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Library History The
concept of a public library for Towanda sprang full blown from the mind of
Frank R. Welles, who, although he spent only six of his boyhood years here,
conceived an unfailing regard for his hometown. During those six years,
from 1865-1871, he attended Susquehanna Collegiate Institute in town, where
among his classmates he found his future wife, Anna Thomas of Wyalusing. He
attended Rochester University and, upon graduation, went to work for Western
Electric in Chicago.
Frank’s grandfather was Charles F.
Welles who was Bradford County’s first prothonotary. He built the house
still standing across Maple Street from the library in 1814. Frank’s father
was R. M. Welles, a merchant of Towanda who dealt in farm machinery. Frank’s daughter recalls the story: On
a visit to his parents, Frank left the train station early and walking
through town was struck by the thought that Towanda must have a public
library.
In 1894, he offered the lot he owned at Maple and Main. Later
when he had satisfied himself that the Towanda Musical Society’s
subscription library could become the nucleus for a book collection, and
that the citizens of Towanda were interested enough to raise an endowment
that could support a library, he not only gave the lot, but planned and
built the present building, which was completed in 1897.  Frank had a very successful career with Western Electric. As vice-president he built many factories in Europe
and established telephone systems in major cities there. He lived in
Antwerp, Belgium and Paris, which may explain his choice of Flemish
Renaissance architecture for the library, unusual but enthusiastically
accepted by the trustees.
Frank was a modest man who felt his
fortune should be used intelligently. He refused to have the library named
after him, feeling it would get better support as the Towanda Public
Library.
Early History
A tiny musical library created for the
benefit of the members of the Towanda Musical Society, began by enthusiastic
young ladies in 1879, grew within the year into a general subscription
library, reflecting the appetite of Towandians for books for borrowing.
After starting in the parlor of Miss Helen Carter, it had moved to quarters
in the third floor of 419 Main Street.
A subscription cost $2.00 per year,
for non-subscribers it was ten cents a book. An autonomous Library
Committee was in charge, but the Musical Society continued to support it
through dues and fundraisers. Its book collection grew continually, and
when in 1897, the society agreed to put their collection in the new library
building under construction, a gift to the town from Frank R. Welles, their
books numbered 2,143. When the new library opened in 1898,
it was placed under the direction of a Board of Trustees.
At their first
meeting they appointed Miss Helen Carter as librarian at the salary of
$27.00 per month, from which she had to pay the janitor. Betty Wetzer from
Philadelphia was hired to catalog the books and instruct Miss Carter. In
the first 15 days after opening, 415 borrowers took out over 1,033 books.
Miss Helen Rockwell became librarian in 1899, staying until 1910 when the
Trustees refused to pay her $40.00 per month. Funding remained a problem. Since
Pennsylvania law, until 1917, forbid any tax money to be used to support
public libraries, all maintenance money had to come from contributions,
benefits, and fundraising schemes.
By 1920, the library had a deficit
despite a $300.00 contribution from the public schools. Inflation had made
their original maintenance fund inadequate. After considerable public
pressure, the borough council put to referendum the proposal of a 1.5 mill
tax levy for library support, and the voters of Towanda approved.
The Library Building
Architectural style: Flemish
Renaissance chosen by Frank Welles, the donor of the building. Of red
pressed brick with terra cotta decorations including the name plaque, made
in Corning, New York. High pitched roof of slate with copper cresting and
finials; fanciful dormer windows; high-stepped gables in Flemish style. Architect: Henry Chapman of New York
City Contractor: F. H. Johnson of Montrose Built between May and October, 1897
at a cost of $5,350
In 1951, through the generosity of
Carl V. S. Patterson, an addition was given in memory of their son, which so
matched the original design that it is hard to detect. It made possible the
present children's room. At that time floors throughout were tiled over the
earlier pine flooring.
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