Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / July 5, 1928, edition 1 / Page 7
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THURSDAY, JULY 5. 1223 Till: FRAH3CLIN V?XZ5. niANIILiri. 11 C. TAGE TIII?i: ! V J . IK o "Tf: O bo - LIBRARY ACTIVE AT HIGHLANDS Organized in 1884 First Books Procured by Mrs. Louisa E. Wells Has Co operation of Entire Town. The following short history of the Hudson Library Association of High lands was very kindly written for the Highlands edition of The Press by Mrs. J, Jay Smith, who joined the association in the 80's and who is now its president. (By Mary Chapln Smith) The Hudson Library Association was started in 1884. Mrs. Louisa E. Wells, of Shortoff, N. G, procured the books, mostly new and valuable, from her friends ' in Edward Everett Hale's church in Boston ,arid from . Mrs. Hudson's friends in the Un itarian church of Worcester, Mass. Mrs. Wells stipulated that the .library should be free to the residents of Highlands, Shortoff, and the surround-? ing country , and that it should be named for her sister, Mrs. Hudson, who had spent some time 4 at Short off and had been greatly interested in planning forjnereased reading fa cilities for the people. It started off sponsored and of ficered by the most prominent men of the place, Mr. S. T. Kelsey, the founder of Highlands, being the first " president, and with a good memberr ship of both men and women. For some years thelibrary which now numbers well over 4,000 volumes" was housed in aT little'old-fashioned closed bookcase with. six shelves, which was given a corner in the old school build- ing at Highlands. In 1894 everybody got busy in the effort to inject new life into this society. It was incorporated, and was provided with new quarters through the kindness of Prof. T. G. Harbison, who, by the way, is a fa mous botanist and was collector for Vanderbilt for the Biltmore Her barraium, and later for years was collector for Prof. Sargent, the great est dendrologist that America has ever produced. . Prof. Harbison trav , eled over a great part of the United States collecting for Prof. Sargent's monumental work on trees, and has also done much research work in . botany, species having been discovered jinn.' aCir tlllieil( It1 .1 umi. w ?mfje " "Pi St the school, and he had built on . an extra room at' his own expense for - his own library - whichwas used by his pupils. He gave this room over to the use of the Hudson Library, and in a very jolly spirit of co-operaiton every one helped ; it was fitted up with a stove, with fuel, lamps, and all that was necessary. Additional shelves were put. in as needed. The school house was newly roofed and painted, the roof and paint being extended to the library room with a refusal to send the bill ! And in summer vacation time a small school room fitted with desks was loaned to the library to use as a reading room. There were generous donations from many sourc es. The Floral and Industrial Society gave $30.00, and in 1903, having given up its existence, it left by will,' so to speak, $135.00 to the library for the purchase of books. In 1906 the Hor ticultural Society of Highlands (a splendid society), having died, left us a little cash and a small but very choice collection of books, including some rare volumes difficult to ob tain. Individuals and schools, even the - distant Smith College girls, gave Ladies' Furnishings AND READY-TO-WEAR Dainty Undiea, lovely Hati and charming accessories. We cordial ly invite your inspection. J. JAY SMITH HIGHLANDS, N. C. books. Summer boarders and sum mer residents have always shuvvi. much interest and generosity. During the 90' s it was discovered that while many valuable books had been donated, the library had also been made a dumping ground for trash that people wanted to get rid of some of it bad trash. A Hook Committee was appointed, and Mrs. Selleck, Miss Staub and I spent for months an incredible amount of time in sifting, rejecting, censorship; re jecting much that was harmful and vulgar, and much that was antiquated and valueless. From that time on there was a high marie set as the aim of the library, to