By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Members of Dowagiac's oldest organization, the Ladies Library Association, hope citizens share their pride in the public library as it approaches its centennial.
Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist who was the Bill Gates of his time, made the $12,500 grant 100 years ago, in 1903.
Between 1901 and 1917, Carnegie issued 53 grants to Michigan cities and towns to build libraries. The 53 grants actually produced 63 buildings because Detroit got 11.
Dowagiac is one of only 27 of those 63 structures still actively in use as public libraries.
That number will drop to 26 after next year when Bay City's Carnegie library will no longer be in use.
Grant amounts varied depending on the size of the town.
The smallest grant of $5,000 was awarded to Newaygo.
Detroit received $750,000. Four of Detroit's 11 remain in operation as libraries. Five were demolished. Two converted to other uses.
Dowagiac's library remains in its original Carnegie building at 211 Commercial St., although it is also the 30th anniversary of its 1973 expansion which moved the children's department upstairs.
People instrumental in creating the heritage in the 20th century promoted as the "Grand Old City" in the 21st century with its author-oriented Dogwood Fine Arts Festival also happen to be central to the library's development, such as Philo D. Beckwith.
Ladies Library Association member Janis Hadley, whose mother, Kay, is retiring after more than 30 years on the staff, said the Ladies Library Association was founded in 1872 with an initial nine-member board, then added 11 charter members.
City resolutions passed Jan. 9, 1903. "All the ladies lacked was a site for the library," Hadley said. "Once again, we were very fortunate at that time to have philanthropists of our own right here in Dowagiac. Although (Beckwith) passed away in 1889, two trustees of his estate -- Fred E. Lee and William G. Howard -- offered to the city and the ladies these two lots where the library currently resides."
Library construction began late in 1903. The library actually opened Nov. 10, 1904, with an evening reception for the grand opening.
From the 1904 opening until 50 years later, the Ladies Library Association furnished most, if not all, funding for purchase of books.
Fifty years ago Mayor Robert Weller decided it would be appropriate for the city to also provide financial support for books.
Hadley last Thursday and Friday called each of the 53 Carnegie library communities.
Five towns -- Howell, Ironwood, Ishpeming, Newaygo and Sparta -- incorporated "Carnegie" into the library's name.
Hadley noted that "it seems like no matter where you go or who you talk to, you run into somebody from Dowagiac. The librarian in Lapeer knew where Dowagiac is because her husband's from here. That was kind of amusing."
Observance of the centennial is still in the planning stage.