Brumback Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brumback Library
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Front of the library
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 215 W. Main St., Van Wert, Ohio |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | David L. Stine |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001973 |
| Added to NRHP | January 29, 1979 |
The Brumback Library is a special public library located in Van Wert, Ohio, United States. It opened in the early 1900s to serve everyone in Van Wert County. The library building is very old and has a unique design by David L. Stine. It was built with money given by a local businessman. This library is famous because it was the first public library in the United States to serve an entire county. Because of its history and design, it has been named a historic site.
Contents
A Library for Everyone
In 1890, a group of ladies in Van Wert decided their community needed a public library. They formed the Van Wert Library Association. To get money, they asked people to pay $3 each and held fun events. By the end of 1890, they had bought 600 books and hired a librarian. They rented a room for the library. Only those who paid could use it at first.
Their hard work became well-known. In 1896, the city council started a small property tax for the library. This raised about $575 each year. This money helped keep the books, but it was not enough to make the library grow much. The ladies worried the library might not last if they stopped supporting it.
John Sanford Brumback's Gift
Then, help came from an unexpected person. John Sanford Brumback was born in Licking County in 1829. He moved to Van Wert in 1862 and became a very successful businessman. As he got older, he decided to give money to good causes, which is called philanthropy.
When he passed away in December 1897, it was announced that he had left a large sum of money to the library. His family also agreed to spend more money to build a library building. This was a very kind gesture, as his will did not require it.
The First County Library
The most interesting part of Brumback's will was the idea of creating a library for the whole county. No one had ever thought of this before! Many people thought it was impossible at first. But farmers in the county's Granges (local groups) talked about it and strongly supported the idea.
Because so many people wanted a county library, the state legislature passed a special law in April. This law made it possible for a county library to exist. The library's books were then officially given to the county. This happened through an agreement between the county leaders, the Van Wert Library Association, and Brumback's family. The ladies gave their books, the family paid for the new building in a city park, and the county agreed to collect a permanent tax to keep the library running.
The first stone of the new building was laid on July 18, 1899. Construction continued through 1900. The Brumback family gave over $50,000 for the project.
Opening Day
The Brumback Library was officially opened on January 1, 1901. The dedication ceremony took place at the First Methodist Episcopal Church. A famous singer named Charles W. Clark performed a song. The library opened its doors to the public twenty-eight days later.
The first librarian worked hard to get more books. In the first six years, the library grew from about 5,000 books to over 10,000! To make it a true county library, small branches were opened in sixteen different places across Van Wert County. In just six years, people borrowed over fifty thousand books a year from the library system.
Growing and Changing
Over the years, some of the smaller branches closed. By 1968, there were only nine pick-up spots outside Van Wert. However, a bookmobile (a library on wheels) was started to help schools in the county.
By 1961, the original building was getting too full with 62,000 books. So, the library bought the old Brumback family home. Eighteen thousand books were moved there, along with services for people outside Van Wert.
More space was needed by the 1990s. In 1991, a new section was built, and the original building was updated inside. This was the biggest change to the library since 1917, when a children's section was added to the basement. Today, new branches have been reopened in the villages of Convoy, Middle Point, Ohio City, Willshire, and Wren.
Building Design
The original Brumback Library building is mostly made of sandstone. It has a strong sandstone base, walls made of bluestone, and a colorful tile roof.
Some of its most striking features are a round tower with castle-like tops called battlements, a smaller square tower, and a grand main entrance. If you look at the library from the street, the round tower is on the right, the square tower is on the left, and the entrance is in the middle. A few steps lead up to the entrance, which is under a large central pointed roof section called a gable. Small arched windows are on the second floor of the gable and towers. Larger rectangular windows are on the first floor.
All these parts together give the building a unique look. The architect, David L. Stine, used ideas from both the Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles. The building also reminds some people of the Richardsonian Romanesque style.
Historic Landmark
In early 1979, the Brumback Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic site. It qualified because of its special architecture and its role in the area's history.
A key reason for its importance was its role as the center of the county library system. The Brumback Library was the very first county library ever created in the United States. It was the second place in Van Wert County to be added to the Register. Only the county courthouse was listed before it.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Brumback para niños
