60 years ago, Davis opened the first chapter of the library book

60 years ago, Davis opened the first chapter of the library book

EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff Posted on http://www.explorecarroll.com/ 1/16/09

Other columns by Kevin Dayhoff on www.explorecarroll.com: http://explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO


Photo: The Davis Library in Westminster, MD, was dedicated on May 27, 1951 in the former Westminster Methodist Protestant Church building. According to a web site history of the Carroll County Public Library, "In 1958 a county-wide library system was established, with the Davis Library operating as the central branch." The Davis Library served as the Westminster Branch of the Carroll County Public Library from May 1958 to March 1980.

Bob Allen's piece in last week's edition of The Sunday Carroll Eagle on the future of the Carroll County Public Library reminded me that it was 60 years ago on Jan. 21, 1949, that another newspaper carried the headline:
"Library Donated By Mr. & Mrs. Davis, The Immanuel Methodist Church To Be Site ..."

The article, in the now-defunct Democratic Advocate, reported that "the donation of a library for Westminster to be known as The Davis Library was made by the Board of Trustees recently set up to secure a charter and establish and conduct the project."

The Jan. 7, 1949, minutes of an organization meeting for the library mention that the library "first occupied part of the Times Building in 1911, later moving to the Wantz building, then back to its present location in the Times Building in 1936."

The library in Carroll County began in 1863 in the Odd Fellow's Hall (now known as Opera House Printing Company), at 140 E. Main Street. The library moved to the Times Building in 1911.

The 1949 newspaper article continued by naming a number of distinguished citizens who were involved in forming the Davis Library:

"Those named by Mr. Davis to this first self-perpetuating board were: Walter H. Davis, K. Ray Hollinger, Gerald E. Richter, George K. Mathias, Samuel M. Jenness, Ralph G. Hoffman, Carroll L. Crawford, Norman B. Boyle and John R. Bankard ...

"The donors are Walter H. Davis and wife, Elizabeth R. Davis. Mr. Davis is one of Westminster's outstanding citizens. ... He is active in religious, public and civic affairs, served on the city council and as acting mayor for a time. He is head of the W. H. Davis Company, Buick automobile dealers and has been a resident of Westminster for over 50 years."

And for his donation, his name is forever etched in the book of Carroll County history.

From books to pets

In last week's column I noted that when Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech the night of his election, he promised his daughters a puppy. Many presidents vie for having the most unusual pets, however, President John Quincy Adams may take the cake.

Last week's Sunday Carroll Eagle history question was: What were President Adams' two pets?

Glenn Plott, Heidi Davis, Michael Sears, Ruth G Anderson, Sam Greenholtz, Richard Siehler, Bruce Sadler and Marian Goettee all knew that President Adams had an alligator and silkworms.

Sadler, this week's winner of the historic Sunday Carroll Eagle mug, wrote that "President John Quincy Adams was in the White House from 1825-1829. He was given a pet alligator by the Marquis de Lafayette, which he kept for a time in a bathroom in the East Room of the White House. He also had pet silkworms."

Anderson wrote that it was the president's wife "Mrs. Louisa Adams (who) raised silkworms! It is said that she had gowns made from the silk."
Greenholtz noted that he has "never been able to find out what the names of the silkworms were or if he "walked" them daily. ...

"While these are strange to say the least, I think that Calvin Coolidge with his raccoons and other White House pets certainly rank up there with weird "normal" animals," Greenholtz added. "Of course Taft, with Pauline the cow on the White House lawn is another tale to be sure."

Good points, Sam, but actually, President George W. Bush also has a pet cow -- though he keeps it on his Texas ranch.

Sears was curious to know if "you could pet a silk worm." However he was not so sure he would want to pet an alligator. Of course, as President-elect Obama will soon find out, there's no need for him to go looking for pet alligators -- he'll find himself up to his neck in them soon enough.

Getting back to the history of Westminster -- and for your very own Sunday Carroll Eagle mug -- here's this week's question:

What nationally famous person gave a presentation at the Odd Fellows Hall on Oct. 13, 1870?

Think you know? Drop me an e-mail at kdayhoff AT carr.org, with "Sunday Carroll Eagle" in the subject line.

When he's not talking with his pet stuffed animal named "Mr. Moose," Kevin Dayhoff may be contacted at kdayhoff AT carr.org.

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