Library History          

The Colon Township Library, founded in 1897, has been located at 128 South Blackstone Avenue since 1915 when a bequest of $15,000 from Oliver and Mary Culver funded construction of the present building.  Its Prairie-style design contrasts with the Beaux-Arts Classical design of many of the libraries built at the same time.  A two-story (plus basement) structure of orange glazed brick, its bracketed gable roof, Richardsonian arched second-story windows and symmetrical design lend a dignified and stately appearance to the building.

A major addition completed in 2006 nearly doubled the square footage of the main floor, as well as adding a ground-level entrance and elevator for accessibility.  This addition complements the original design, and features a stained glass arched window on the west side of the building. Over 16,000 items are housed at the Colon Township Library.  Fiction, nonfiction, and reference materials are available in the library’s adult and children’s collections.  Magazines, large print books, audiobooks, and videos/DVD’s are also available.  As a member of the Woodlands Library Cooperative, the library has access to over one million additional titles through interlibrary loan. Library patrons may utilize computer resources, including internet access.  Summer reading and activity programs for children and teens, preschool storytimes, book discussions, adult craft programs, and a variety of other activities are offered at the library throughout the year. 

Library Dedication Speeches 4/15/07                        

Donor's Special Recognition Speech by Jason Wagner

We would like to recognize several individuals who have been especially generous with their donations, their time, and their talents as this building project has gone from dream to reality.

Oliver and Mary Culver gave $15,000 as a bequest to the township of Colon in 1914 to build a new library building.  We are gathered in the upper level of that very building, now more than 90 years old.  It is a beautiful structure, and we a very grateful for the Culver’s generosity.  We are naming the main floor of the original building “The Culver Room” in their honor.  A plaque indicating that has been placed over the fireplace.

In your program you will see a list of donors who gave over $500 to the Library Building Fund, in some cases given in memory of individuals.  These contributions are acknowledged on a plaque, which is displayed on the main floor of the library.  We are so grateful to these contributors, as well as the many, many others who gave to the Building Fund.

Morris and Kristin French contacted us long before the building project began, wishing to contribute to something that would add a special touch to our building.  As the project got underway, it became clear to those of us viewing the plans for the new addition just what that something special could be.  Valerie and John McCartney of Full Spectrum Stained Glass designed and installed the large circular window in the addition, with funding contributed by the French’s.   Not long after, the McCartney’s offered to “complete the look” by donating coordinating stained glass for the lower windows.  Visiting Japanese artist, Akihiko Kawamoto, donated his talents to create the apple blossom designs in the center panes.  A plaque will be placed near the windows to recognize the generosity of these five individuals.  

The family of Jan (Tunison) Smith have given us a very generous gift as well. You may have noticed the bench outside, which will be permanently located near the library entrance once landscaping has been completed.   Jan’s family felt that this was an especially nice way to remember how much she loved helping the children at school become better readers.  Jan’s husband, John, and son TJ assembled and delivered the bench, which we know will be greatly appreciated for many years to come. A plaque has been placed on the bench, and we would like to thank Jan’s family for their generosity, especially her sister Tami Boudreau, who did all the legwork involved.

Two people who shared our dream for this building, and who we very much wish were here to celebrate with us are former board president Karen Smith and Jim Smith, who served for many years on the library board.  Both would be grinning from ear to ear, and would be very, very proud of what they started, and what has been accomplished.  We would like to honor them by naming this community room in their memory.  The board has designated this room “The Smith Community Room” in memory of Karen G. Smith and James R. Smith, Sr.  

Our last plaque will be hung in the new entrance to the library.  It reads:

Colon Township Library

Building Addition and Renovation

Completed 2007

Daniel L. Cripe - Architect

Carl Drumhiller, Jr. – Contractor

Library Board  (Members serving during course of project) 

David Adams                      Godfrey Cronin                   Eva Schaurer            

  Kathleen Adams                  Marilyn Miller                      Karen Smith                 

                                  JoAnne Bagley                  Kelli Poortenga                      Jason Wagner                                            

State Senator Cameron Brown's Speech

As the doors open on this new addition of the Colon Township Library, a new chapter begins in the life of this community.  The analogy to the opening of a new book is unavoidable.  When you open a book, a world of learning awaits you, full of adventure, imagination and that wonderful benefit of learning called perspective.  So it is with your grand opening and dedication today.  At a time when the state budget is limiting library funding, you are growing and expanding.  Your example should be Michigan’s example!

