Written by Kathie Schey, City Archivist
Our early Huntington Beach community of some 900 people featured businesses and trades centered mainly on Main Street and farm families from the surrounding areas. Publicly available reading material arrived every few months – a crate of 50 or so books sent by the California State Library could be checked out at Helme’s Furniture Store before the crate was packed up and sent to the next town.
As we looked to cityhood, a small group of citizens thought we should have more. A particular focus was on quality fiction – especially materials for young people to supplement the few books available at the schools. Members of the Board of Trade, the Women’s Club, and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union embraced this goal and energized public support. The effort began in early January of 1909, a month before we voted for city incorporation. It was primarily led by attorney R.M. Blodgett and joined by Mrs. R. H. Lindgren, the wife of an electrical engineer. At the end of that month, the Huntington Beach Public Library Association was formed. Its first Board of Trustees reflected the wider community – Arthur Everett, principal of the Grammar School, Arthur L. Reed of the Huntington Beach Co., Alma Wilson, Mary Manske, wife of the town blacksmith, and Mrs. Georgianna Heartwell, whose husband, Charles, was an active real estate agent known throughout town for growing prodigious backyard tomatoes!
Anyone in the community was encouraged to join. As noted in the local newspaper: “…Every citizen in Huntington Beach should feel he or she had a part in the work,” considering it “a common interest for the common good.” Donations were sought “not big sums from a few, but small sums from many.” Even ”the little school children have been bringing in their pennies.” By April, they had raised $96 to buy an old building and haul it to a leased lot on the corner of Main Street and Walnut Avenue.
As they continued to solicit donations of every kind, from books to furniture, they focused on much-needed funds to fix the ramshackle roofless structure. Hopes were pinned on an “entertainment” hosted by the Women’s Club. Various musical numbers by school groups, multiple talks, and a curious “pantomime wedding” of “tiny tots” were performed to Lohengrin’s Wedding March. The event concluded with the audience singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Auld Lange Syne.” With the $70 raised, work began on the building. By June, the coming library was listed as a great City asset – after the Post Office and ahead of the First National Bank. It was formally opened with great fanfare on July 31, 1909. It was only the second chance founding Mayor Manning had gotten to speak publicly since his election. With the library completed and a treasury of $300 established, it was turned over to the City. That first year, the annual City tax rate was established at $1 – 15 cents for the library and 85 cents for the general fund!
Since its humble beginning – truly a gift from the people to our City – our amazing library has grown to include Central Library, an internationally known architectural jewel, and four branches, each specifically suited to its location. Presently, the number of patrons stands at approximately 40,000 and continues to grow, while the circulation comprises over one million items. Just as it did in the beginning, the library receives support from large citizen groups, including the Friends of the Library, who raise funds to help support the library and generously give their time.
