MILTON LIBRARY 2000

MILTON LIBRARY

IN 2000 IT WAS 125 YEARS OLD.

Milton library had been around for the past 125 years and is in the

process of expanding says Mary Catherine Hopkins, the director.

She wants to triple the size. The Milton Library is one of three that

are owned by Sussex county, the other two are Greenwood and Bethany

Beach.

The two story building is 4100 square feet and an added 5000 square feet

would extend into a 13000 square foot lot on the north side. No dates

have been set, an architect is being sought and the county and state have

allocated $435000 with another $15000 due from the county next year.

More space is needed for materials, a meeting room and space for

artifacts and a computer room, more staff space for the 5 full time and

3 part time employees, yes and why not a coffee bar.

The library is known as the community center and host activities like craft

classes, training sessions, town and social meetings.

Milton Library Association organized in 1875 with 200 books held in

Welch's Drug Store in a corner bookcase by the chimney. According to

the late Agnes Hazzard's history. 1913 this bookcase was moved by the

women of the New Century Club to the Junior Order of American

Mechanic's building and began charging $1 a year membership dues.

1920 saw the library move to the Odd Fellows building on Atlantic and Chestnut streets where the original glass and wood bookcase was destroyed

when a car ran through the building. In 1980 when he county took over

the library it was moved to it's present location, the building constructed

in 1913 by Bill Wilson Conwell, bank manager of the Milton branch of

the Lewes National Bank , a canning house owner and timberman.

On the 125 birthday of the library there are over 25,000 books for 2300

card holders, six patron computers and a small reference center.

Abstract; Wednesday, April 19, 2000, Wilmington New Journal by

Lynne Parks.