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CHAPTER X
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
The Infirmary—The Shelby County Children's Home—Sidney Public Library—Shelby County Institute
THE INFIRMARY
On the 23d of March, 1866, the county commissioners purchased of James Rollins a farm of 158 acres in the southwest quarter of section 10, town. 7, range 6, for the purpose of building an infirmary. The purchase was made for $85,000, payable as follows : $4,500 cash, $2,000 in one year, and $2,000 in two years from date of purchase, which was secured by mortgage bearing six per cent interest from date.
A board of infirmary directors consisting of C. Kingseed, M. J. Winget and Guthrie was created by the commissioners which selected Jacob Lehman for superintendent of the infirmary farm at a salary of $50 per month. A short time after Lehman was succeeded by Jesse B. Howe, August 20, 1866.
Contracts for a new infirmary were let by the commissioners February 16, 1869, as follows : Slate, tin and galvanized iron work awarded Gephart & Sanders for $8,400; cut stone given to Webber & Lehman for $2,400; carpenter and joiner work to Rouzer & Rouzer for $14,400, this to include glazing; plumbing and steam-fitting to Brooks & Light for $6,845; brick work to Samuel and John McCune for $8,000; said parties to allow $2,000 for brick already on the ground. William C. Wyman contracted for the plastering at 35 cents per yard and F. Lierman the painting for $1,700.
This building, which is an elegant and substantial brick of two stories with a mansard roof, is situated about three miles southwest 0f Sidney, in Clinton township and reflects great credit on the citizens of the county. A beautiful lawn in front of the home, which sits back from the road, shows the good taste of its managers, while the rest of the farm is highly cultivated.
On the 26th 0f February, 1875, Superintendent Howe resigned and was succeeded by William Widener, who was followed by Harvey Guthrie in 1897. William Guthrie succeeded his father till 1899 and was in turn followed by Emanuel Needles till 1903. Lawson Showers is the present superintendent and with his estimable wife as matron gives a most efficient administration of affairs. The institution at this time contains thirty-eight inmates.
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THE SHELBY COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME
The following article was prepared and written by Attorney James E. Way, trustee of the home.
On the brow of one of the magnificent hills overlooking the Great Miami river, and about one mile south and east of the city of Sidney, stands the Shelby County, Ohio, Children's Home, recognized as one of the best conducted and managed charitable institutions of its kind in the state.
The view from the home is one of unsurpassed beauty. To the west is seen the Great Miami river, its clear and sparkling waters, fringed with tall, magnificent elms, stately sycamores and bending willows, winding like a silver cord onward, as described in one of Tennyson's poetic visions, forever, toward the sea. Northward, we are treated with a most beautiful panoramic view of the lively, bustling city of Sidney, snugly nestled among the hills, and spread out over them in artistic loveliness. To the east and south is presented an extensive view of well cultivated and productive farms, and lofty hills, luxuriant with the beauties of nature's own handiwork of forests of the hickory, oak, ash, and many other splendid specimens of the monarchs of the woods, with climbing and clinging vines interspersed between.
At the general election, held in the fall of 1893, the question of erecting a Children's Home was submitted to the people of the county for a test of sentiment. The generous hearted electorate of the county being thus appealed to, answered in the affirmative, and authority was thereby given to proceed in the good work. Afterwards, at the January term, 1894, of the court of common pleas, of Shelby county, a committee, consisting of S. J. Hatfield, A. J. Hess and S. L. Wicoff, was appointed by the court to select a location for the home, and approve plans for the buildings. After viewing several places the committee selected the present site, the farm containing about one hundred and forty-two acres in Clinton and Orange townships, and, likewise, approved the plans for the buildings as subsequently erected thereon.
