Veterans Memorial Library
Saint Cloud, Osceola County, FL

Literature generously donated by the Woman's Club of St. Cloud and the Saint Cloud Heritage Museum which now occupies the building. Brochure written by Woman's Club of St. Cloud, Dec. 2004. Recent photos by Jean Witherington.

(Click on image above to enlarge) 1922

(Click on image above to enlarge) 2005 Dedication

History of a Building

Veterans Memorial Library, St. Cloud, Florida

On March 14, 1910, a small group of women met in a gospel tent in the new city of St. Cloud to organize a woman's club dedicated to civic improvement and literary advancement. From the beginning, the newly-organized Ladies Improvement Club took on several community improvement projects and began working diligently toward building a library for the rapidly growing little town. By mid-May they had established a traveling library and a table at the train depot with reading matter for the public.

The City of St. Cloud had been founded a year earlier by the Seminole Land and Investment Company of Washington, D.C. as a home resort for soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. When the land owners arrived, there was no place for them to live, so the War Department sent a car load of tents. One large tent was to be used for community worship and other gatherings. This tent, located at Massachusetts Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets, is where the Ladies Improvement Club met to organize on March 14, 1910.

In early 1911, a small 6'x12' building on Pennsylvania Avenue was purchased by the Club from Mr. N. F. Bass for $75 and christened "Free Reading Room." Reading matter was placed therein and the women worked with their hands, putting up shelves and trying to make the place a comfortable reading room.

In a few short years, the library collection had outgrown the little building on Pennsylvania Avenue and it was moved first to the People's Bank building and later to the second floor of City Hall at the corner of Florida Ave. and 10th St. The library had become an important focus of the Club and of many members of the community.

Many and varied were the means used to obtain money to buy books and carry on the work of the Club. At first, there were lantern slides, food sales, lectures, and personal subscriptions. Then followed tag days, lectures, serving ice cream on Saturday afternoons, parcel post days, plays, musicals, receptions, commission sales, banquets, selling of oranges, home talent shows, operas, sales of donated lots, lyceum and Chautauqua courses. The Club was successful in bringing some of the highest class of entertainments to the little city of St. Cloud.

In 1915, Mary George, president of the Club, consulted Judge W. G. Peckham, a good friend of the library, about the purchase of lots from the Seminole Land and Investment Company on which to build a library. The Judge secured Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, Block 160 for $700, reduced from $1400. These lots were held by the Judge for about a year until the Club could pay for them. The future location of the Veterans Memorial Library was thus established.

Funds for the library, deposited in the First National Bank, continued to come in until the failure of the bank on Dec. 31, 1917. From that time until the spring of 1921, particularly during war time, the Club turned its attention to Near East Relief, cemetery beautification, and Red Cross work.

 
Interior View of the Museum

By 1921, the library collection was bulging with nearly 3000 books. About forty percent of the money held in the First National Bank when it closed had been returned. Fundraising began again in earnest.

In May 1921, W. G. King, a pioneer resident who had always been interested in the library and had encouraged the ladies, contacted every G.A.R. (Grand Old Army) Post in the U.S. for donations. Many posts responded and $1,183.83 was collected. The L. L. Mitchell Post of St. Cloud donated $100, followed by an equal amount donated by the W.R.C (Woman's Relief Corp).

In December 1921, a Gala Day was held. Over $1000 was raised by the Ladies Improvement Club.

By early 1922, it was determined that sufficient funds had been collected to justify the employment of an architect to prepare plans. Members of the building committee were: Mrs. Sam Brammar, Mrs. W. G. Peckham, Mrs. Clara Sims, John Somerville, W. G. King and Mayor S. W. Porter.

An outline of what was desired was laid before architects Miss Ida Annah Ryan and Miss Isabel Roberts of Orlando. The plans submitted by these ladies were subsequently accepted.

The architects insisted on a motto. Carlyle's, "The true university is a collection of books," was chosen.

The contract for the library was let on April 5, 1922 to local contractor Pete Morgan. Contract price was $4,506.20. The "fond dream" of the Club was on its way.

In May 1922, the cornerstone was given and laid by Mr. Sam Brammar. Nearly $1000 in pledges was secured. Among the larger pledges were $500 from Mrs. Mary Prentiss and daughters; $100 from Judge and Mrs. Peckham, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Fling, and Mr. A. Bass.

It was said that contractor P. E. Morgan and his organization of builders aimed to build the best building in town, and they did. The building is of Grecian style and is constructed of hollow tile with stained stucco exterior. It was well plastered and attractively decorated inside.

 
Another Interior View of the Museum

The building consisted of one large room, divided at will by folding doors (still in place today); a Lincoln alcove for relics; a librarian's room; a miniature kitchen; and lavoratories. It was lighted in the most up-to-date style with electrical wiring done by J. G. Gallatin and Earl Schofield.

Because of the interest of the G.A.R. Posts, people began to speak of the library as the Soldiers' Memorial, and it was officially and fittingly named the "Veterans Memorial Library."

The Veterans Memorial Library was dedicated on Saturday afternoon, February 17, 1923. At the close of the Veteran's Association meeting at 3 o'clock, some 60 G.A.R. members and 40 members of the W.R.C. marched to the library grounds where a fitting flag-raising ceremony took place. Mrs. Lou Hendrix, Ladies Improvement Club president and mistress of ceremonies, introduced the architects and the contractor, then presented the speaker, Judge C. B. Parkhill of Tampa. Dr. Gregory, Colvin Parker, Rev. L. M. Parker, and Mayor S. W. Porter also spoke that day, and an additional $450 was raised to be applied on the remaining debt of $800.

From the day of dedication until 1968, the Veterans Memorial Library was continuously maintained and operated by the Woman's Club (changed from Ladies Improvement Club in 1941). In 1968, the Veterans Memorial Library became part of the Osceola County Library System.

In 1972-74, the County moved the library holdings to a former bank building at the corner of New York Ave. and 10th St. The Veterans Memorial Library at 1012 Massachusetts had served as the city's library for over 50 years.

From 1974 until 2000, the Veterans Memorial Library building was rented as a re-sale shop to benefit the Red Cross and also to other groups and individuals from time to time.

The Veterans Memorial Library was purchased by the City of St. Cloud in 2001. Through cooperative efforts by the City and the Woman's Club, plans were developed for its future use as a museum to house historic records and artifacts of the Woman's Club, veterans organizations and other civic organizations, and individuals who have contributed to the development of St. Cloud. The grand opening of the St. Cloud Heritage Museum, housed in the Veterans Memorial Library, will be held on February 19, 2005.

The St. Cloud Heritage Museum will be housed in this historic building, but the name of this building shall always be "Veterans Memorial Library."

Brochure by Woman's Club of St. Cloud, Jan. 2005