Newspaper Page Text
After Months Os Debate And Controversy
Houston County Library
System Organized In 1974
The Perry Public
Library became a par! of
the Houston County Public
Library System when it
was organized In February
1974, after months of
debate and controversy.
The county system is
comprised of three
libraries: the Perry-
Houston County Public
Library, the headquar
ters; the Warner Roblns-
Houston County Public
Library; and the Cen
terville-Houston County
Public Library.
The first chairman of the
County Library board was
Sam Cunningham of
Warner Robins. The
present chairman is Jeff S.
Pierce, Jr. of Warner
Robins.
Other board members
are Cohen Walker of
Perry, vice-chairman;
Thelma B. Collier,
treasurer; Dr. J.R.
Bloodworth and Jack
of Perry; Glen E.
and Sam Cun
ningham, Jr., both of
Warner Robins; Bobby L.
Gordy, Hubert Tucker and
Mrs. Marion Henley, all of
Centerville; James S. Farr
and Mrs. Mary Alice
Franklin, appointed by
county commissioners as
was Mrs. Collier.
On May 1, 1974, Warren
H. Phillips was hired as
director of the county
system. Mr. Phillips,
native of the state of Ohio,
jrame to Perry from
Sarasota, Florida.
Other employees of the
county system are Mrs.
Andrea Lasseter, ad
ministrative assistant;
David Evans, extension
and audio visual librarian;
Mrs. Barbara Stokes,
childrens' librarian; and,
Mrs. Jodie Behrends,
processing technician.
Perry Employees
Employees of the Perry
Library are Mrs. Alice L.
Gilbert, librarian; Mrs.
Tommie Hunt, assistant
Ralph Bishop,
reference librarian; Miss
Maria Marata, high school
assistant and Miss Bar
bara Georgia, high school
assistant.
Mrs. Gilbert began
employment with the
Perry Library in 1959.
Upon the retirement of
Mrs. Verniece Beavers in
January 1967, Mrs. Gilbert
became librarian and has
served until the present.
She has announced that
she will retire July 1.
* Mrs. Tommie Hunt has
T)een assistant librarian
since 1967.
The Perry Library
opened in February 1939
under the sponsorship of
the Perry Kiwanis Club
and the City of Perry, with
Mrs. Verniece Beavers as
librarian. Around 1950, the
county began monthly
contributions to the
Library.
Members of the Perry
Library Board, appointed
by Perry City Council, are
F. Nunn, Jr.
chairman; Mrs. Allen
Pritchett, Jr., vice
chairman; James Stubbs,
treasurer; Malcolm
Reese, Cohen Walker, Mrs.
Cooper Etheridge, Mrs.
Hugh Lawson, Sr., and
Mrs. Joe Gayle.
The County Library
board is named as follows:
three by city of Perry,
three by Warner Robins,
three by Centerville, and
three from the county-at
large by the county
commissioners.
* Buildings
In April 1976, the Cen
terville Library moved
into new quarters in the
Centerville City Hall,
which underwent building
expansion this year. Mrs.
Betty Estep is the city's
first and present librarian.
There are over 3,000 books
in the Centerville Library.
The new Warner Robins
Library building is being
constructed this year at a
|Cost of $500,000. Arthitects
'are Oliver and Associates
of Macon.
The 14,200 square foot
building is being erected
on Watson Boulevard
opposite the Municipal
Complex on a city lot 250
feet by 900 feet, which was
the location of old City Hall
which was torn down to
prepare for the new
library.
Security Federal
Opened Office For
Perryans In 1936
This year of 1976 is the
fortieth anniversary of the
Security Federal Savings
and Loan Association of
Middle Georgia as well as
the Bicentennial of the
nation. This institution
began operation in Perry
in February 1936 with an
initial investment of $3,800
by 23 residents and SB,OOO
of borrowed capital.
Operation has grown to
include branches in Fort
Valley in 1962, in
Hawkinsville in 1965, in
Warner Robins in 1971, in
Montezuma in November
1974, in Dublin in
December 1974, and
Columbus by merger with
Columbus Savings and
Loan Association on April
30, 1974.
The parent office, known
as Perry Federal Savings
and Loan Association,
ended 1936 with assets of
$260,000. The name change
took place in June 1962
with the opening of the first
branch office, Fort Valley.
In 1976, the total assets
are $61,924,496; the total
savings, $48,794,272; and
the total mortgage loans,
$45,241,703.
Through its 40 years of
operation, Security
Federal has never failed to
pay good interest. At
present there are
numerous certificate of
deposit plans, two
passbook savings plans,
and IRA retirement ac
counts. All interest is
compounded daily and
paid to suit the desires of
the investors; monthly,
quarterly, or annually.
Savings are insured up to
$40,000 by the Federal
Savings and Loan In
surance Corporation, an
agency of the U.S.
Government.
In addition to its savings
services, Security Federal
grants thousands of
mortgage loans for the
construction and
remodeling of homes and
businesses on FHA or VA
plans. The institution also
makes mobile home loans
and educational loans. It
serves 30 counties in this
Oldest Local
Civic Croups
Houston Lodge No. 35
Free and Accepted Masons
is 132 years old, having
been organized in 1844.
Perry Chapter No. 62
Royal Arch Masons is 104
years old, having been
organized in April, 1872.
The Sgt. Clinton C.
Duncan Chapter of the
United Daughters of the
Confederacy was
organized in September,
1921, making it 55 years
old.
The Robert D. Collins
Post No. 24 of the
American Legion was .
When finished this fall
(1976), the new building
will contain space for
60,000 volumes of books
and storage space for film,
records and types. There
will be a combination
assembly room and
television studio. Jeff S.
area.
On June 19, 1965, the
association moved into its
present handsome building
at the corner of Main
Street and Washington
Avenue. The organization
owns buildings in Fort
Valley, Hawkinsville,
Warner Robins and
Montezuma.
The late Sam A. Nunn,
Sr., one of the organizers of
Security Federal, served
for more than 25 years as
attorney and president and
later as chairman of the
board of directors.
The late F.M. Houser
served as secretary
treasurer from 1939 until
his death in 1960, suc
ceeding his brother, Lewis
M. Houser who died in 1939
after three years of ser
vice.
Malcolm Reese came to
Perry in June, 1960 from
Fitzgerald to succeed Mr.
Houser as manager.
Directors are: Marion L.
Brown, chairman;
Malcolm Reese, G.F.
Nunn, Mayo Davis,
Wendell K. Whipple, L.H.
Whittelsey, A.W. Pratt,
and A. Lawton Pearson.
Officers are: Malcolm
Reese, president; William
J. Hortman, vice
president; Robert R.
Stevens, vice-president &
treasurer; Ronald G.
Williams, vice-president;
W.J. Smith, 111, vice
president; Al Baggarly,
vice-president; Lyle
Fineis, vice-president;
Roger W. Nelson, vice
president; Linda Shingler,
secretary; Betty Jo
Conner, assistant vice
president; James R.
Harrell, assistant vice
president; Margaret
Mahon, assistant vice
president; Robert Cole,
assistant vice-president;
Judith Wetherby, assistant
secretary; Ellen Wright,
assistant secretary;
Caroline Little, assistant
secretary; and Joseph
D'Onofrio, vice-president.
Employees numbered
fifty-two as of March 31,
1976.
founded in Perry in Sep
tember 1926. The Auxiliary
to this Post was organized
in February 1928. This Post
will be 50 years old in 1976.
The Sorosis Club,
organized in January 1935,
is the oldest of the social
and civic women's groups
in Perry, being 41 years
old.
The General Daniel
Stewart Chapter of the
Daughters of the American
Revolution is the oldest of
the patriotic organizations,
having been organized
February 18, 1914.
Pierce, Jr. is the building
committee chairman.
Mrs. Sallie Richardson,
librarian of the Warner
Robins Library for
seventeen (17) years, has
taken a leave of absence.
The acting librarian is
Richard Rosenthal. Other
employees are Mrs.
Evelyn Merk, technical
librarian; Mrs. Linda
Graves, Mrs. Pat Rich
creek, and Peggy McMinn.
The Warner Robins
Library building is being
financed by federal and
state grants and a $75,000
contribution from Houston
County.
Perry's new library
building at the corner of
Washington Avenue and
Northside Drive was
dedicated April 15, 1973.
The 5,000 square foot
iffgjkn
I
'‘V
\ 1 The Spirits of Achievement, 1
|, \ Brotherhood and Growth are 1 -’
shining brightly during the Bicentennial. I
n Ferry excitement mounts as we prepare I
o take part in the celebration .. . and salute I
our nation. We are proud of our great I
heritage . . . proud that we can call I
ourselves Americans! I
BEAVERS I
INSURANCE AGENCY jS
PERRY, GA. 987-1832 /
JACK BEAVERS HERBERT MOORE J
structure was financed by
a $150,000 bond issue ap
proved by the voters of
Perry August 25, 1970; a
$25,000 donation from
Houston County; $22,300
from City of Perry for site;
and $6,200 from the
emergency fund of then
Governor Jimmy Carter.
In addition to the above,
the Perry Library received
tremendous support from
the Chamber of Com
merce, all the civic
organizations, and the
general public. All of these
as well as banks and
businesses contributed
greatly to the furnishings
of the building.
The architect was Lee P.
Oliver of Macon. The
contractor was Brooks-
Elmore Construction
Company.
Paul C. Armltage was
chairman of the City
Library board during the
time of the bond issue and
construction period. Judge
Armltage presided over
the Dedication exercises.
The principal speaker
was Geo. Francis Nunn,
former chairman of the
City Library board. The
mayor at that time (April
1973), John Barton, Jr.
welcomed the 200 guests
present.
Other members of the
city Library board in 1973
were Dr. J.R. Arnall, Mrs.
Cooper Etheridge, Mrs.
Hugh Lawson, Sr., Mrs.
Allen Pritchett, Jr., Jack
H. Ragland, H.E. Smith,
J.B. Stubbs and Malcolm
Reese.
Growth of Perry Library
Since moving Into its
new building in 1973, the
Library has experienced a
steady growth. There are
now 26,546 volumes in
cluding 989 reference
books. There are sub
scriptions to 85 periodicals.
The Whipple Book
collection is a new addition
to the Library. The
children of Mr. and Mrs.
W.K. (Wendell and
Carolyn( Whipple are
placing books in the
Library to honor their
parents.
For a number of years.
Vacation Reading Club has
been held every summer
with participation by
several hundred children.
Certificates were awarded
to those reading ten books
from approved lists, and
certificates with gold stars
to those children reading
twenty-five books.ln 1975,
a total of 10,857 books were
read by the children during
the summer.
Story hours were held
every Thursday for
children up to nine years of
age with an average at
tendance of 60 children in
the summer of 1975. The
Beltista Club sponsored
this feature.
A 16 m.m. projector and
screen has been donated to
the Library by the Clvltan
Club. This may be
borrowed, along with free
films from audio visual
service, by organizations.
The Alistair Cooke film
series, "America”, was
shown last winter for 16
weeks. The film series,
"Search for the Nile", is
being shown each week.
Some film will be shown
every Tuesday night
through November 23.
David Evans, extension
and audio visual librarian,
takes the Bookmobile to
day care centers, nursing
homes, and to the Nutrition
Center on Moody Park
Road, where he shows
films and lends talking
books. «,
The Indian Creek
Wildlife Club* presented
one of Oliver Snow's
wildlife paintings and a
collection of hunting and
fishing books to the library
on September 27, 1975 In
memory of Robert Jones of
Perry.
A Bicentennial flower
show was held by the
Perry Garden Clubon May
1-2, 1975 In the Library.
The Muses Book Club
held "Open House" at the
Library on April 5, 1974 In
celebration of National
Library Week. Many other
special events have taken
place at the Library during
the past three years.
The Library began the
use of an automated
machine to check out
books in January 1975. >
Each patron has a new
card especially fitted for
the machine.
Mrs. Gilbert, librarian
for 17 years, said, "Every
library patron is important
to us and our objective is to
cheerfully and efficiently
give the very best service
possible to each one.”