offer the best that science, literature, history, travel, fic tion, etc., could give, as far as pos sible. Very few free libraries in small country places can boast of such a choice selection of the world's best books as this little Hudson library in the remote mountain town of Highlands. In March, 1895, Miss Albertina Staub was appointed librarian; and in June, secretary and treasurer. These offices she held until her res ignation in 1911, and more than that, she also did very much to hold the library and the society together all these years, through times of stress and threatened disintegration. Nor has she ever ""coaled from interest and labors in its behalf. The shelves of the little room be came full to overflowing, there was not space for a wren's nest, and we must have more room. We bought a lot and began to raise money for the building. For several years we gave entertainments and received un solicited contributions by that I mean we did not have to go around With a subscription list M r sr M A.- Rav enel " at the start gave $100.00, Miss Warren $50.00, others $25.00 and less ; Mr. Walter Reese took the contract for the building at $553.00. Mr. Sloan. Mr. Bascom, Mrs. Charles Albert Hill, Mr. J. Jay Smith, the Town Council, the builder and others con tributed doors, windows, fixtures, fur nishings, cement, work, etc. Mr. Hu ger Elliott, one of the directors of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (now of the Metropolitan Museum, New York), furnished the plans; his sister, Miss Lucy Elliott, was very active in looking after the building, Miss Marie Huger did much about arranging the books on the shelves, and the library was opened on the 4th of July, 1915. We have always had most generous friends; Miss Charlotte .Elliott and -T'-yft''ry.i .w-w,v- iimrt... fcyn rmn v...i..i- have many times given most vai uablejbooks ; the the late Mrs. M. A. Ravenel and her daughters have "al ways helped generously; Miss War ren; the Crosbys; many of the sum mer guests and residents helped with books, donations and with work in keeping the library open : it would require a catalogue of names to men tion all. Miss Marie Huger in ad dition to other activities was secretary for- some years, and furnished the only instance I have known where the records were in great part pure lit erature and flashed with wit. Wc enioved and appreciated it. We have for a number of years at their request charged the summer boarders and non-residents a slight fee for the use of books ; they wear out fast and it was necessary to sup plement the membership fees and do nations. We have had some wonderful li brarians; Miss Staub I have men ti6ned; Miss Lucy Elliott, Miss Char lotte Elliott; the late Mrs. Luther Rice was a marvel; she could get people to read the best things, and the books best adapted to them; the highest gift a librarian can have. Mrs. S. T. Marrett was a great worker and a remarkable organizer; she put the recording of books given out on ah entirely different basis, an un told improvement on our old wav. Meanwhile, Miss Louise Billstein worked summer vacations on a card catalogue and brought it up to date, but since then several hundred ac cessions make more work necessary. Two daughters of Prof. Harbison, Miss Gertrude and Miss Dorothea Harbison; are now acting as libra rians, and promise to be just as won deful as their predecessors. We open the library for two hours once a HINES & ZOELLNER GARAGE TAXI SERVICE ALL THE FREE SERVICE RENDERED BY AN UP-TO-DATE GARAGE CHEER FULLY GIVEN week, in the winter, two or three times a week in spring and fall, and every day in summer. Most of the work all these years has been vol unteer work. Recently we have put in water and electric lights, and have persuaded the town board to give us the water and electricity free of charge. Wc think wc deserve it. Mr. Henry. Robertson, Esq., of Franklin,, has greatly assisted us i renewing our Charter of Incorpora tion, and has aided in other ways. Broadway Locals Mr. E. V. McKinney was visiting Mrs. Andy Wilson Monday. Mr. Tom Smith was at Mr. Andy Wilson's home Thursday afternoon on special