Talk about Woodville: Library, Book Guild both mark 85th anniversaries
Which came first … the Woodville Public Library or The Book Guild? Both were established in 1937 which means that both have reached their 85th anniversaries this year. According to the notes that I found tucked away in a closet, Book Guild is older by merely a few months.
The library started as the dream of a group of seven women who wanted to provide reading material to the Woodville community. In 1936, a committee was appointed to contact Birchard Public Library in Fremont as a possible source to obtain books. Birchard agreed to supply service to Woodville through the government’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) program and Woodville’s first library was established in 1937. This first library was so small that it fit on a table in the back of Ken’s Furniture Store.
While this project was in the works, that group of women chose a name for themselves and “The Book Guild” was officially founded in 1937 and has been continually active in the community ever since.
Over the years, the library changed addresses several times. When it was determined that there was a need for a real library, it moved in 1940 from the furniture store to a former doctor’s office just a few blocks down Main Street. After World War II, the library had outgrown that location and moved again, this time to the building that now houses the Woodville Historical Society. Two decades later, the library made one last move into the building next door where it has remained since, at the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Through all the growing pains and address changes, the one constant was the support provided by The Book Guild. The members conducted annual rummage sales beginning in 1951 to raise funds for various projects including paying $5,000 toward the $50,000 purchase price for the library-museum complex in 1969. Over the years, the guild has assisted both financially and with womanpower on a variety of projects including adding a kitchen, contracting and installing a trompe l’oeil painting in the children’s room, establishing an annual scholarship for graduating Woodmore seniors, and decorating the library for Christmas each year.
Although the seven ladies that founded The Book Guild are no longer with us, the group is still going strong today. There are currently 21 members, including two ladies who have been members for nearly 60 years. These members are carrying on with the guild’s original purpose to “foster literary activity in the community and to promote the public library.”
Book Guild meets on the fourth Thursday of the month, September through May with exceptions for holidays. Meetings might include a guest speaker, book discussion, craft or game night, or the occasional field trip to a local business.
The Book Guild’s first meeting of the 2022-23 season will be a ‘meet and greet’ at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 22, at the big gazebo at the west end of Trail Marker Park. Members will share their favorite summer reads and do a little catching up.
This year’s meeting schedule can be found on the library’s website at birchard.org/guild. For more information about becoming a member, please call the library at 419-849-2744. Dues are $5 per year.
Solomon Chicken BBQ
Solomon Lutheran School is hosting a chicken BBQ from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. Tickets are $13 each with dine-in or carry-out options. Only a limited number of tickets are left, which may be purchased in advance at the school office. For more information, please contact the school at 419-849-3600.
Food Pantry
The Woodville Good Samaritan Council which operates our food pantry has had more people than usual contact them for help recently. Rising costs for food and other products are affecting the pantry’s ability to help so they are reaching out to the community for assistance in stocking the shelves.
This month, the food pantry is in need of the following items: canned fruit & vegetables, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pork & beans, peanut butter, cake and brownie mixes, tuna, instant potatoes, cereal, and snacks. Donations may be dropped off at the Woodville Police Department, Woodville Public Library, Solomon Lutheran Church, or the Woodville United Methodist Church. Monetary donations may be dropped off at the Fremont Federal Credit Union.
For more information, please contact Alice at 419-849-3001.
Fall Storytimes
The Woodville Library is offering two options for storytimes through October: 7 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays. Storytimes include a simple craft and an occasional snack. No registration is required.
Contact Rene Dix at 419-307-0914 or via email at rene.dix@email.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Talk about Woodville: Library and Book Guild both celebrate 85 years