In July, 1894, the county commissioners, acting upon the report and suggestions of the committee, made purchase of said land at the agreed price of $7,562 for the whole. The erection of the several necessary buildings, at an approximated cost of $30,000, including the purchase price paid for the land, as above stated, speedily followed, and on the 4th day of November, 1897, these were formally dedicated with appropriate exercises, and made ready for occupancy. Later, through the philanthropy and christian spirit of one of Sidney's splendid women, Mrs. Mary A. Barkdull, who by her last will provided that the proceeds of the sale of a part of her real estate be given to the home, the board of trustees was enabled to have erected on the grounds a neat and commodious school building, whcih stands as a fit memorial of and dedicated to the memory of that good woman who found a greater blessing in giving than in receiving. The building has encased within the front wall a tablet, bearing these words : "Barkdull Memorial 1903," as a further tribute to her whose memory shall ever be green to all the children who enter its doors.
Of the home farm, about seventy acres consists of cultivated lands, the
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rest being wood and pasture lands, including the home park, upon which the several buildings were erected. The park has been greatly beautified, and presents a very cheerful picture from all points of view. The valuable services of Edgar Emley, one of the best known lovers of nature in the county, were secured to take charge of beautifying the park, and for a time he had supervision in the matter of selecting and planting the trees therein. He insisted in planting the native forest trees, giving as a reason that in time, when our forests will be denuded of their trees, we still would have the native kinds of timber on the park to remind the people of the woodlands of earlier days. Mr. Emley's idea prevailed, and the park has a beautiful growth of the hickory, maple, ash, elm, and numerous other kinds of trees, the product of Shelby county, secure for generations yet to come, and a fitting monument to the memory of him who placed them there.
The home, very soon after its dedication, was opened for the admission of children, and Dr. W. N. Shaw was appointed its first superintendent, and his wife, as matron. Dr. Shaw and wife resigned their positions on the first day of April, 188, and were succeeded by J. H. McClung and his wife, as superintendent and matron, respectively. After eight years of faithful service, Mr. and Mrs. McClung severed their official relations with the home, and were succeeded by J. H. Kemp and his wife, Ann, who remained in charge and faithfully performed their duties as such officials until their resignations on the first day of March, 1912. Since that date the management of the home has been under the supervision of W. F. Meighen and his wife, Lina, and is in a very prosperous condition.
The first board of trustees of the institution, namely, S. L. Wicoff, R. D. Mede, Wm, A. Graham and Jeremiah Miller, gave to the organization the full benefit of their splendid services for a number of years, and at the end of their terms of office, were succeeded by J. N. Dill, S. D. Voress and George Hagelberger, respectively. The present members of the board of trustees are George Hagelberger, B. T. Bulle, James E. Way and J. W. A. Fridley.
The school building was 0pened for the admission of pupils in 1903, Miss Rachel McVay being selected as the first teacher therein who taught there until the year 1908, and was succeeded by A. M. Shidaker, now in charge of the schools.
In the school, the elementary and common branches of study, including music, are taught, with manual training and industrial departments, in addition thereto. In the manual training department, the boys receive practical instruction in the handling of tools, as applied to woodwork, as well as on the farm, as applied to agriculture. In the industrial department, the girls are taught plain and fancy needlework, and are likewise instructed in the art of cooking, and in other useful household duties. It is the aim of the management to qualify the children, as far as possible, while in the care of the home, to become good and useful citizens of the future ; and the success attained along this line is attested by scores of bright, well educated women and men, formerly of the home, who are now honored and respected citizens of several of the states of our nation.
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Since its organization, there have been received into the home and cared for, one hundred and ninety-three children, one hundred and seventeen boys and seventy-six girls, of whom one hundred and eighteen have been provided with comfortable homes, with worthy families in different parts of the state, from time to time, the remainder having been discharged by reason of age limit and returned to their parents, there being at present fourteen boys and twelve girls under the care of the institution.
The gross cost of maintaining the children per capita, in the home, since organization, has averaged about $175 per annum as near as can be ascertained. This estimate, of course, includes the total cost of maintaining the institution, namely, the salaries of all employees, schooling, clothing, medical attention, provisions and other necessaries, as well as the purchase of live stock, agricultural implements, and the like, but does not take into consideration the several sums receive& from the sale of farm products, live stock, and from other sources, and turned into the county treasury as a credit to the institution. Deducting these several credits from the total cost of maintaining the home, as above estimated, and it can readily be seen that the net cost, per capita, would be very much less.