business. Mrs. Fannie Ballew made a ship ment of 315 settees to the Toy Fur niture shop Saturday. Messrs. Columbus Vinson, Dave Chastine and two Mr. Webbs were on Broadway Monday. Mr. Hayes Bryson is at Scaly with his father, Mr. Thad Bryson. Mr. . Andy Wilson spent Monday night with his brother, Mr. Bart Wil son. Mr. Bill Brown took' a load of produce to Highlands Tuesday. Mr. Tom Wilson spent Friday night with his aunt, Mrs. Fannie Ballew. Miss Jennie Talley was in this sec tion Friday. Messrs John Brown and Jerry Wil son were at Mrs. H. C. Wilson's home Wednesday. . Mr. Jerry Wilson and Setter Ad die spent last week end on Tesenta. Mrs. Cardelia Talley and daughter, Jennieand " two sonsr Jinkand "Joel, were strawberry hunting ' Tuesdays Mr. Lawarence Carpenter made a business trip to Highlands Saturday. Nantahala News Sheriff W. C. Martin of Bryson City, was here Thursday on business. Mr. Burnctte of Macon county, was here Friday selling spectacles and en larging pictures. Clifton Raxtcr of Hewitts, was a Nantahala visitor Friday. Garland Cole of Hewitts, was on our Streets Friday. Harley Shepherd of Bryson City, is here this week visiting H. D. Pass- morek Rev. P. H. Passmore went to Kyle Friday - to fill his regular appointment Saturday and Sunday. ' jji; Cole Sunday. Mrs. Elda Lee went to Sylva Thurs- dayfor medical attention. Weldon Grant motored tor: Bryson City Thursday. Mrs. Sallie Totheron visited Mrs. Roy Wood Wednesday. Saggie Shields of Flats, was here Tuesday on a fishing trip. J. L.. Arp returned Sunday from a trip to Tennessee. Royal Lee of Rowland's Creek, was visiting here Sunday. J SUMMER TOURISTS ' Sff '1 ' WELC0,ME m1 3 S,,r a refreshing Qf' r I : 11 I i ICE CREAM Sda T I : ) M I i l WIPMAN;S CANDIES i frrZSV Y.1 ; til l.if . SOUVENIRS . . l'm ft .,M - mm- TJilHi : iJl : Fred I 'ay is in Graham county thi-. week working for Roy Wood. Mr. and Mrs. Ilarlcy W. Grant spent Friday night with Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wood of Hewitts. Tellico Locals Messrs. Theodore and Verl McCoy were in this community ' this week buying cattle. Mr. Author Ackons, Cherokee Hard ware salesman, was in this section Thursday. Mr. Robert Parrish of Burningtown, passed through this section one day last week on his way to Briartown, to haul tanbark. Misses Lola and Jessie Ramsey made a business, trip to Franklin Thursday. Mr. Charley Smith was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Ruff Mc Gaha Sunday. Mr. Robert Ramsey made a trip to Bryson City one day this week. The writer would like to go with Mr. Lyles Harris blackberry picking and see if he could pick 16 2-3 gal lons of berries in day, to make his $2.50. Mr. Harley Ramsey says he has some wheat five and one-half feet high. The wheat crop is some better than it was last year. Honorable Theron Slagle was on the streets Wednesday. Mr. Vergil Smith of Burningtown, passed through this section Sunday on his way to a job at Wesser Creek. . New Mail Contractor 0. V. Shuler was the successful bid der on the Franklin-Dillsboro mail route and took charge on July 1. He got the contract for $1,598 per year. " Fine Ham Sandwiches, Lunches, Cakes, Pies, Home-Made Candies 7 Cold D rinks Highlands Tea Room HIGHLANDS, N. C. WHITMAN'S CANDIES SOUVENIRS Try our CU j t. ... . wchos wnere you have bee;gettingfe , . - cars .ior roii i- . Where everybody meets for wa time Highlands Drug otore C. T. ANDERSON, prop. HIGHLANDS, N. C. Dan Tallent Dies Funeral-services for Dan Tallent of Cullasaja, were held Monday afternoon at the Sugar Fork Baptist church, Rev. V. C. Ramcy officiating. Mr. Tallent died on Sunday morning as a result of blood poisining. Ifc was 72 years, and is survived by his wife, ' and a number of sons and daughters PERSON HOUSE ESTABLISHED 1900 MODERN EQUIPMENT 35 Rooms Hot and Cold Baths HOME COOKING A SPECIALTY Highlands, N. C. - W. S. DAVIS, Mgr. . h'A r a 3 i - - r --v wg. -s k -v l y. h y I B Highlands, N. C. M Jl
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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July 5, 1928, edition 1
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