Here are some fun fact about Morrill Public Library!
On the front of the building we have a sign that reads WPA built 1936, But the library was not completed until March 4, 1937! The Contractor didn’t like the color of the brick so he sent it all back and went to Nebraska City, NE and had bricks made out of the Nebraska City shale!
The first Public Library in Morrill was not the building we are in now in fact it was a collection of donated books to the Twentieth Century Club and they were kept in the Farmers and Merchants Bank building. This started in 1911 so 109 years ago wow!
The first appointed library board met in November of 1917 those members appointed by the Village of Morrill Board were: John Boatsman, F.E Sterns, A.M. Gill, Mrs. A.A. Kearney, S.J. Mealin, and Mrs.E.A. Beard.
In 1917 the Library Board Rented a small building in Morrill to house their growing collection then in 1924 Charles H. Morrill made a gift of two lots near the downtown area. this would be the site of new library and community building.
In august of 1935 the Library board members met with the WPA officials to plan a new library and community building. This would be the building we are in today and, in 1968 a telephone was installed. In the beginning where the children’s section is now is where the Rotary Club had their meetings, there was a full kitchen downstairs along with a dumb waiter used to bring the lunch up for the Rotary Club. The Library itself was were the adult and teen sections are now.
Where the Village of Morrill Museum is located now was the city council room, witch is why there is a vault in the museum, There was no regular Librarian at first, different ladies acted as the librarian without pay. The first official librarian was hired December 1, 1919 Mrs.Funston her salary was $10.00 a month. Since 1919 there have been 16 Librarians including me!
