Logansport Pharos-Tribune from Logansport, Indiana • Page 6

Page 8 Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, Wednesday, November 1, 1989 Carnegie Libraries Celebrate 100th Anniversary Many libraries in the Logansport area were started with money given by wealthy industrialist Andrew Carnegie ByALANMcPHERSON Winamac Bureau This year marks the 100th anniversary of Carnegie library philanthropy in the United States, and all three Pulaski County libraries have something to celebrate. "We preserved the original furnishing, like tables, chairs and desks the remodeled interior and recent addition no longer has the Carnegie flavor," said Kathie Scott, Pplaski County librarian. "But we have maintained the original facade oh the old building." Scott has collected information a'nd photographs of Carnegie libraries in northwestern Indiana and occasionally presents slide programs for community organizations. "There are several Carnegie libraries that are nearly untouched architecturally and appear almost the same as the day they were built in the 1900s," said Scott, opening a reference book. Many Logansport area libraries were started with seed monies from Carnegie, including the County Library.

Librarian Phil Shin says the original library building had many characteristics of Carnegie libraries. That building burned. In addition, the libraries in Walton, Royal Center and Flora were all built as Carnegie libraries and show that in their construction. Shin says some other libraries still have touches of the Carnegie influence, including the Wabash Public Library. According to George Bobinski, author of Carnegie Libraries, Scottish-born, Andrew Carnegie (Nov.

immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1846 where he applied himself in the railroad business and rose through the ranks to become a wealthy industrialist. He retired to a life of philanthropy. Carnegie realized the value of education and reading in making democracy work and decided libraries were what each community needed. From 1886 to 1917, Carnegie donated thousands of dollars to establish public libraries, mostly in small, rural communities throughout the U.S. There were 1,679 public library buildings in 1,412 communities built with Carnegie's generosity.

Indiana received the most Carnegie libraries and was the only state that did not have one default during the Great Depression. "The Carnegie Foundation funded Winamac, Francesville and Monterey when the communities agreed to provide a suitable site and local taxation for its said Scott. "The Carnegie libraries at Francesville and Monterey have changed little over the years, but the Librarian Renita Pothoff tends to paperwork In the Monterey Library, a Carnegie library with trademark Carnegie features such as arched windows, a wooden staircase, and Corinthian columns. Winamac library has been expanded and remodeled and has lost much of its original character," Scott said. "But we attempted to preserve the old with a blend of the new." Carnegie libraries had a similar architectural style of being rectangular-shaped buildings with a basement and one floor.

The basement was divided into a lecture room, restrooms, boiler and janitorial room and staff room. The first floor contained the adult and childrens reading areas, reference area, a vestibule or lobby, circulation desk, librarian desk and stack room. The high windows were above the 12-15 foot tall bookshelves. Carnegie libraries usually have a painting of Andrew Carnegie. Overseeing the granting of Carnegie library funding was James Bertram, who, from 1908 to 1917, closely scrutinized library plans for waste and impractical design submitted by each community.

"The tight-fisted Bertram wanted Carnegie libraries plain and digni-" fied and no grandiose Greek temples," Scott said. In 1911, the Carnegie Foundation published design- standards for libraries built with Carnegie funds. "The Ionic columns and the librarian's desk are my.favorite parts of the library," Scott said. The Monterey and Tippecanoe Township Carnegie public library was the smallest community-granted funding. In 1918, the library was completed with a $5,000 grant and land from William Kelsey.

"I love, the arching windows the best," said Renita Pothoff, Monterey librarian. "The only changes I am' aware of are the steps, doors, lowered ceiling and lighting," said Pothoff. If the Carnegie Foundation had to pick of the hundreds of remaining libraries for preservation, the Monterey Public would qualify with its Corinthian columns, wooden staircase, furniture and arching windows. Also well-preserved is the Francesville and Salem Township public library built in 1916 from a $9,000 Carnegie grant. "Not much has changed in this library," said Dolores Vollmer, Francesville librarian.

