Establishment and Development of the Greensburg Library Early Beginnings (1897):

In 1897, after working at the Greensburg Pennsylvania Railroad Station as a 17 year-old telegraph operator, Andrew Carnegie wanted to establish a Carnegie Library in Greensburg.' While Greensburg did not have the required minimum population (of 10,000 people) for a Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie was willing to make an exception.' He wanted the location of the library to be in the western section of town, on West Pittsburgh Street near the Thomas Lynch mansion, which is now the location of the Old Republic Insurance Company.' This site had plenty of open ground and beautiful trees around it.' It was Carnegie's practice to prefer a site large enough to accommodate the architectural style he preferred.' At the turn of the 20^th century, a Carnegie library was often the most unique and imposing structure in hundreds of small American communities, typically constructed in a Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, Baroque, or Classical revival architectural style.' Carnegie libraries were typically set back on a lot, with ample space on all sides to enhance the library building.' Other potential properties closer to the business center of town would be shut in by buildings on all sides and

would be more exposed to the dirt and noise of the city.' However, the Greensburg Library Committee which was comprised of Greensburg Council members who owned properties closer to Greensburg's central business district (that they hoped to sell for the library's building) wanted the library to be located closer to the business center of Greensburg.' Viewing a library in economic terms, local leaders tied its location to the town's commercial success and its ability to attract prospective investors.' In short, a library in the center of town was good for "commercial boosterism."¹ Thus, Greensburg "lost" its chance to have a Carnegie Library.

First Location — Third Floor of the Brien Building (January 1936):

Early in 1929, the Tuesday Literary Club announced it would seek to furnish funds for a children's room in a library.¹²

The first plan for a library in Greensburg was made by the Concord Club, a group of young men organized "to promote the welfare of our country, to create and develop intelligent, patriotic interest in every important phase of our national life."³ A committee was appointed on October 25, 1935, and this committee made recommendations to the Concord Club.³ They secured third floor rooms in the Brien Building and collected several volumes which were cataloged.' The Concord Club realized the project had to be community-wide and not a club project.³ Several prominent citizens were asked to serve as a temporary board of directors.³ This group was chartered as the "Greensburg Library Association."³ A charter was granted on December 31, 1935, by Judge Charles E. Whitten.³ The organization's goal was to establish a free public library for the community.³ Control of the library was transferred by the Concord Club to the newly created Greensburg Library Association in January 1936.³

A membership drive was conducted to secure charter members.³ Kirk S. Nevin acted as chairman.³ Charter members were to have control.' More than 300 charter members and over $3,000 was secured.³ At the same time, another campaign was launched for the donation of books.³ Mrs. C.L. Goodwin was chairman for this drive.³ The response was excellent with many books being donated.³ With the membership and book drive completed, the association was ready for permanent organization.' On February 27, 1936, a meeting of the charter members was called at the School Administration Building.' At this meeting, by-laws were adopted and the board of 15 directors was elected.³ They were: Charles McKenna Lynch, President; Miss Edna L. McFarland, Secretary; and James A. Llorens, Library Director.³ Other members of the board were: Mrs. John Barclay, Sr., Mrs.

John Barclay, Jr., Thomas S. Connor, Mrs. Margaret Coulter, James Gregg, Mrs. Thomas Lynch, R. W. Smith, Walter H. Smith, E. Arthur Sweeny, and Mrs. Todd G. Truxa1.³

The first job confronting the new board was opening the library, purchase of essential books, and selection of a librarian, and an assistant librarian.³ The books were catalogued and prepared for circulation as part of the National Youth Movement³ Both the Greensburg High School and Seton Hill College cooperated in obtaining young people for this work.³ About 7,000 books were prepared and ready when the library opened.' The Tuesday Literary Club financially supported the founding of the Greensburg Library.⁴ Frances Buxton (of the Tuesday Literary Club) helped to catalogue the original 5,000 volumes.⁴ The Library opened its doors during January 1936.⁵

However, the new quarters in the Brien Building were not satisfactory due to rapid expansion of the library.³ Climbing stairs to the third floor required a great deal of energy.³ Also, much paper on the third floor was deemed to create a potential fire hazard.³ Therefore, new quarters were located, and the library moved to the property on the corner of South Maple Avenue and Second Street owned by the Zimmerly family.³

Second Location — Corner of South Maple Avenue and East Second Street (June 1936):

In June 1936, the second home of the Greensburg Library was located in a small room at the corner of South Maple Avenue and Second Street on property owned by the Zimmerly family.³ According to long-time Greensburg resident, Carolyn Falcon, this library was located in what is now a parking lot, next to what is now the Behavioral Health building.

