Furor Over Proposed Library Site (Spring 1913)

We continue sauntering along memory lane with more historical tidbits from a century ago, when the Mooresville Public Library was first established.

Between January and May, 1912, citizens of the Town of Mooresville, Indiana signed petitions to construct a new library building and authorizing tax levies by which to subsidize the project.  The Mooresville Town Board adopted a resolution in May, 1912 to levy a library construction tax.  At this time, the first Library Board of Trustees was also created.

Further financial developments swiftly followed.  In June, 1912, residents of Brown Township, Morgan County were invited to support the Mooresville Library (in exchange for use privileges).  In July, 1912, a $10,000 grant application was made to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to fund building construction.  It was this grant that ultimately paid for the town's new library.

Before foundations could be laid, however, there was the important question of where the library should be situated.  Between February and April, 1913, there were public discussions on this issue, and the Town Board initially proposed to purchase the land on the east end of West Washington Street, upon which the former Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church had been located.  Perhaps you know the place.

Painting of the old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church

(1839-1882)

West Washington Street, Mooresville, IN
(Click Pictures to Enlarge)

Photo of old M.E. Church

(From p. 28 of A Brief History of Mooresville and Vicinity,

by Almira Harvey Hadley [1918])

2007 photo of the former old M.E. Church site

When this location was initially proposed for the new library, a public furor promptly erupted.  This, presumably, was unanticipated by the Town Board, as they apparently felt that this was a "done deal."  Not so, said a critically vocal public.  Why all the fuss?  The site was well-wooded with trees that were nearly as old as the town itself (founded in 1824).  What was not to like?

Old Cemetery (active 1829-1889)

located behind the former old M.E. Church site

Behind the old M.E. Church was the old town cemetery, which was active between 1829 and 1889.  The town founder, Samuel Moore, was the last person buried there.  Proponents of the lot as a library site suggested that the building could sit approximately where the old church had been.  The immediate neighbors in the back yard were quiet, in any event, which would be ideal for a library atmosphere.  (I'm not joking; this was quite seriously offered as a justification.)

Few public proposals have sparked such vehement controversy in Mooresville.  The masses arose, if not with pitchforks and torches, then certainly in elevated voices of protest.  "Nobody wants a library next to a cemetery," one prominent townsperson declared at a public meeting.  "An air of gloom would descend upon the structure," another citizen stated, "which would both depress and discourage [the library's] use."  While everyone respected the deceased buried in Old Cemetery, few wanted a library immediately adjacent to their last resting places.

During March-April, 1913, the Town Board scrambled to secure a more suitable library location.  No public revenues were used to purchase land for the library.  All monies were privately donated.  Thanks to a significant donation from Arthur Newby (of Indianapolis 500 Brickyard fame) and Judge Smith MacPherson, as well as contributions from the general public, a lot was purchased at 30 West Main Street, directly across from the McCracken House, which was a popular inn and restaurant that drew customers from across central Indiana via the Interurban railway.

McCracken House (1912) on West Main Street, Mooresville, IN

Directly across from the new library site (1913)

The Library's postal address was subsequently renumbered as 32 West Main Street, when the local post office updated its delivery addresses to reflect later changes in the use of various properties in the downtown Mooresville area.

Having secured the land for the new library, there remained the question of providing citizens with temporary library services.  In March, 1913, a temporary reading room was established on the second floor of the I.O.O.F. Building, which was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Main and Indiana Streets in downtown Mooresville.

I.O.O.F. Building, downtown Mooresville, IN (ca. 1885)

The townsfolk were quite pleased with the new library lot at 30 West Main Street.  But actual construction was yet to come.  Actually, the town needed first to hire an architect and general contractor.  But none of this could proceed without money, and, for that, the citizens of Mooresville had to await the decision of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.

This Month's Library News (a Century Ago)

As part of our 100th anniversary celebration during 2012, we will be looking back a century to see what library news was breaking in Mooresville, Indiana.

The proverbial ball was rolling in January, 1912, as concerned citizens were circulating petitions for signature demonstrating public support for construction of a new public library in Mooresville.  This public push began in October, 1911.  The Friends Aid Society met at the home of Mrs. George Carter to campaign for a new facility. On December 12, 1911, a meeting was held at F. E. Carlisle's furniture store with representatives of local organizations, including the Likely Literary Club, Bay View Club, several churches, the Board of Education, and the school superintendent, A. C. Payne. Carrie E. Scott, librarian and a representative of the Public Library Commission, presided. Enthusiastic support prompted a public meeting on December 18, 1911 at the Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church, which is now the Mooresville Town Government Center. Jacob Dunn, president of the Public Library Commission, and library board members from Plainfield and Martinsville encouraged Mooresville's efforts to reestablish its library.  By January, 1912, efforts were well under way to garner public support in town and surrounding Brown Township in Morgan County.

Apparently, public officials were confident that a new public library would be built, because local carpenters (and undertakers) Rusie & Son mailed this postcard (below) to Orleans Cabinet Company on September 19, 1911, requesting delivery of a table order for the library.  These tables were initially used in the library's temporary quarters (1913-1915) and were subsequently moved to the completed library during its construction in 1915.  One of the original tables now resides in the MPL Indiana Room.

Postcard dated 9/19/1911 from Rusie & Son to Orleans Cabinet Company

requesting delivery of library tables

(postcard courtesy of Ron Moon)

(Click images to enlarge)

Want to see what a hundred-year-old-plus library table looks like?  Drop by the MPL Indiana Room, or click the photos below.

 
As for the library's temporary quarters:  On April 18, 1913, the library leased space for a reading room in the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Building, which was where 8 East Main Street would be today.  (2017 UPDATE:  Mooresville Bicentennial Park is now situated at this location.) This was the temporary quarters for the library until the new building was completed.

I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Building

(Photo taken 7/18/1920 by Manley Brown)

Why did Rusie & Son order the library tables so early?  Mooresville's Hovey Institute and Workmen's Library (1855-ca. 1885) had leased rooms in the old Holman Johnson Building (at 9 West Main Street) during the 1870s-1880s, and although this was a subscription library that was disbanded circa 1885, the space was probably still used in 1911 to store library furniture, shelving, etc., when the building was owned by F. E. Carlisle, undertaker and furniture maker, who operated at the location from 1895 to 1948.

F. E. Carlisle owned the "new" Holman Johnson Building (built in 1895)

where library tables purchased in 1911 were probably stored.  The building is just to the left of Pace Thompson, who stood in front of his dry goods store
(not too far from the horse and buggy).  Ignore the white arrow at the top,
which points to Pace Thompson's building (ca. 1910 photo by J. P. Calvert)

1912 view of West Main Street (looking west from the intersection

with Indiana Street) in downtown Mooresville, Indiana.

The new library would be built on the right,

where the second stand of trees is visible

In the photo above, the word bank was traced in ink on the sign above the entrance to Farmers State Bank.  To see additional photos of downtown Mooresville during this time period, click here and here and here.  For yet more history about downtown, just browse this blog's archives.

In January and February, 1912, officials of the town government began searching for prospective sites for the new library.  Stay tuned to learn some of the surprising possible locations that were initially selected, and the resultant public furor that shaped the final decisions.

McCracken Hotel & Restaurant (1912)

Here's a teaser:  The eventual library locale was directly across from this popular restaurant.

Want to take a walking tour of downtown Mooresville? Probably not in January, but here's some information, anyway. Watch our local history trailer, too. Too busy to take the downtown walking tour? We have a virtual alternative.