ALLENTOWN: We have a library, 1870s-style

Third in a series. The Allentown Public Library celebrates the 50th year of incorporation in March. As part of this remembrance and celebration, the Messenger-Press offers a series chronicling the story of the library in Allentown.

As we celebrate the 50th year of the incorporation of the Allentown Public Library, we appreciate that the long history of the Allentown Public Library is a story of generation after generation of small town can-do spirit.

So far in this series, we have heard the story of the early Library Association as told by J.W. Naylor, founder and editor of the Messenger, and a staunch advocate of the towns public library.

From an article he published Feb. 25, 1904, we learned how a group of amateur performers in the 1870s organized the Allentown Dramatic Association and put on entertainments to raise money for a public library.

Their fairs were well patronized and were a financial success, reports the 1904 article. After two years, the group had raised enough money to warrant taking steps towards organizing a regular library association.

For this part of the story, it took hours to pinpoint the location of Wetherill Hall, a significant detail as this was where the first library was housed. The location was determined by cross-checking between the Allentown Messenger articles and the Historic Sites inventory as well as consulting with town historian John Fabiano and with special thanks to Alice Wikoff.

We pick up the story from Naylors 1904 article:

The first meeting was held Monday evening, October 4, 1875, in Wetherills Hall.

(Originally the Stout-Fisk grocery store at 34 S. Main St., that building was torn down and replaced in 1881 with a house that now has extensive additions on the back, which several years ago housed the Messenger-Press.)

Dr. A.A. Howell was named chairman, at which time a committee of three was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the association. There was also a committee of three to secure a room for library purposes.

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ALLENTOWN: We have a library, 1870s-style