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Historical Hindsights: The birth of the library stacks

The Union Colony building; location of first Greeley library. Union Colonists pictured in front. Dec. 3, 1894.

The Union Colony that created the foundation of our city of Greeley had five principles on which it was founded: Irrigation, Agriculture, Temperance, Religion and Education. This last principle is directly responsible for the foundation of our local public library system. In fact, one of the articles of the Union Colony constitution was for “the establishment of a reading room and library free to all members….”

The idea of creating a public library began in 1870 when the first groups of people traveled west to settle the newly platted town of Greeley. Our first public library was located on 8th Street in downtown Greeley in what was a meeting house for the Union Colonists. A Dec. 14, 1870 Greeley Tribune article stated “it is hoped that no sign will be put on the reading room until it can be made to look more respectable. A coat of white-wash would help the looks of the old pioneer.” The colonists wanted their new building to represent their values in a professional way.

The “Greeley Free Reading Room” was finally opened on Dec. 20, 1870. It was described as having lights and a “good fire.” Rules for the reading room noted that nothing was to be removed from the room, no one could use tobacco in the room, and no loud talking, laughing or noise. Everyone was encouraged to visit and donate or loan books or periodicals to the library. In 1871, the Greeley public was overjoyed at the donation of a nicely bound set of Appleton’s Cyclopedia.

In 1872, citizens began to discuss how to raise more funds for the library. It was suggested that the library receive funding through a lottery system, which was, through much debate, eventually opposed by the public on the grounds that it was considered to be immoral gambling. One in opposition, Mrs. Emily Abbott, wrote “This is an industrial community, not a speculative, dishonest one, and if we want a library or other literary advantages, we propose to pay for them, and do not expect to get other people, by any game or trick to help us.”

In 1897 the Greeley library, now further matured, was described by the Colorado State Library Association as being “the best reference library, of its size, west of the Mississippi River.” The next grand step for our local library came toward the end of the 1890s when residents began dreaming of a solid and stately building dedicated to reading materials. By 1900, a letter was written to billionaire Andrew Carnegie requesting funding for the construction of a new public library building.

(Watch for the continuation of this story in future Historical Hindsights.)

Caroline Blackburn is the city of Greeley Museums Archivist.
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