of about 2000 books and are planning to give a May Festival on Saturday afternoon and evening May 9 honoring its beloved child, the first public library in Matagorda county. Books are already being received, as gifts in honor of this the 20th year of faithful service to the community and as no cards are to be sent for the party, no doubt many old members of the Woman's club and former residents of the town and community will attend the festival which will be well worth the while for there will be a May pole dance on the lawn, the crowning of the May Queen, games and contests for the evening and the County Federation of Women's clubs and friends have been given special invitations, some having been carried by Mrs. H. A. Clapp to the last federation meeting in Wadsworth. The county federation president is to be the guest of honor as well as all charter members of the club. To this might be added that while the date named is the twentieth birthday of the library it is also the 21st birthday of the Woman's club.

For years the library had no home. It was moved from place to place and the women in charge slaved many days moving the large number of books that had accumulated. A few years ago the Collegeport Industrial League bought a block of ground opposite the schoolhouse which contains 2 1/2 acres. This plot is for community use and about the same time the league bought for the library a building and moved it on this block. Through its efforts the building was finished inside and painted outside. A cement walk was laid and water piped to the building.

Remembering that it has long been the custom to honor birthdays with a gift I suggest that each visitor to the festival bring a book and those who are not able to come send one. No need to buy a new and expensive book. Look over your own books, select one, mail it and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done a good turn that day.

"Who hath a book hath but to read,

And he may be a King indeed.

His kingdom is his inglenook,

All this is his who hath a book."

--Nesbit.

And to close I will say that "a home without books is like a room without windows."

Mesdames King and Merck trekked to Austin the other day. I do not know why for they neither asked my permission or advice but I have an idea that they went on school business. Simply felt that they must consult higher authority. I read an article the other day in the Saturday Evening Post by Albert Atwood: "How Far Should Government Go?" It told the tale of federal encroachment on local control in education affairs. After reading it, I asked myself, whether we would be better or worse off with federal control instead of state control. Under state control, local rural school boards have slowly but surely lost control of our schools, until the time is here now, when very few local trustees know much about the district finances and are not allowed to handle the funds or to pay the teachers salaries or other bills unless vouchers are signed, okeyed and scrutinized by officials in schools.

This has all been brought about by the proffer of aid or subsidy by the state or federal government and they therefore assume their right to dictate as to how not only the donated funds should be expended, but how all other funds may be used. We are still allowed to vote for trustees, but according to all signs the day is approaching when this will be done by a county board, dictated to by a state board, and then the last vestige of local control will be taken away. If this all means a higher type of teacher, better equipment, greater educational advantages for our children, it may work out for our final benefit, but somehow way down in our hearts we sort o' enjoy handlin' our own money, hirin' our own teachers, runnin' our own school.

Federal or state control may yet go so far as to dictate now, when and where, men shall wear trousers and women their teddies and that would be indeed, deplorable. So who can say "How Far Government Should Go?"

Well, anyway if Mesdames King and Merck went up there for aid, all hail to them and hope they got what they went after. If they went simply for a joy ride and a look at the capital I hope they had a joy a plenty and that they saw none of the glaring defects in the capital building. These two women are sure bug house on giving us a first class school and so I am fer 'em.

Charles Rutherford, one of the original old timers and now living in Nevada, Mo., has been here for a few days looking over his local property and visiting with old friends. Charley, as old friends call him, is still wearing the crown that goes with the King of Pessimists. He reports that Kansas as well as all portions of the United States is going to the bow-wows, people hunger for food, mortgages are being foreclosed, et cetera. Well, anyway, "what the hell Bill? What the hell?"

Monday night I went over to the community house and listened to the baby band or I should say the rhythm band. It was splendid and here is notice that on Friday night, May 1, Mrs. Richard Corporon, who reorganized the band, will give its first appearance with Miss Ethel Nelson as director. Pie, cake and coffee will be served for the purpose of obtaining funds with which to pay for the instruments. I am informed that some time later the band will play at Bay City.

Monday, as the guest of Burton D. Hurd I visited Bay City and the town sure looks beautiful. Clean streets, clean shops, plenty of people on the streets, flowers blooming and a general atmosphere of prosperity and get there.

Called at the chamber of commerce and found out county agent hard at work and suspect that in his report to the A. & M. College one will find recorded "Monday, April 29, office work."

I don't blame him for doing office work if I had his job I would put in about six days a week in office work.

Flowers bloom outside the chamber of commerce and they bloom inside as well for I observed three handsome blooms at the desk. I tried to pick one of them but it eluded my grasp.

The Tribune is installing so much new machinery that soon there will be no room for the help. This being done only for one reason, and that to render more efficient service. I advise the readers of this week's Tribune to put away a copy and ten years hence compare it with that issue.

Doctor Scott is selling big hot-cold jugs but I was not interested for they were empty.

Saw Bill but he was rushing to persecute some fellow so could only shake hands and ask "how's Emily?"

Judge McNabb sits in his handsome office, feeling quite secure, but I told him that the only way he could get my two votes was to bring Otis Taylor down next year with a pot of those famous oysters.

Bay City looked alike a jewel on green plush in other words it looks clean and wholesome and presents an appearance of thrift and business.

Once, some years ago dumb bells were only found in gymnasiums and used for developing muscles. Today we find dumb bells in about every community and it is a tough job to find any use for them.

"En passant" don't forget the concert by the baby band Friday night, May 1, and bring your pie as aid to this mighty work. You will not only be surprised and amazed but will have an enjoyable evening.

The Daily Tribune, April 29, 1931, Harry Austin Clapp, Scrapbook 2

Copyright 2005 - Present by Bay City Newspapers Inc.   All rights reserved

HOME