By “BUZZ” KING, guest columnist
We are lucky to live in a county with one of the best libraries in the state and the Midwest. You just can’t beat what we have, and I hope you all visit it often.
But did you ever wonder who and what started the Brown County Public Library?
The act that created Brown County provided that a full 10 percent of the sales of lots at the county seat should be used to fund and maintain a county library. And by 1840, that amount grew to $177.60 and 1/2 cent. Remember, we discussed last year that in the 1800s, the U.S. Mint produced a 1/2-cent, 1-cent, 2-cent, 3-cent, nickel, half-dime, 20-cent, quarter-dollar, half-dollar, silver dollar, $3, $5, $10, $20 and $50 gold coins and more. Check it out at the library.
Soon after this, the first books were bought. In 1846, William Ganla was librarian and R. P. Manville was treasurer. By this time, several hundred volumes had been purchased. The funds came in slowly and in very small amounts, but steady. The library was correspondingly small.
In the 1850s, the McGlure bequest gave to the workingmen a small library of choice reading material. Over the years ‘til this day, the public has donated books and money to the library. Grants and public funding helped to grow the library to what we see and enjoy today.
The library moved from place to place over the years and was in the Village Green square when I was young (now the public restrooms). The school in Nashville at that time was just two blocks away, and the children walked two by two to the library.
I still can see in my mind’s eye, Mrs. Frazier sitting behind the desk with her finger to her lips. A grand lady she was. Edna Frazier was the librarian for more years than I can even guess. During part of the 1980s, Char Skirvin was the librarian when it was in the current CRC building, and sponsored a Halloween party for a few years until it was outdone by another close by.
The library in Brown County enjoyed the support of the public from the very beginning, enjoyed a resurgence in the 20th century, and recently has been unsurpassed in service and leadership to the Brown County community.
The library was for a time called the Nashville Public Library, as Nashville was the county seat. In any event, the library did serve not only Nashville, but all of Brown County from 1840 ‘til now. Many thanks to all who support.
‘Til next time. — Buzz
“Buzz” King is a nearly lifelong resident of Brown County and past president of the Nashville Town Council. His father, Fred King, was the unofficial county historian.
