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HistoryThe first mention of
a Sabina Public Library was in 1917 with a
balance in the treasury of $252.59.
This is all the information that has been
found. If anyone knows more of this
early date, please let us know, as there
was apparently some type of library.
It is told that people donated books and
they were exchanged in the Blakely Hat
Shop. In September 1937,
the Sabina Public Library opened at Sabina
School as a school district public library
with $400.00 from the County Tax
commission. Helen Probasco, a
teacher, organized the library and Jean
Gallagher became the first librarian. The
library was open to the public as well as
the students. In June and July of
1939 the library was moved to the Thorpe
Building on W. Elm Street with Doris
Weller (Gaskins) as librarian. Jean
Rapp, Esther Barns, and Ruth Pollard
served as librarians there. In May
1954 the library moved to the Sabina
Municipal Building to a much larger
room. Clara Hawk followed Ruth
Pollard as head librarian and then Joyce
Smith. Assistant librarians during
the years were Helen and Joan Sparks,
Ethel McCann, Anna Newman, Bertha Driscoll
and Jean Everman. The minutes show
that in May 1968, a discussion was held
about the need for more room and the
desire for a library building owned by the
library. The entire funding at that
time came from county intangible
taxes. Overdue fines were charged on
books, but that income was so small it
really didn't help much with library
expenses. The annual library budget
at that time was under $30,000.00 and
money from the County Tax Commission was
enough to save a little in addition to
paying expenses which were primarily
paying the librarians and buying new books
and magazines. In 1976 the Beverly
Building (the old Beverly's 5 & 10
cent store) was purchased in the hope that
a library could be built there
eventually. The library had enough
money to pay for the lot. The only
two options at that time would have been
to run a bond levy or to try to get
enough private contributions to
build. The library board hated to ask for
help in either way, but there seemed to be
no other solution. However, help
came along from an entirely unexpected
source. Both Dr. Lang and Margaret
Parrett had died and they left most of
their estate to the library. Dr. Parrett was the
son of one of the Rapp sisters who in turn
was the daughter of Joseph Rapp,
proprietor and owner of the Rapp House, a
well known stop on the Columbus-Cincinnati
Pike. It was originally a tollhouse
and was located at the northwest corner of
Washington and Howard Streets. It
became known throughout the area as a
wonderful place to stay with unsurpassable
food served by Mrs. Rapp and her
daughters. When the railroad came
through Sabina the Rapps sent a wagon to
the depot to bring back travelers for
overnight. They had the first
telephone in town, which was in touch only
with the depot. Dr. Parrett was a
well-known dentist and avid
Republican. He lived in the house
beside the present post office (built on
Rapp land). He spent the winters in
Florida for many years and people could
always tell when he was home as he always
hung an artificial parrot on the front
porch. Also, in the yard was a
cement elephant as large as a real baby
elephant, expressing his political
leanings. One may see the tools of
his dental profession at the Clinton
County Historical Society. Dr. and Mrs. Parrett
left their investments to the library with
the stipulation that interest could be
used for the good of the library, but the
principal could not be touched. The
National Bank and Trust administer
it. This wonderful gift made it
possible for the library to build their
own building, but there was one problem.
It would have to be paid off over a period
of years, therefore necessitating a
loan. At that time, the library
board could not legally take out a
loan. Virginia Hamilton Beam was on
the library board at that time and she and
her husband, Bill, had a dream of a new
library. Bill signed the note for
the library and it became a reality.
As if that wasn't enough, Bill Beam's
company, Melvin Stone, demolished and
hauled away the building on the corner lot
the library had previously
purchased. On April 27, 1980, the
new library was formally
dedicated. About the time the
new library was paid off, the Victorian
house north of the library came up for
sale. The library board decided it
should take the opportunity to purchase
it, as any enlargement to the library
would have to go in that direction.
However, after much discussion, it was
decided that the Lightner House (so named
because of the two (2) Dr. Lightners who
lived and practiced there) was too
historical and in too good a condition to
be demolished. Therefore, it was
decided to let the community use the house
rent-free as long as possible. It
has been used continuously and the
community has been grateful for its
availability. The library board felt
that since Dr. Parrett's gift had made the
library a reality and also made purchase
of the Lightner House possible, the use of
the house is also a part of the Parrett's
legacy. In 1993 and 1994 an
addition was made to the library enlarging
all areas making the library even more
usable. There is a large genealogy
room (named in memory of the Beams), a
computer room and an area which can be
closed off for children's programs.
Programs are held for children and adults.
The library also has extensive video
and audiotape holdings. In the early 1990's,
the funding base for libraries in the
state of Ohio changed. Intangible
taxes were phased out and libraries are
now funded from state income tax.
Their formula for determining funds seems
to be a fair one and our library is
getting along well even though our annual
budget is now nearing $200,000.00, a far
cry from even 30 years ago. Prepared by Sue
Kenney |
