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History of Steilacoom Pierce County Library

Highlights in the history of the Steilacoom Library

Pierce County TV News Story of Steilacoom Library's 150th anniversary.

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Courtesy Rainier Media Center, www.crcctv.org

1858 - First library in Washington is opened by the Steilacoom Library Association, an association authorized by an Act of the Territorial Legislature. This library operated, with periodic gaps in service, until the association was disbanded during World War II.
May 1947 - Steilacoom joined the Library System with a branch located in the west wing of Town Hall.
1981 - Town annexed to Library System.
1984 - Library moved to the slightly larger north wing of Town Hall.
1995 - Danae Rideout Children’s Corner named in her memory with generous donations from the Rideout Family and Steilacoom community.
September 1995 - Steilacoom Library opened at 2950 Steilacoom Blvd., built with library district bond funds.
Spring 2007 - Wireless Internet access installed.

Stories from earlier times

The Territorial Legislature incorporated the Steilacoom Library Association by a special act in February 1858. The Steilacoom Library Association served as the pioneer civic group of Pierce County–a sort of Chamber of Commerce and cultural club combined. The group’s stated purpose was, “The diffusion of useful knowledge and sound morality: first, by establishing a Library; second, a Reading Room; third, by procuring public lectures, essays, and establishing debates.” Association members supported the library by monthly dues of 25 cents. A lifetime membership was $25.
People who lived up to one and a half miles from the library could borrow books for up to two weeks. People who lived farther than one and a half miles from the library could keep books for up to three weeks. The library charged a fine of 50 cents per week for an overdue book.
Steilacoom Library closed during World War II, and the library association disbanded. Following the war, the library reopened. Mrs. C. A. Spreen, librarian, commented, “It is important that we have the latest and best material for library users.”

Some of the homes of Steilacoom Library

	The McCaw & Rogers Store The McCaw & Rogers Store, built in 1859 on Commercial Street, was the first brick building in Pierce County. In 1867, the minutes indicate that the books were moved, but do not give a location. Since E. R. Rogers was president that year, and Sam McCaw was the librarian, it may be assumed that they were moved at that time down the street to their store. It was recorded that there were 539 numbered books in the library with only four having been lost. The books later would return to the store between 1890 and 1900.
	Iron Springs Hotel By 1900, E. R. Rogers had built a new store on Lafayette Street. The books were left in the old, damp building to mold. When the library organization was revived, and the books dried out and were overhauled, W. L. Bair had opened the Iron Springs Hotel on Starling Street, and he volunteered to move the library to the lobby of his new place of business. This was a popular resort hotel during the horse-and-buggy days.
	Bair Drug When the hotel business closed, it is believed that the books were transferred to the rear of the Bair Store. The Bair Drug and Hardware Store was built in 1895 at the end of the electric Tacoma-Steilacoom Streetcar Line. It was the general gathering place for the town.
	Steilacoom Town Hall In 1930, the Steilacoom Town Hall was built through the efforts of the Steilacoom Library Association, the Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations. The library organization was given the “left wing and kitchen” of the new building for its activities by Mayor McCutcheon. It had finally found a permanent home where it remained for 67 years. In 1947, the Pierce County Library System, which had opened two years before, opened a branch in Steilacoom. As the need for space increased, the decision was made to transfer the original books of the old library to the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association. The books and bookcase were moved to the lower floor of the Steilacoom Town Hall into the museum. The books are presently in the new museum building at the corner of Main and Rainier Streets.