Birchard Library in Fremont photograph   Save
Ohio Guide Collection
Description: This photograph shows the Birchard Library in Fremont, Ohio, in Sandusky County. Sardis Birchard gave real estate and other property, totaling $50,000, in a trust to establish a library in Fremont for the free use and benefit to the people of Sandusky County. In 1878, the library building was built at a cost of $6,369.31 on the site of Fort Stephenson, a stipulation of the original request. Rutherford B Hayes, nephew of Birchard, announced this gift to the city council in July of 1873. President Hayes not only gave the money, but supervised the building of the library and served as the President of the Board of Directors until his death. On June 3, 1874, Birchard Library opened it's doors in a building on Front Street. The library contained 1683 books of the 5,000 ordered by Rutherford B Hayes. Patrons had to be at least 14 years of age to borrow a book and were required to deposit a bond of $3.00. Only the librarians could take the books from the shelves. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F07_034_1
Subjects: Libraries; Architecture--Ohio; Public buildings;
Places: Fremont (Ohio); Sandusky County (Ohio)