Valley Girl Views: When Thomas Beaver Built A Library For Danville, Pa

The Library and original YMCA building in Danville Pa were a generous gift by Thomas Beaver, in 1886.

Philadelphia Times, July 1886

The cornerstone for the Thomas Beaver Free Library was laid on July 5th 1886. Gen. James Adams Beaver, a nephew of Thomas, attended the exercises.

The Mahoning Presbyterian Church wanted to add a reading room to their current building. Beaver however, envisioned a separate building. His vision included a living space for young men on an upper floor, but that eventually evolved into plans for an annex next door, which would be the Young Mans Christian Association, or YMCA. James Beaver, Thomas' nephew, was an advocate for the Y.M.C.A, and may have been instrumental in this decision.

James Beaver, nephew of Thomas, became Governor of Pennsylvania in 1887. He was acting president of Penn State University from 1906-1908, and Beaver Stadium at Penn State is named in his honor

The land Thomas Beaver purchased for the buildings was at the northwest corner of East Market and Ferry streets, the side of the old Danville hotel.

Dedication ceremonies were held in July of 1886.

"Despite the excessive heat, Danville was crowded with people from all parts of the country on Monday, to participate in the laying of the corner stone by the Masonic fraternity, of the library building, the gift of Mr Thomas Beaver to the people of Danville." North'd Democrat, July 1886

The parade, which coincided with the 4th of July Celebration, was quite large.

"For such a large crowd of people, the good order that prevailed was extraordinary. Not a disturbance was raised nor an arrest made during the entire day." Northumberland Democrat, July 1886

Inside a box in the cornerstone was placed:

One Silver Dollar, 1886

One Silver Quarter 1876

One Silver Dime 1876

One Nickel and 3 cent piece 1882

One copper cent 1882

Copies of the Danville Intelligencer, National Record and Daily Sun

Programms of the Citizens Demonstration of the Masonic exercises, laying of the cornerstone, and the badge

A photograph of Thomas Beaver

Roll of officers representing the Grand Lodge of PA

Copy of the By Laws of Danville Lodge No. 224, and roll of members

Copy of the By Laws of The Mahoning Lodge No 516 and roll of members

The Thomas Beaver Free Library opened to the public on August 29th 1888.

"At 9'oclock the library was thrown open. The event was signalized by prolonged ringing of the bells and blowing of all steam whistles in the town. The stores were closed during the greater part of the day.

At 10 o'clock a procession of citizens, fire companies, and military organizations of the town marched to the Beaver mansion and escorted Mr Beaver to the Opera House, where the ceremonies of the occasion were held. By 11 o'clock, 1,000 persona had crowds into the building.

At the ceremony, which included music and speeches, the library charter was handed over to the library trustees. According to the agreement, the board of trustees was composed of residents of Danville, one from each church in town.

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Thomas Beaver

Born in 1814, Thomas Beaver took a job at a store owned by his father in New Berlin Pa. From there he went to work for Reverend Jasper Bennet in Williamsport. For that job, Beaver frequently made trips to Philadelphia, where he met many prominent merchants. Through those connections, he soon landed a job at Bray and Bancoft in Philadelphia, where he became a full partner in just three years time.

In 1857 Beaver became trustee of the Danville Iron and Steel works. In 1859, he and fellow trustee Isaac Wertman purchase the works.

Beaver not only build the library and YMCA, he also donated 6,000 volumes to fill its shelves, and gave the library a trust fund of $100,000 [ nearly 3 million dollars today]. In his will, he left the library an additional $50,000.

Other Area Donations Made By Thomas Beaver:
Howard Clock on the tower of St Joseph's Catholic Church, Danville PA
Pipe Organ to Mahoning Presbyterian Church [1882]

Thomas Beaver died in 1891, and is buried in Lewisburg Pa.

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There's a peacock mounted in the library, in 2020 the Library's Facebook page asked if anyone can remember why he lives there - his history appears to have been lost.

https://www.facebook.com/ThomasBeaverFreeLibrary/photos/a.1943811432422384/1937022316434629/

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