The main buildings are heated by steam, lighted by electricity, and supplied with water from the Sidney waterworks plant, and otherwise well equipped for successful management, clean and sanitary.
All in all, the Shelby County Children's Home is an institution of which the citizens of the county may justly be proud; and in taking care of and in educating the little, unfortunate ones committed to their care, are following after the precepts of the Divine entreaty : "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Herewith, appended, are extracts taken from the last report of the state examiner of the bureau of inspection and supervision of public offices, relating to the Children's Home, covering the period from April 1, 1911, to June 1, 1912
"The financial matters of the institution are handled in a manner which absolutely precludes criticism. The books and records kept by the superintendent are models in completeness, and every transaction is so thoroughly detailed that it was a pleasure to audit them. * * * The splendid condition of the buildings and grounds, and the schooling of the children in useful trades and handiwork are especially worthy of commendation. The board of trustees and the employees of the institution are entitled to commendation for the excellent manner in which all departments are conducted."
SIDNEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Sidney Public Library was first organized as a stock company, being incorporated December 5, 1869. It had a fund of about $1,500 with which to purchase books, and was opened to the public during the year 1870. It continued to be operated as a stock company until the year 1879, when its
books, property, and franchise were turned over to the trustees of the Monu-
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mental building, under a contract whereby the trustees agreed t0 place the books in the Monumental building, and thereafter, as soon as the debt on the building should be paid, to maintain the same as a public library out of the rents derived from the building, devoting what was commonly known as Memorial hall to the purpose of a public library and reading-room forever. From 1879 to 1886 the books were stored in a part of Memorial hall, but the trustees, having no funds available, they were not accessible to the public. During the latter year the village council made a small levy for library purposes, and, with the consent of the board of trustees of the Monumental building took the necessary steps to keep the library open to the public until such time as the trustees might be in condition to take charge of the same and carry out their contract.
Under this arrangement the immediate management was in the hands of a committee appointed by the village council, which also elected the librarian. This arrangement continued until in the autumn of 1897, or the early part of 188, when the board of trustees of the Monumental building organized as a library association, adopting a plan of government whereby the immediate control and management of the library was placed in the hands of a committee of three appointed by the board of trustees, which als0 elected the librarian. The managing committee was composed of one member of the board of trustees, one member of the city school board and 0ne unofficial citizen of the city. Subsequently the membership of the committee was increased to four, two of whom were to be chosen, or concurred in, by the board of education. This form of government has proven satisfactory, and is still in force.
At the beginning of 188 the library had about 1,200 volumes, exclusive of public documents, of which it probably had as many more, for it had been a depository library since about 1886. During the year 1897, the last year the library was under the management of the city council, the monthly average of books taken from the library for home reading was 343. The monthly average during the first year under the new management, being the year 188, was 1,094 volumes per month ; while the average monthly circulation for 1899 was 1,729 volumes per month. The average circulation for the year 1911 was 2,804 volumes per month. The library itself has grown from 1,200 volumes in 1898 to 12,000 volumes exclusive of public documents, on January 1, 1912. Its revenues are made up of rents derived from the Monumental building and a levy made by the board of education. From 1898 to 1902, inclusive, the board of education made a levy of three-tenths of a mill for library purposes under the law passed in 1897. Since 1902 the levy has been made under the law of 1902, which authorizes the levy of a mill, and for several years past the levy has been a mill, which on the valuation of the Sidney school district nets about $2,800.
In the spring of 1901 the library began placing small collections of books in the school rooms of the city for the circulation of books for home reading—the books being under the control of the teacher, and given out by .her. Five such libraries were placed in schoolrooms during that year as an experi-
PICTURES: EAST SIDE PUBLIC SQUARE, SIDNEY, O.; WEST SIDE PUBLIC SQUARE, SIDNEY, SHOWING TH WAGNER HOUSE; SOUTH SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE, SIDNEY, O.; NORTH SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE, SIDNEY, O.
