Boca Raton Historical Society Boca Raton Public Library
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The Spani#h River Paper# December 2007 Volume XX A Chronicle of The Boca Raton Public Library 1923-2007 Boca’s First Library Established by Local Woman’s Club January, 1923. The Woman’s Club performing musicales featuring local of Boca Raton has started the talent. Audience members must community’s first library. The bring a book to donate to the library Club’s vision for a public library in order to gain admission to a show. in Boca became a reality through Local architect, Addison Mizner, hard work, dedication, and the has been supporting the cause by spirit of volunteerism. The core of encouraging guests at the Boca the library’s collection consists of a Raton club to donate books that they large number of fiction titles donated have read while vacationing at the by the Friends of the Chicago Public hotel to the library. Woman’s Club Library, thanks to Mrs. Morris members, Mrs. Charles Stokes, Mrs. Stokes. The Boca Raton Woman’s W.C. Young, Mrs. Crosby Tappan, Club has devised a novel method and Miss Erma Habercorn have been for further developing the Library’s serving as volunteer librarians. book collection. They have been The Boca Raton Woman’s Club, formed in the early 1920’s, promoted “general philanthropic work, along practical and educational lines.” The club grew to 28 members in 1926. There was a designated librarian and a library committee. The members of the board gathered on the steps of the new town hall are: (first row) Lillian Williams and Harriet Gates; (second row) Eula Raulerson, Ruby Bender, Clementine Brown, Beulah Butler, Mary Alice Lamont, Helen Stokes, Pauline Raulerson, and Mayor John Brown; (third row) Unidentified, Peg Young (Library Board Chair), Florence Purdom, Audrey Purdom, Mamie Riley, Jack Cramer (builder of Town Hall), Mamie Habercorn, Gladys Sherman, and Katie Long. 1 Land Bust Busts Library January, 1926. Boca Raton’s off a fever of land speculation, public library, formed in 1923 by construction, and population growth. the local Woman’s Club, is the latest However, the bottom has fallen out The building at location “X” on this 1940’s map of the Boca Raton Army Air Field is labeled “SERVICE CLUB & LIBRARY.” is labeled “SERVICE Air Field Army map of the Boca Raton at location “X” on this 1940’s The building victim of the land bust decimating of the real estate market and the the local economy. The South economic conditions have forced the Florida economy had benefited by library’s closure. The Library’s book the booming real estate market, collection will be donated to the local which hit its height in 1925, setting elementary school. When the Library closed in 1926 it’s book collection was moved to this elementary school. New Library Opens at Boca Raton Army Air Field January, 1946. The Woman’s Building. Myrtle Fleming, Carrie Christian and Civic Club, under the Sperry, Paulette Hebel, Helen Mann leadership of President Mrs. Arnold and Birdine Merritt will serve as MacSpadden, has opened a new volunteer librarians. The library will library at the Boca Raton Army Air be open three afternoons and one Field, Wives of Army personnel and evening a week. other local women who felt that Boca Raton needed a public library aided in the efforts. They are assembling a collection of books for the new library through a combination of membership drives, fundraising activities, and personal donations. Thanks to Recreational Director of Civilian Personnel Mrs. Mabel Wood, the Library will be located in When the Library reopened in 1946 it was a room in the base’s Administration housed in a building at the Boca Army Air Field. 2 3 Boca Library Gone Library Developing With the Wind New Reference Collection September 18, 1947. Yesterday, February 29, 1949. The Library correct and easy to understand with a category four hurricane with received a gift of fifty dollars from exquisitely colored illustrations of gusts of up to 155 miles per an anonymous donor this week that the state’s bird life. The Library hour came ashore near Fort was used to purchase The Birds committee hopes to have a reference Lauderdale. The intense and unusu- of Florida by Harold Bailey. Mr. collection as quickly as possible that ally large storm caused extensive Bailey’s book will be the start of the will contain adequate information damage at the Boca Raton Army Air much needed reference collection. It to service the information needs of Field, where the Boca Raton Public is a beautiful volume, scientifically local residents. Library is located. Army officials estimated damages to the base at $4.5 million. The building housing the library lost its roof in the high winds, forcing the library to close. There are no immediate plans for reopening. J. Myer