Ladies Library Association
| In March 1871, a group of ladies
organized a society to furnish reading materials to
everyone at a small cost. The Dryden Ladies Library
Association was one of the first of its kind to be formed
in the State. Their meetings, held on Wednesday
afternoons, were open to all married women for the annual
membership fee of one dollar. Meetings were held in members' homes until they found a home to rent for twelve dollars a year. Most of the books came from donations and by 1874 they had accumulated over 300 books. In 1880, the women purchased the rented house, which was known as the Little Brown House. By 1884 they had outgrown the house and decided to construct a larger building. In exchange for the Little Brown House and $30.00, the Ladies acquired the lot where the library now stands. For a total cost of $1500.00 the building was contructed and the project completed. On the first floor they had a large library room to store their books, a dining room and kitchen. The second floor was a hall and a stage. On November 25, 1885 the building was dedicated. It became the community center for plays, dances, club meetings, receptions and dinners. |