This expanded library facility is a community information and resource center, yes, but more importantly, it is an “imagination center,” a place where young and old can dream dreams, set goals and be energized by the power of an idea, the power of knowledge.  What strikes me as especially significant is the support this community has given the Colon Township Library.  Mr. and Mrs. Culver would be delighted to know that what they held dear is still cherished here, a century later. 

And then there is the attention you have given to the aesthetics of the new addition.This speaks of a respect for history and the beauty of architecture. What well meaning and thoughtful people live here!  The approach and manner of your labor are attractive on all fronts. 

A wise man once said: “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study, and also by faith.”  Patti, you and your team exercised the trust and faith that this building project would come to pass and now it has.  By its completion, you are giving another century of Colon area citizens the opportunity to seek “out of the best books” wisdom, and learning by study with the possibility that they too might exercise faith to build a better world.

We all know about the magic associated with Colon, but it is not the only telling characteristic of this place.  People talk about the lakes, the Magic Festival, the warmth of the people, but they also talk about the centerpiece of this community, its public library.

A BOOK is opened- a new chapter begins.

   We turn the pages as the story spins

A plot and drama that articulates

    The twists and turns we appreciate,

And when the bad guy at last concedes,

    We’ll come back here for another book to read!

Congratulations on your new addition and may all your hard work to complete this project be a blessing to all who walk through these doors.

Library Director Patti Miller’s Speech

How fortunate for us that, in 1897, the people of Colon recognized the value of a free public library and established one. How fortunate for us that in 1914 the Culvers provided the funds ($15,000) to build a library, and the people of the township accepted the responsibility of maintaining that building and the services that took place within it. How fortunate through the years that have brought us to this day, that there have been library boards and citizens of the township who have continued to give their support, and to care for this wonderful building and all that happens within its walls.

Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for what you have given to bring us to this celebration. The board, staff and I are so grateful for the talent, hard work, financial support, advice and encouragement you have given to this project.

You can see by the lists of names in your program, this was a group effort. Aren’t small towns great?! I’d like to recognize our present board, and thank them for hanging in there through a lot of long board meetings and much decision-making.  I believe there are several past library board members present.  Thank you also for all you’ve done for the library.

There a people I wish were here to celebrate with us today - Marieta Reed, Elouise Sheffield, Jim Smith and Karen Smith. Many of you can think of others who would be very excited to see what has been accomplished. Certainly, their efforts are yet another reason we are here today.

I would like thank the Friends of the Library for the countless ways they have supported the library over the years, and especially through this building project.

The library co-op director, Jim Seidl is here to help us celebrate, as are some of my fellow librarians from the surrounding area. Even librarians need resource people, and they were there for us. Thanks for cheering us on as well!

My staff - Julie Baratta, Jill Skoglund, and Martine Roe - have been ever so patient, continuing to provide great library service through the dust, the hammering, the moving, and probably the most difficult - my whining! They are the best.

Junior assembled a super group of subcontractors for this project.  You folks were great to work with, and we really appreciate the care and professionalism you brought to this job.

Triad Furniture provided the furnishings, including the shelving, computer stations, and new furniture pieces. Thanks to them for a job well done. John Huber was our window treatments specialist, and we had some challenging windows for him! Our landscaping is the one detail still to be completed, but we look forward to working with Maxwell Landscaping this spring.

Junior Drumhiller’s crew, Lloyd Walton, Ray Schwartz, and Corby Clipfell, were just great. There was a long period of time when all that separated us from them was a thin layer of plastic, but they kept things as clean and quiet as possible.

There are two men who really created what you see today in the addition and renovation. Dan Cripe started working with the board and then the planning committee - how many years ago, Dan? We really put his talents to work, as we had a long list of requirements for this project, perhaps the most important being that the new building blend with the old. His design, I think you’ll all agree, not only blends, it truly compliments the lovely old building. Thank you, Dan, for a beautiful design.  Dan has been exceedingly patient and gracious throughout this project, and we thank him for that as well.

I asked Junior Drumhiller if he wanted to speak today, and he said no. I think his plan was to let his handiwork speak for itself. Well, Junior, it speaks quite eloquently. Thank you, Junior!  What a wonderful heritage you, your crew, and the many local workers involved have created for future generations here in Colon.

One night late last fall, a patron came in near closing time and said, Patti, this library just glows! Well, I hadn’t really seen it from the outside, all lit up at night, but I checked it out shortly thereafter, and you know, she was right, IT GLOWS! While I know that, logically, that’s because of good designing and electrical work, thinking of this library as glowing just makes me feel good - you know, with the light of knowledge, enrichment, information - all those things a library should symbolize.

How fortunate we are that the people of Colon Township have chosen to make an investment in this beautiful old (and new!) building. It is a true community treasure.