Walworth Seely Public Library
The Walworth-Seely Public Library: Our Gateway To Knowledge
A Time-line of Growth – Part I
Way back when, in the early days of Walworth, one Julian Findley erected a building located at North 11Marion Road. It was probably used as a carpenter’s shop and was also used to dry the waste material from a nearby dry house.
On April 1, 1904, Jay Seely (BORN December 25, 1853) purchased the building from Julian’s decendant, Jones Findley, to be used as his home. Seely was an inventor, plumber, tinsmith, musician, and respected citizen.
In 1930, after his wife Sarah died, Jay built the two-story rear part of the building and moved there in 1931. The Reading Room used to be his living quarters. The windows in the downstairs addition came from the Walworth Academy. The foundation stones are from the evaporator foundation Jay had just before World War I.
Following Jay’s death at the age of 90, September 12, 1943: the property was inherited by his daughter, Bessie M. Seely. She was the first woman graduated from the Law College of Syracuse University and was later admitted to the Bar of New York State
After years of being un-inhabited, Bessie M. Seely, sold her home to the Walworth Chamber of Commerce for $1 in August 1, 1958.
Loraine Finley remembered that the person that made the biggest contribution to the formation of the library was Jean Connor from the New York State Department of Education, Library Services Division. At that time, some people in the county were interested in forming a County Library System. Jean suggested that a library in Walworth be established first.
Mary Lou Fleming remembered that the earliest local benefactor of our Walworth-Seely Public Library appears to have been
Dr. William Horace Foster Newman (d. 12Aug1962), who began a successful letter writing campaign, assisted by his secretary/book-keeper, Mary Louise Fleming. The letters told of the community’s and Dr. Newman’s desire to have a public library, but funds were needed to accomplish this.
On January 27, 1960, The Walworth Reading Room first opened its doors as an experiment under the co-sponsorship of the Wayne County Library Board and the Walworth Chamber of Commerce. It was located on the first floor in the rear of the building. Mrs. Frieda Leisten, the first volunteer librarian, willingly donated her time for more than a year. Other members of the volunteer staff were Laura Radder, Marguerite Traugott, Shirley Huntley, Jay Taber, and Lorraine Finley.
On October 5, 1961, an appeal was made to the Walworth Town Board to establish a public library. The Board voted unanimously to establish the Walworth-Seely Public Library and appointed the first Board of Trustees: Ethel Henning of Lincoln, Doris Gardner and Esther Wesenberg of West Walworth, and Lorraine Finley and Jay Taber of Walworth.
On October 21, 1961, the first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held. Officers elected were: president Lorraine Finley, historian Doris Gardner, secretary Ethel Henning, treasurer Jay Taber, and publicity Esther Wesenberg.
On October 21, 1961, the Provisional Charter #8103 was received from the New York State Regents Board.
On March 16, 1962, application was made to the Wayne County Library System for membership; the first floor rooms were remodeled.
On February 23, 1962: Provisional Charter #8103 was received from the New York State Regents Board.
On August 19, 1962, a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house were held, attended by Bessie Seely, political dignitaries, and local residents.
Lorraine Finley remembered that the cover on the 1962 booklet was drawn by Frank Finley, her brother-in-law. The first sign for the library was made by Arnold Taber, Jay Taber’s brother. The ends of the ribbon were held by Kathy Duell Emerson and Kathy Triou.
It is interesting to note that in 1963, the first full year of operation, the Circulation was 7,112 serving a Population of 2,782 (1960 figures)
On March 5, 1969, the two-story building was purchased from the Walworth Chamber of Commerce for $3,000. Only the 736 sq. ft. on the first floor were accessible to the public. The heating was a bit lacking during the winters, so volunteers would heat stones to keep their feet warm!
Well, this brings us up to the time where some of us “new folks” came on the scene. Actually several of the “oldies” are still around, too, like Lorraine Finley and Mary Lou Fleming. This is the first article in a series of articles about the people who have worked in our library, as well as rreview a little more of the history of our Walworth-Seely Public Library.
“Readers today; Leaders tomorrow” a quote from Lyle Bassage during the Walworth Historical Society’s presentation to Lorraine Finley of the 2007 Community Service Award on May 21, 2007.
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published Aug09-07 Wayne County MAIL newspaper