Mrs. Daisy McCallum
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The Mendocino Study Club Connection
It was a long time ago in June of 1947 that an astute lady of our town suggested her Mendocino Study Club invite its members to contribute books for a club library. She was Mrs. Daisy MacCallum and her gift of three hundred books along with many fund-raising teas and sewing circles enlarged the library to over six hundred books for the grand opening on June 7, 1947. Helen Fagg, who had worked in a library in Palo Alto, and her daughter, Helen Thomsen, became the keepers of the books in a small room in Mrs. MacCallum's building known then as Kelliowen Hall on the corner of Ukiah and Lansing Streets. According to Trustee Mildred Benioff's recollection, Mrs. Fagg loved to have children come by to read, but would first demand to inspect their hands. Those with dirty hands were refused permission to check out one of the prized books. However, daughter Helen took a much gentler approach and during the next four decades assumed full charge of the rapidly expanding collection of books. When the building was sold, Helen appealed to the County to take over the collection, and when that failed put the books in storage in the old Beacon building, and promptly left for an extensive period of overseas travel. |
Unfortunately, the Beacon building was sold shortly thereafter and the books wound up in a deep pit left by the removal of a large press by the new owners. Thelma Gray and other Study Club members came to the rescue, dusting off and reassembling the books for removal to a new storage space in Fort Bragg where they remained for almost a year while Mendocino was briefly without a library. Mildred Benioff and Thelma Gray finally found temporary space at the Grammar School where after great effort the library was reopened.
By 1978, the school reclaimed the space, and with the help of Betsy Starrett, Elinor Herod, Helene Penhoet, and others, a much larger space was found in the first floor of Eidsath House. They obtained Federal revenue sharing to help pay part of the $200 per month rent. The Study Club later voted to take over the rent, and revenue sharing help was dropped, to the amazement of the sponsoring County Supervisors! Helen Thomsen returned from her world travels to resume command. She was pleased and surprised to find the library had not only survived, but was flourishing with an increasing membership and more funds. Volunteer Helen Rawlings had begun quietly contributing $3,000 a year for new books. Helen Thomsen, Betsy and Elinor shared the task of raising further operating funds "the old fashioned way" by scrimping and saving until by 1987, there was quite a satisfactory surplus saved for the future.
It was decided that a non-profit corporation would be formed with Helen as President, Betsy as VP, and Elinor as Secretary/Treasurer. A search began for a new permanent home for the eight thousand books, and a number of sites were considered. One year later, Jeanette and Jack Hansen offered a former William Mendosa building across from the Mendocino Art Center, which the new corporation could purchase by paying interest only. With the support of the Study Club, the offer was gratefully accepted and the move completed that year. The former bathroom became the Reference Section, and the kitchen became the new office. In 1990, with funds from savings, a Study Club gift, and funds raised in the community by Bob Burns and Sam Shelton, an eight hundred square foot addition replaced the dilapidated garage. Named the Study Club Room, it completes the present facility.
Throughout these fifty years, the ladies of the Mendocino Study Club who began it all, have given unfailing support; the original books and five dollars a month for new books in 1947, to major funding for the present building and continuing monthly support.
Finally, with a checkered history of many moves, those who may believe that the two fatty columns on each side of our Little Lake Street entrance are an odd feature for a library, our bylaws offer this hint, "...for maintaining cultural, educational and entertainment material for all ages..." This harkens back to a bit of nonsense during the filming of the movie East of Eden in which the columns had converted the building into a bordello. It was said that the ladies of the night waved at potential customers from the front porch offering "cultural, educational, and entertainment" opportunities. If that sounds like the Library's mission statement, it isn't, but it's still good for a laugh.
By 1978, the school reclaimed the space, and with the help of Betsy Starrett, Elinor Herod, Helene Penhoet, and others, a much larger space was found in the first floor of Eidsath House. They obtained Federal revenue sharing to help pay part of the $200 per month rent. The Study Club later voted to take over the rent, and revenue sharing help was dropped, to the amazement of the sponsoring County Supervisors! Helen Thomsen returned from her world travels to resume command. She was pleased and surprised to find the library had not only survived, but was flourishing with an increasing membership and more funds. Volunteer Helen Rawlings had begun quietly contributing $3,000 a year for new books. Helen Thomsen, Betsy and Elinor shared the task of raising further operating funds "the old fashioned way" by scrimping and saving until by 1987, there was quite a satisfactory surplus saved for the future.
It was decided that a non-profit corporation would be formed with Helen as President, Betsy as VP, and Elinor as Secretary/Treasurer. A search began for a new permanent home for the eight thousand books, and a number of sites were considered. One year later, Jeanette and Jack Hansen offered a former William Mendosa building across from the Mendocino Art Center, which the new corporation could purchase by paying interest only. With the support of the Study Club, the offer was gratefully accepted and the move completed that year. The former bathroom became the Reference Section, and the kitchen became the new office. In 1990, with funds from savings, a Study Club gift, and funds raised in the community by Bob Burns and Sam Shelton, an eight hundred square foot addition replaced the dilapidated garage. Named the Study Club Room, it completes the present facility.
Throughout these fifty years, the ladies of the Mendocino Study Club who began it all, have given unfailing support; the original books and five dollars a month for new books in 1947, to major funding for the present building and continuing monthly support.
Finally, with a checkered history of many moves, those who may believe that the two fatty columns on each side of our Little Lake Street entrance are an odd feature for a library, our bylaws offer this hint, "...for maintaining cultural, educational and entertainment material for all ages..." This harkens back to a bit of nonsense during the filming of the movie East of Eden in which the columns had converted the building into a bordello. It was said that the ladies of the night waved at potential customers from the front porch offering "cultural, educational, and entertainment" opportunities. If that sounds like the Library's mission statement, it isn't, but it's still good for a laugh.
Text from June 7 1997 The MCL Book Worm written by the editor, Richard Starrett