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J kh. vi 12 WINNETKA TALK October 23, 1926 BEST MILK You will find that the best milk is pure, fresh and re- markably nutritious. We keep our milk up to this high standard. PHONE 137 WINNE TK /a ha BEAN oN I I VN = 4 RELATES HISTORY OF ~~ WNNETKA'S LIBRARY | Present Village Institution | Found Its Forerunner in Read- ing and Social Club | BY WILLIAM A. HADLEY | In the early eighties there was an | organization in Winnetka known as { the Winnetka Reading and Social club. | | It was composed of a group of citizens | { who met for the purpose of combining | the enjoyment of current and a social hour. Meetings were held at stated intervals at the homes of the members, where articles were read and discussed, and magazines exchanged. The village at that time numbered about 840 inhabitants. The | were unpaved and poorly lighted, and there were few sidewalks except stretches of board walk in front of literature | streets | | . . some of the residences. Only a few to overcome the weariness of the jour- trains each way carried the people to!ney to and from the city to enjoy the land from the city. The school was {held in the Academy building, since | known as the Village hall. There | were two churches, the chapel located on Sheridan road, and used intermit- tently by different denominations, later ve home of the Episcopal church, and 'the Union church which was located at the corner of Maple and Cherry streets, and used by the Unitarians. Hamlet in the Woods The village was really a hamlet in the woods, for the great oak trees abounded on all the uncleared portions of land. Each house had its garden, | well fenced to protect it from cows land pigs that wandered away from | their enclosures. | The people were characterized by energy and culture. They preferred the home where each family could have an entire block to the crowded | conditions in the city, and were willing ¥ N N NY NY NY NY NY N) NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NS NY NY NY N) NY N N NS NY NS NY NY NY N NY NY NY NY NY N NY NY NY NY N N N NY NY NY NY NY NS NY NY NY NS NY NY AN NY NY N \ N 3 A NY NY NY NY NN \ bY Club. and children including Valencia University 2433 2 RE i 2 ddd ddd ddd dd ddd dll AS The ALICIA PRATT SCHOOL of DANCING REOPENS Wednesday, Oct. 20, Evanston Woman's club Thursday, Oct. 21, Winter Club, Lake Forest. Friday, Oct. 22, Monday, Tuesday, Oct. 26, St. Elizabeth's Parish, Glencoe. Saturday, Oct. 30, Elm Place School, Highland Park. Beginning and advanced classes for women Character -- Interpretive -- Pantomime -- Eccentric -- Plastiques Dance Dramas -- Limbering -- Stretching Building and Reducing Exercises, and the Newest Ballroom Steps 1125 Davis Street Dd ii dda ddiziiiiiiiiiziiiiziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid Zs Oct. 25, Winnetka Woman's , comprising and Black Bottom. Winnetka 1520 TLS ASSIS SILLS LSPA I SSS SSSI LSS S SILLS LSS ISLS ISLS SSL SSSI S SSS SAS SSIS SS SSS SS SS Complete Automobile Service When your car is in need of atten- tion, you'll want to have it repaired and repaired correctly. equipped shop offers Our well Complete Auto Service Washing -- Polishing Day and Night OUR PRICES are always fair and just CHEVROLET SALES and SERVICE RICHARDSON'S GARAGE 726 Elm Street WINNETKA Winnetka 25 rural environment. It was in this situation that the Winnetka Reading and Social club was founded and flourished. The mem- bers of this club felt that its service to themselves and to the people of the village would be greatly increased, if there was a library and, accordingly they took the preliminary steps neces- sary to take advantage of the law, which had been recently enacted, by which public libraries could be estab- lished and maintained. The proposi- tion to levy the necessary taxes was submitted for a referendum vote at the village election in April 1884 and was carried without a dissenting vote. Robert Moth being clerk and John Dale, President. The amount raised for the first year was approximately $100 and this amount was supple- mented by proceeds of a large lawn fete given by Gen. and Mrs. M. T. Simpson on their lawn at Sheridan road. In the election of the year 1885 the first board c, library trustees was chosen in accordance with the terms of the law. They were: Rev. S. T. Kidder, R. S. Moth, S. S. Burr, Joseph Burnham, William Nethercott, Fred Jones. On April 30, 1885 the newly elected trustees met and chose S. S. Burr, president of the board, and R. S. Moth as secretary. The minutes show that a committee was appointed to draw up a set of by-laws for the management of the library, and that a room in the old school house at the corner of Elm and Walnut streets was selected as a suitable place for it. Miss Grace Sloate was employed as librarian at a salary of $25 a year, paid quarterly, and 'a janitor also was employed. The library was to be opened two hours each Saturday evening. Mr. Artemus Ward made a generous do- nation of books as a nucleus, and 202 volumes were circulated during the first year. The number of borrowers at that time was 145. The number of books purchased the first year was ninety-four and the total number in the library in March 1886 was 728. Bills for the year were $140.67. Rules and regulations for loaning books, for fines, etc., were passed and the Win- netka Public library started on its career as a valuable municipal serv- ant. It is not clear just how long the library was housed in the old Elm street school house, but within a year or so it was given a room in the old "Dormitory building" at the corner of Cherry street and Ridge avenue. The Misses Elinor and Virginia Den- nehey, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dennehey of 1231 Tower road, are planning to leave for Europe some- time next month. They will spend about six months traveling and study- ing in Italy, France, and other Euro- pean countries. Perennials and Black Dirt Fertilizer and Shrubbery Landscaping Trimming Spraying Grading = LAKE SHORE GARDEN & HOME SERVICE N. Anderson, Prop. 1108 ASH STREET Phone Winnetka 456 »