and Hildegarde Schine. Mr. Schine purchased the Boca Raton Club in 1944. They were big supporters of the library. New Library to Open in Boca Town Hall May 28, 1948. Boca Raton will soon have a new library. The new facility will replace the one formerly located at the Boca Raton Army Air Field that was closed last year due to extensive hurricane damage. Thanks to the efforts of former Woman’s Club The Birds of Florida by Harold H. Bailey is a welcome addition to the Library’s collections. It contains many color plates with pictures of Florida’s birds. secretary, Eleanor Bebout, a new library board was created on April 26, 1948. Carrie Sperry, Dorothy Library Gets New Benefactor Cox, Helen Mann, Eleanor Bebout January, 1950. Mrs. Eleanor supporter and benefactor. Thanks and Myrtle Fleming will serve as the Bebout, President of the Boca to Mrs. Schine the library has been new library’s Board of Directors. Mrs. Library Board, and Mrs. Hildegarde redecorated with new bookcases, Bebout will serve as President. Schine, wife of J. Myer Schine of the fluorescent lights, and draperies. Three volunteers who made the library possible! Thanks to the Boca Town Council, Boca Raton Club, recently had lunch Mrs. Schine envisions a new building Helen Mann, Hildegard Schine, the new library will be located in a together. The result of the meeting in Boca that will house both a library and Eleanor Bebout. room in the Municipal Building. is that the library now has a new and an art museum. 4 5 Library and Cultural Arts Center Planned for Boca December 2, 1955. Plans are The Center will be part of a underway for the Boca Raton million-dollar development on a Library and Cultural Arts Center to 25-acre tract of land in the heart of be built on land donated by Mr. and downtown Boca Raton. The project’s Mrs. J. Myer Schine, overlooking architects are Gamble, Pownall, and the golf course. The Center’s first Gilroy of Fort Lauderdale. priorities will be books and art, but The Building Committee members it could eventually also play host are Richard Pfieffer, chairman, F. to flower shows, art classes, drama Gertiser, Mrs. H. D. Gates, Mrs. W. groups, musical organizations, craft P. Bebout, Mrs. Frank Matthews, classes, book reviews, and other and W. W. Thomson. Arnold civic activities. Facility plans include MacSpadden and Mrs. F. Byron a 200-seat auditorium and complete Parks are serving as advisors. There kitchen facilities for catered events are plans for a benefit fundraising such as buffets, garden parties, and ball at the Boca Raton Club this Boca Raton Library Board Members at first annual art exhibit and open house. teas. According to Art Guild President season. Mrs. Arnold MacSpadden, the design Proceeds from the ball will be Library Hosts Art Exhibit plans will be flexible, so that portions combined with proceeds from the of the facility can be built as needed sixth annual art exhibit and donated and Open House and as funds become available. to the building fund. April 5, 1950. The Boca Raton Harold Butts, Mrs. Joseph Shapirpo, Library Board held their first annual Mr. Bran Latham, Mr. Harold Batisto, Art Exhibit and open house yesterday Mrs. C. Freeman, Mrs. J.C. Mitchell, in the Muncipal Building. The and Mr. Richard Mann. Some pieces Exhibit featured the works of both from the work of the late Leno local and visiting artists. Paintings Lazzari were also on display. from galleries in Miami and Palm Library Board member Hildegarde Beach were also on display. Among Schine served as the general the exhibitors were Dr. Eric Carlberg chairman of the Art Exhibit. Other (Director of Washington Art Studio members who helped organize the and Galleries), Miss Mary Bonson event included secretary Helen (Director of the Worth Avenue Mann, historian Edith Peyton, Alice Galleries), Mr. Vuk Vuchiinch, Mr. Swetman, Eleanor Bebout, Roberta Vernon Lamme, Mr. Henry Cohen, MacSpaddan, and Gui Bell. The Art Mrs. William Willingham, Mr. Exhibit was a great success, attracting William van Dresser, Mrs. Stanton more than 800 people. Many of the Architect’s rendering of Pascal, Mrs. A.K. Merrill, Mrs. Kay attendees expressed how much they proposed Art Museum and Library. Driscoll, Mr. Theodore Pratt, Mrs. enjoyed the event. 6 7 An Editorial Opinion: Library Relocates Boca Town Libraries Are Essential to Garden Council Continues December 7, 1956. December is a never-ending process. Apartments to Support Library means Christmas, but in Boca Raton We must open our minds to March 1, 1957. The Boca Raton it also means renewing one’s library ideas. If we do not do this, we March 8, 1957. The Boca Raton Library is moving from its present membership. will not change, grow or produce. Public Library is able to continue its location within Town Hall to a new Libraries are essential.