"My favorite area is ihe fireplace arid the stained glass windows, a rarity in Carnegie libraries," said Vollmer. Outstanding and distinct features of the Francesville library include original wood'en shelves, circulation desk and floors and the field stone foundation. Although these three libraries are still functioning as libraries, many of the 164 Indiana Carnegie-built libraries are being put to other uses such as condominiums (Franklin, Indianapolis), historical museums (Bloomington) -and government offices (Rochester). Today there are over 15,000 public libraries in the U.S., with Carnegie libraries representing, half of that figure. Area Briefs Compiled from Pharos-Tribune staff reports Fire Ruled Accidental A fire Saturday night in the home of Don Bahnsen, Rt.

3', has been ruled accidental. Logansport Fire Inspector Jim Ingle said the fire was caused by an overheated refrigerator motor. The fire was discovered at 8:08 p.m. Saturday when the Bahnsen family returned home from a movie. The interior of the home was efke itf considered a total loss.

Open Saturday With Class County tax payment deadlines near, five Cass County offices will extend their office hours to remain open Saturday. The treasurer, auditor, assessor, Eel Township assessor and recorder's offices will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. The payment deadline is 5 p.m. Nov.

10. Taxes mailed to the treasurer's office must be postmarked Novi 10. Treasurer Carolyn Beauchamp says only checks for the exact amount of taxes due will be accepted, and no two-party, payroll or Social Security checks will be accepted. Three banks will also be accepting tax payments: the Royal Center Community State Bank; the Twelve Mile and Galveston branches of the First National Bank of Logansport; and the Walton and Galveston branches of the Farmers Merchants State Bank. Taxpayers can also use the drive-up box in the Cass County Government Building parking lot.

Water Runoff Study Requested The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety has asked the Utility Service Board to conduct a study of the city's water runoff problem. The resolution passed this morning by the board requests that the Utility Service Board undertake a study to evaluate the existing storm water problems in the city as well as the future expansion of the city. The resolution asks the utilities to devise a plan for the care of existing and future storm water problems. A committee of city and utilities employees was appointed to determine whether the city or the utilities are responsible for the runoff water. Quotes for the demolition of a house in the eastend will be taken by the board.

The board decided to accept quotes for the demolition of a condemned house at 1804 Woodlawn after Building Commissioner Robert Newman reported that no progress has been made in renovating the structure. Newman said he has contacted the owner of the property, Irene Roland, 818 Daisy but that no plans for the renovation of the property have been established. Newman said the city has been attempting to have the property cleaned up since 1986. The board tabled the discussion of the property until Dec. 6 and meanwhile asked Newman to get quotes for demolition.

The city cleaned up the grass and trash in the yard. Two County Roads Under Construction Improvements on two county roads have forced the county to close them temporarily. Cass County Road 225S near the Coplay Cement Company will be closed Saturday and Sunday while a crew completes work on the railroad crossing. In northeastern Cass County, 700E from 800N to 875N will be closed indefinitely while workers shore up the roadway. Logansport Chess Tourney Saturday The Logansport Scholastic Open chess meet will be held Saturday at Columbia Middle School.

Gary Fox of the Logansport Chess Club has announced that trophies will be awarded to top players entered in the high school, junior high, elementary, primary and kindergarten age divisions. Sophomores; juniors and seniors are eligible for the high school division; seventh, eighth and ninth graders are eligible for the junior high division; fourth, fifth and sixth graders are eligible for elementary division; and first, second and third graders are eligible for the primary division. Top boy and girl winners in the middle and high school competition will receive trophies. Registration will be at 9 a.m. The first round will begin at 9:30.

The entry fee is $9. The tournament will be played under United States Chess Federation rules. Players need to bring a chess set, board and a clock. Rounds will go into sudden death after 45 minutes. The tourney will end at 5 p.m.