On June 19, 1936, the library opened its doors to the children of Greensburg, and on June 20, 1936, to adults.³ There were 7,000 books and 54 magazines.³ Per Carolyn Falcon, the Greensburg College Club helped by donating a set of Encyclopedia Britannica encyclopedias to the library. Miss Muriel C. Bryan was the first librarian, and she had two assistants, Miss Ruth Maxwell and Mrs. Irma N. Braucher.³ The first year, the library operated on a budget of $3,600.³ The librarian's salary was $100 per month, and her assistants received $60 and $48 respectively.³ During the first month of operation, the circulation was 8,481 books of which 5,335 were adult and 3,146 juvenile books.³ This proved that the people of Greensburg welcomed the library.³ Miss Bryan did a good job of organization, but she did not live to know how well she had laid the foundation of the new library.³ On February 24, 1937, she died suddenly of a heart attack (in her apartment in the Library Building).³'⁶ Miss Maxwell assumed her duties as librarian.³

Third Location — Corner of South Main Street and East Third Street (June 26, 1940):

On July 25, 1938, General Richard Coulter, on behalf of the Coulter heirs, offered the old Coulter residence on the corner of East Third and South Math Streets for the library.''' The Board accepted his offer.' The building was remodeled, and the library moved on June 26, 1940.³ More spacious quarters allowed the library to provide a Children's Room, two reading rooms and two rooms of racks on the first floor.³'⁷ Lydia Jane (Sunny) Pollins (of the Tuesday Literary Club) painted the murals in the Library's Children's Room.⁴

The third floor was furnished for the Pennsylvania Room, a reference room, a mending and work room, and an office.³ The book collection grew from 7,000 volumes to 17,433 volumes and magazines from 54 to 103.³ There were 500 books on Pennsylvania alone.³ There was a radio broadcast over Greensburg radio station WHJB every week.³³ An addition to the library was built in 1954, which the Tuesday Literary Club financially supported.' (Note, during June 1954, as requested, the Tuesday

Literary Club agreed to provide a donation of $100 to the Greensburg Library, payable over a three-year period) to fund a new wing for the Greensburg Library.' The Tuesday Literary Club received an invitation to attend the dedication service.'

As of March 1965, the Greensburg Library outgrew its location at Main and Third Streets, and plans were undertaken to move the Greensburg Library to the former Post Office building on South Pennsylvania Avenue.⁷

Fourth Location — South Pennsylvania Avenue in the former Post Office Building (August 1969):

During August 1969, the library unofficially moved into the former post office building (which was constructed during 1911).⁸ Ironically, this property was available to Carnegie when potential sites were viewed and discussed during the spring of 1898.¹ On May 20, 1970, the Greensburg Library was dedicated with a formal opening ceremony in its new home on South Pennsylvania Avenue (and West Third Street) in the former Post Office building.⁸ The cost of converting the former post office to a library was met by a federal grant and a 1969 public campaign of $200,000.⁷

Per the 1969 Greensburg Library Annual Report, there were 45,096 catalogued volumes in the library, and the library operated on a budget of $58,786 for the 1969 year.⁸

Note, a fond memory of one of our Tuesday Literary Club members (i.e., Beth McAtee) is when the Library moved from its location on Main and Third Streets to the old Post Office building and to help defray moving costs, the Library allowed its patrons to take out as many books as one wished. Beth vividly remembers (as an elementary school-aged youngster) taking out several brown paper bags (with corded handles) of books. It was quite a treat!

In 1990, the Greensburg library added those communities in the Hempfield Area School District to its service area.⁹ In 1997, the library added a second floor with a beautiful 3,000 square foot children's library and increased its children's programs and services.⁹ In 2009, the library added the Youngwood Area Public Library as a branch at the request of Youngwood's board of directors.⁹

As of September 2017, the catalogued volumes grew to 111,417¹⁰ and as of 2015, the library operated on a budget of approximately $700,000 per year.¹¹

On November 7, 2017, residents of the City of Greensburg, Hempfield Township, the Borough of Southwest Greensburg, the Borough of South Greensburg, the Borough of Youngwood, and the Borough of New Stanton were presented with a referendum to approve the levying of 1 mil on all taxable real estate to be allocated to the Greensburg Hempfield Library and the Youngwood Branch Library.¹² Only residents of the City of Greensburg and the Borough of Southwest Greensburg approved the referendum.¹²

(Endnotes)

1 Westmoreland History publication, "A Carnegie Library for Greensburg, Pennsylvania" by

James V Steeley, Winter 2015, pages 19 - 27

2 City of Greensburg, A History, page 139, "Public Library for Greensburg is Discussed,"

Greensburg Daily Tribune newspaper, December 12, 1929

3 City of Greensburg, Sesqui-Centennial Corporation, 1799-1949, page 176

4 Tuesday Literary Club meeting notes, January 1936, June 1954, March 23, 1966, October 22,

1968, and April 28, 1970

5 Greensburg Library News Bulletin, December 21, 1935, page 1

6 Greensburg Daily Tribune newspaper, February 25, 1937, page 1

7 A Bicentennial History of the City of Greensburg, by Robert B. Van Atta, 1999, pages 97,122,

and 126

8 Annual Report for the Greensburg Library for 1969 and Invitation for the Formal Opening of

the New Library, Wednesday, May 20, 1970 at 8:00 p.m., South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, Pennsylvania

9 History - Greensburg Hempfield Library website

10 Newsletter from the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, dated September 2017

11 Newsletter from the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, dated August 2016

12 Tribune Review newspaper, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, November 8, 2017