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Last week, I wrote about the library possibly moving to B. G. Furniture in 1971. I learned from my friends at the Historical Society that B. G. Furniture used to be located where the Hite Company is now on Electric Avenue. That would have been an awesome library location. But it didn't come to pass. Another possible location was the "old Wayne Street School." I learned from Commissioner Kodish that the Wayne Street School was located where the Courthouse is now (the new courthouse, that is).
The great thing about my library history columns is that so many people reminisce with me about Mifflin County history. I've always been interested in history and if you have stories you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about them.
History is like a giant puzzle, with people as the missing pieces. I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers because everyone has a right to their own opinions, and who am I to judge? But, I'm a bit stumped about what comes next for the library at 123 North Wayne Street.
I've shown you that the Brown Street Library was, let's face it, a hot mess. It was overcrowded, the building needed a lot of repairs, and the land was wanted by the Redevelopment Authority of Mifflin County for a parking lot. This was in 1968. And while different empty buildings were available and proposals were made, nothing happened.
In a Sentinel article dated July 14, 1970, Lewistown Borough Council entered into an agreement with Mifflin County Commissioners to discuss gifting or leasing land on North Wayne Street "at the corner of the Woodlawn property, and facing North Wayne Street." I'm assuming this is the property where the library is now located. Borough Council announced that the council would gift or lease the land and not contribute maintenance or money. The article reads as if the commissioners were not at this meeting because the mayor at the time, John Lawler, is quoted as saying the Commissioners "should be at this meeting." But the rest of the article states that the Lewistown Jaycees "would build the building for a new library if the proper agreement could be obtained" since the State Library had already approved the North Wayne Street site.
Discussion continued for the rest of the year and by Dec. 15, 1970, Lewistown Borough Council was committed to contributing the land at North Wayne Street with one caveat: "requiring that construction be started one year from Monday evening [presumably the evening of the council meeting], with completion required within one year thereafter."
And, as before, nothing happened. In 1971, the B. G. Furniture building was suggested as a new location. However, this is the only written document that I have regarding moving the library or building a new building, or any further discussion about relocation or construction. I don't know if community leaders continued to address the issue in 1971 or if they were simply frustrated by the lack of progress? And why did this drag out?
The story continues with people being called "gutless" and the library dealt a "crushing blow."
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Susan Miriello is the Executive Director of the Mifflin County Library. On Jan. 10, she celebrated 30 years of library service to MCL.