By Martha Glauthier - Curator/Past President
San Dimas Historical Society
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In a few shelves at the back of Charlie Fairbanks’ Drug Store were some books available for San Dimas residents to borrow in 1913. However, this was not the first Library. The Historical Society records show that as early as 1905, 29 citizens signed up to pay monthly fees of 50 cents, 25 cents, or 10 cents, each month, to keep a library open in the building moved from La Verne Heights and sited just west of the Methodist Church. (As a footnote, the next page shows that only about half the signators kept their fees paid up!) Miss Helen Rees, the first County Librarian, recalled in 1934 that even before 1905, there was a “traveling library” in the Post Office, consisting of donated books. When the books were kept in the Drug Store, Miss Rees came in one day a week, to check them in and out. Mrs. Fairbanks looked after the library the rest of the time. In 1914, more space was needed, so the room in the north part of the Bank on Exchange Place, was rented and the 8th branch of the Los Angeles County Free Library was opened, with Miss Rees as Librarian. Apparently the County did very little to furnish the Library, for we have an account of a Home Talent Show being held to raise money for furnishings. These included, among other things, chairs, tables, a wood stove, wastepaper baskets and magazine racks, still in use in 1929. Miss Rees had graduated from Pomona College and went on to U.C. Berkeley, intending to become a teacher. However, with the death of her father, she came back to San Dimas to be with her mother, and gave up her teaching ambition. She was a County Librarian from 1914 until she retired in 1946. |
During this time, the Library moved to 114 W. Bonita. Miss Rees encouraged the residents to bring in their collections for exhibits - polished stones by Clark Thomas and Joe Chavez, photos of the San Francisco Earthquake, Confederate money, stamps, old coins. The latter exhibit was apparently too much of a temptation, for one night while it was on display, the Library was broken into and the collection of coins stolen. This was in 1933, and they were valued at $100. The San Dimas Press also ran an article commenting on the “rare tropical plant” Miss Rees had on display in 1935 - a “delicious monster,” native of South America - a Philodendron. During the Flu Epidemic during World War 1, the Library was closed. It was advertised that “no fines will be assessed.” I should hope not! When Helen Rees retired in 1946, Mrs. Charlotte Brace became the County Librarian, and worked there until 1967. Mrs. Leola Spry was her Assistant Librarian. They were followed by Joan Jolly, and Mary Merrill Stanton. In 1971, a new Library building was completed. Nancy Paige was our County Librarian, followed by Mary Noonan, who presently holds the position. The Library has grown from its initial inventory of 127 books in 1913, to a circulation of 17,726 books in 1926, to over 100,000 in 1998. Our San Dimas Library is now automated with a “Bar Code Automated Circulation” system, and has a State Grant to put local history with digitized photos on the Internet. Can’t you just hear Mrs. Brace and Miss Rees saying, “Internet? Is that a butterfly or a hair net?” The San Dimas Historical Society Museum located at 210 W. Bonita (west end of the Santa Fe Depot) will be open on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |