J
the
ournal-herald THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • Volume 42 – No. 5 ©2022, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–143rd YEAR, NO. 44
SINGLE COPY– 75¢ (USPS 277440)
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–143rd YEAR, NO. 18
White Haven Area Community Library celebrates 25 years of community service
PA Senator David Argall, now representing the 29th District, presented the library with a Senatorial citation honoring their 25th anniversary at a celebration on September 23. He explained his love for libraries in part because he accompanied his father to his job as the first elementary librarian in Tamaqua, reading The Hardy Boys, and in part because his wife Beth, who also attended was a volunteer board of trustees member for many years for the Tamaqua Library. He brought greetings on behalf of Sen. John Yudichak, previous senator for the 29th: “Here’s to the next 25!”
Judge Richard Hughes remembered that thought establishing the library would be “an incredibly difficult mission,” when he was asked to help the group incorporate as a 501-C3 in 1997. He was practicing law in White Haven in part of the building where Dr. Henry Smith’s office was located, and has provided legal assistance to the library through the years.
Guests listened attentively as Diane Lamson gave a history of the library—how it was born as a matter of discussion at a Lions Club picnic, the many people who helped by donating books, time and money, the politicians they met along the way, the earlier locations that house the library until the “diamond in the rough” that is now a spectacular space was purchased by the White Haven Borough Council and the library moved in in 2013. She described present-day activities ranging from the summer kids’ program with the YMCA to the popular plays, and invited people to volunteer or donate, since the library receives no state funding. She ended with a historical note. In 1950, a group led an effort to form a library in White Haven, asking everyone to contribute two books and 2¢. Though that attempt didn’t succeed, it wasn’t the last — and the 25th anniversary is proof of the soundness of the idea.
Board of Trustee members and friends posed with the anniversary cake. From left are Jack Kalena, board president Lois Hammer, Sen. David Argall, Patty Horn, Judge Richard Hughes, Renee Monahan, Steve Wright, Deb D’Angola, Charlotte Carter and Diane Lamson.
John Zugarek spoke at the event, both as Lions club president and a member of White Haven Borough Council. “This is who we are,” he said. “This is what we can commplish when we work together.” Final speaker was fellow Lion (and borough council member) Bob Lamson, He remembered the picnic where the project was born — and claimed the men weren’t paying much attention to what their wives were discussing. He closed with a toast “To the tenacity of you all, who turned a relic of our past into the promise of our future.”
Story & photos by Ruth Isenberg