Advanced entries may be sent in care of Fox, 1314 Clifton Ave. Young Pioneers A group calling Itself the "Logansport Young Pioneers" took second place in the Elk's Halloween Parade Tuesday night. Members of the group are: (L-R) Megan Michael, Waylon Shaffer, Steve Erica Hoff, Jake Hoff, Larry Davenport, Astra Michael, Tara Neher, Jessica Hoff, William Shaffer, Krfstl Hoff and Alicia James. Man Suing BMV Over Erroneous Traffic Arrest INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles fails to keep accurate records, claims a suit riled by a man arrested erroneously for driving with a suspended licenser' Marion' Superior iCouilby Joe Merriman of New. He said because BMV records were wrong he was' hauled off in handcuffs for driving with a suspended license.

Merriman appeared in court twice to contest a speeding ticket he got in 1988. After the second appearance, the courts dropped the charges. An apparent communications problem between the county courts and the BMV led to a charge against Merriman for failure to appear in court for his first ticket. The bureau then registered his license as suspended. In March Merriman was stopped for speeding again and arrested.

Proper Clothing, Light Keys To Hunting Safety Of OZ The "Wizard of Oz" took third place In Tuesday night's Elks Halloween Parade. Members of the group are Tina Ulery, wicked witch; Alan Breeden, scarecrow; Ben Woodruff, Tin Man; Nathan Ulery, wizard; Brittany Breeden, good witch; Alicia Ulery, wicked' witch; Tera Franklin, Dorothy and Travis Franklin, cowardly Hon. Fall is the busiest time of the year for hunting at the Winamac Fish Wildlife Area ByALANMcPHERSON Winamac Bureau WINAMAC Midsummer to early winter is the time for hunting wild game, but near-fatal or fatal accidents can and dp occur every hunting season in Indiana. Hunter safety is an important concern to Bill Bean, property manager for the past 15 years of the Winamac Fish Wildlife Area, Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "We are one of two areas open for public hunting- in Pulaski County; the other is Jasper-Pulaski Fish Wildlife Area," Bean said, speaking from his office headquarters.

"Fall is the busiest time for us, especially Thanksgiving weekend," he said. "One thing we do to promote safety is to limit the number of hunters hunting on the property. It also helps gun hunters to wear mandatory orange safety clothing such as a hat, coat or overalls and hunt only from sunrise to sunset. The last fatality hunting accident we had on the property was the mid- According to Bean, the hunters using the property are usually not local residents, but from areas north and south of Winamac. "Depending on the season we have a lot of deer hunters from Kokomo and central Indiana, and the Gary and Hammond area.

Small game hunters are from South Bend, Laporte and the Calumet region," said Bean. "Currently it's bow season and as of today, we had 47 whitetail deer taken and 72 percent were male. There is little danger of overharvest- ing with 800 deer counted on the state properties," Bean said. The wildlife found on the property and hunted include deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, pheasant, dove, rail, woodcock, and limited waterfowl. "Quail are in number this season; the rabbit population is up, but there are few pheasant," said Bean.

In the past few years, the DNR has released ruffed grouse and wild turkey with the hopes of re-populating the land. "The ruffed grouse has limited territory here since it is a strict woodland bird and its population has stabilized," said Bean. "However, the wild turkey has done fabulous and adapted real well since their release in 1987. The first turkey season at our property may be 1991." In addition to seasonal hunting, the property offers trapping on a bid basis, archery range, shooting range, field trails, picnicking, unmarked hiking, bird watching and dog training. "Although we have hunters primarily, the property is open to anyone.

It is safest from January to mid-August, when hunting season really begins. We have mushroom hunters, berry pickers and nature walkers," Bean said. He said some of the occasional problems encountered at the area include litter dumping, poaching and possible arson. Besides being an administrator concerned about hunter safety, Bean is also an educator putting his wildlife biology degree from Purdue to work in an Eastern Pulaski high school sophomore health class..