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ment. The number of such libraries has been increased from year to year until now schoolroom libraries are being maintained in all the schoolrooms of the city down to and including the second grade.
The library now occupies the whole of the second floor of the Monumental building, furnishing floor space about equal to 37 by 95 feet. The building was erected in 1875 as a memorial to the soldiers who enlisted from Shelby county and died in the service during the war of the Rebellion. The first and third floors have the same floor space as the second—the first being leased for business rooms, and the third floor being used for lodge rooms. The Memorial Tablets are placed in the main room of the library, on the second floor. This building is not, therefore, technically a library building.
The whole of the second floor has been devoted to library purposes since the autumn of 1905, since which time the library has had a separate children's room equipped with over 1,000 books arranged in cases along the wall, open to the children at all times from half past eight o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock at night, and having a complete card catalog in the room for the use of the children, giving subject, author and title, arranged in dictionary form. A story hour for the smaller children once a week, on Saturday morning, has been maintained for several years.
In 1906 the library started a museum as an adjunct—limiting it, however, to such objects as would have educational value appropriate to and in conjunction with a library. This feature has been found both interesting and valuable from the library standpoint. It has cost a very slight money expenditure, the specimens having almost entirely come to the library as gifts.
During the year 1908 the congressional set of U. S. government documents, which had accumulated to about the number of 3,500 volumes, were assorted, about half of them, those of least importance to a small library, being returned to the government, and the remainder—about 1,800 volumes— were marked with the serial number on the outside, and shelved in the order 0f the serial numbers. At the same time the document lists in the government indexes were checked up in red ink showing just what volumes were in the library. This makes the volumes accessible to any one who understands using the indexes.
The library is especially strong in reference books, many (and the most valuable) of which, were gifts, either of the books themselves, or of the money with which they were purchased. The spirit of giving to this department has been fostered and encouraged with good results. Quite a number of these gifts were of a memorial nature. In several instances money which otherwise would have gone into the purchase of flowers for funerals has been invested in some valuable reference work for the library.
The use 0f the reference department has greatly increased during the past few years, as the people have become better acquainted with it, and with the methods of using the aids and helps available. It has been the great desire of the librarian to popularize this department of the library, believing that all readers of ordinary intelligence may become able to use the greater part, at least, of the reference books without the aid of a library assistant. With that
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end in view, the librarian during the past year, acting in cooperation with the superintendent of schools, has been giving instruction in, the use of the reference department to the pupils in the high school,—receiving them at the library in groups of six to eight at a time, and having them do practical reference work under her direction. The same general line of work is also now being pursued with several of the study clubs, while others are anxious to undertake it.
The idea underlying this work is, that all the student class of the community, as well as all other ordinarily intelligent readers should be able to use the library to a great extent without the aid of the library force, relying merely upon their own efforts to help themselves in the library. Looking to this end, the library has open shelves throughout. The reference books are shelved in a corner of the reading room devoted exclusively to reference work. The bound volumes of magazines are shelved in alphabetical arrangement, and the classed books for circulation are arranged according to the Dewey classification,—the ends of each case having labels indicating plainly the contents of the case, and then the shelves being labeled to show the exact location of each class.
Miss Emma Graham has been a most efficient librarian since 1898 when the library association was organized and the present plan of government adopted. She is one of the foremost educators in this line in the state and is prominent in all its activities. She works with the idea that the library exists for all the people and that it should contribute to the life-long education of all classes, has built up and strengthened along every line its collection of books, thus making it, not in name only, but in fact the "post-graduate school of the community." S. L. Wicoff has been an untiring worker for the library giving much of his time t0 the intelligent administration of its affairs.
The present library board of directors consists of Harrison Wilson, W. A. Graham, W, B. McCabe, W. T. McLean, L. M. Studevant, and Perry Frazier, the place of W. H. Wagner, who recently resigned, not yet having been filled.
S. L. Wicoff, Robert Bingham, W. A. Graham and W. D. Snyder constitute the present library committee.
The Sidney public library is seeking to do a great work in this community and is an important part of the free educational system of the town and county.