WCPL Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Cake, Memories, Tours
April 12, 2017 at 8:34 p.m.
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But Tuesday was an opportunity for the staff and the community to look back at its first 100 years. The library, which opened its doors at 310 E. Main St. in April 1917, hosted an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. yesterday.
Refreshments were provided and served by the Friends Of The Library. In the center of the long table in the meeting room was a creation by The Cake Lady of North Webster made to look like a stack of four hardcover books with a laptop on top. While the laptop represented the future, each book in the cake represented 25 years of the library. The bottom book, representing the first 25 years, was Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind.” On top of that was Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”; James A. Michener’s “Centennial” and John Grisham’s “The Client” rounding out the books.
June Thomas, of Warsaw, who was admiring the cake, said she’s been a WCPL card holder for 30 years. Before that, she lived in Prairie Township and purchased a library card for about 15 years so her children could have access to the library.
In another corner of the meeting room was Nathaniel Wise, 16, a homeschooled student, with his recreation of the library made out of Legos®.
“It took me eight hours to actually assemble it,” he said. Before constructing it, he said it took him many more hours to design it on computer software. He began working on it about two years ago, got stalled and then finished it in time for the 100th celebration Tuesday.
Beside Wise was a table of historical information, photos, post cards, building plans and annual reports. Some of the information was about Leah Power, the first children’s librarian from 1917 to 1954.
Many of the library staff dressed up in attire representing different eras of the library’s history.
Anna Jackson, young adult librarian, dressed up as Rosie the Riveter from the World War II era in honor of her grandmother, Wilma Warren Hawley.
“My grandmother was a Rosie the Riveter. She made superchargers for B29s. ... She worked in the factory in Fort Wayne for two years after graduating high school. I wanted to honor her and all that she did. My grandfather also served in World War II,” Jackson said.
Her grandfather, Marshall Hawley, served in the Army.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Jackson said. “I love National Library Week. I’m so glad we can do this during our 100 years celebration.”
National Library Week is April 9-15.
Library Director Ann Zydek said the public, current and former staff and library board members were invited to the open house. Tours were provided to groups throughout the evening.
“We’re giving everyone a chance to share memories,” she said, noting there were stations around the library for people to share their favorite library memory.
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But Tuesday was an opportunity for the staff and the community to look back at its first 100 years. The library, which opened its doors at 310 E. Main St. in April 1917, hosted an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. yesterday.
Refreshments were provided and served by the Friends Of The Library. In the center of the long table in the meeting room was a creation by The Cake Lady of North Webster made to look like a stack of four hardcover books with a laptop on top. While the laptop represented the future, each book in the cake represented 25 years of the library. The bottom book, representing the first 25 years, was Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind.” On top of that was Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”; James A. Michener’s “Centennial” and John Grisham’s “The Client” rounding out the books.
June Thomas, of Warsaw, who was admiring the cake, said she’s been a WCPL card holder for 30 years. Before that, she lived in Prairie Township and purchased a library card for about 15 years so her children could have access to the library.
In another corner of the meeting room was Nathaniel Wise, 16, a homeschooled student, with his recreation of the library made out of Legos®.
“It took me eight hours to actually assemble it,” he said. Before constructing it, he said it took him many more hours to design it on computer software. He began working on it about two years ago, got stalled and then finished it in time for the 100th celebration Tuesday.
Beside Wise was a table of historical information, photos, post cards, building plans and annual reports. Some of the information was about Leah Power, the first children’s librarian from 1917 to 1954.
Many of the library staff dressed up in attire representing different eras of the library’s history.
Anna Jackson, young adult librarian, dressed up as Rosie the Riveter from the World War II era in honor of her grandmother, Wilma Warren Hawley.
“My grandmother was a Rosie the Riveter. She made superchargers for B29s. ... She worked in the factory in Fort Wayne for two years after graduating high school. I wanted to honor her and all that she did. My grandfather also served in World War II,” Jackson said.
Her grandfather, Marshall Hawley, served in the Army.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Jackson said. “I love National Library Week. I’m so glad we can do this during our 100 years celebration.”
National Library Week is April 9-15.
Library Director Ann Zydek said the public, current and former staff and library board members were invited to the open house. Tours were provided to groups throughout the evening.
“We’re giving everyone a chance to share memories,” she said, noting there were stations around the library for people to share their favorite library memory.
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