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LIBRARY HISTORY
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Tarkington
Prairie Historical Society
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In April
1996, a small group of Tarkington residents undertook a mission to
establish and operate a public library for Tarkington Prairie. A PTO
meeting gave birth to the idea and Ruth Stetson led the charge.
Incorporation of Tarkington Community Library, Inc., a non-profit
corporation, was the first step.
While sponsoring numerous fund raisers such as community festivals,
bake sales, and garage sales, the core group began a search for a site
and facility. Ruth learned of an offer by Koch Pipeline Corporation to
donate two houses which needed to be moved from their right-of-way in
the Carter Loop area. One house was a log cabin in need of much repair
and the other was a 1200 sq. ft. house under construction when it was
purchased by Koch. It was essentially complete except for the
interior. Both houses had been vandalized while vacant. Ruth and other
Library Board members concluded that having two separate buildings
would enable them to create not only a library but a community center
as well.
Ruth focused on finding a site, preferably donated, for the buildings.
Woodrow Scott had a one acre lot on FM 163, ¼ mile from the Tarkington
schools, for sale. Mary Martha Barnett, J. Andrew Rice, and Charlie
Rice, wishing to honor their parents, purchased the lot and donated it
to the library with the understanding that the library would be named
for their parents. The offer was accepted with enthusiasm.
The buildings were moved to the site in October 1997. Fund raising
continued and renovations of the log cabin began in 1998 and were
finally completed in 2000. Generous donations from Mrs. Neva Rice,
Rice/Richardson Foundation, Wirt Davis Foundation, Champion
International, Sam’s Club, Wal*Mart, SHECO, Louisiana-Pacific,
Lutheran Brotherhood, and many others helped make this possible.
Volunteers spent many hours sorting, cataloging, and labeling
thousands of books. The opening of the library was delayed by the
discovery in the fall of 2001 of an infestation of wood-boring insects
in the logs of the library’s cabin, resulting in the replacement of
many of the logs. The shelves, which were attached to the interior
walls and filled with books, were detached and the books stacked on
the floor. Fund raising efforts continued. The library sponsored
annual basketball and golf tournaments, a Tarkington Ex-Students
Association Luncheon coinciding with Homecoming, and a monthly First
Saturday Trade Show.
In 2001, the Tarkington Community Library board turned its attention
to the second building. This was to become a community center named
for their driving force, Ruth Stetson. Not wanting to wait years until
funds were in hand to begin construction, the board approached
Prosperity Bank for a loan. That was accomplished in November and
construction began immediately and was completed in early 2002.
In the summer of 2002, Bruce Dillard built a rail fence around the
property line of the library and community center as his service
project for becoming an Eagle Scout.
A day-long celebration marked the opening of the library on June 7,
2003. The celebration included live musical performances, speeches, an
official Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting, a history festival
sponsored by the Tarkington Prairie Historical Society, a free petting
zoo, pony rides, and refreshments. The library opened with more than
7000 books on its shelves, most of them donated by individuals.
In the fall of 2004, the library was vandalized when the front porch,
steps, and portable sign in front of the building were spray painted.
The library had been previously vandalized when an ice pick was used
to make holes in the air conditioning system, costing the library
around $3000.00. On
September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike lifted the roof off of The Ruth
Stetson Community Center and drenched the interior and left four
inches of standing water. Repair work was finally able to
commence on March 9, 2009, and the community center will be ready
for use again on May 1, 2009.
The Tarkington community is proud of its library. The library is now
open for at least half a day, five days a week, and has over 9000
books. Its collections are constantly being updated and added to and
several different programs are offered for the benefit of the
community. The Library Board, librarian, and volunteers will continue
to work to help make Tarkington a better place to live, work, and
raise our families.
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