SUNDRIDGE-STRONG UNION PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following notice appeared in the Sundridge Echo, on December 24, 1896.
Whereas a number of the electors have petitioned the council of the said village praying for the establishment of a Free Library under the Free Libraries Act. Be it therefore enacted by the said Municipal council of the said Village of Sundridge, that in case the assent of the electors is given to this by-law; A Free library be established in this Municipality in accordance with the provisions of the Free Libraries Act.
On January 5, 1897 a vote took place in the Orange Hall. The electors of Sundridge gave their consent for the library to be established.
Before this vote, no public library existed. However, there was a reading room rented by the village for $4 a month in the home of Mr. George Seidewand, the local shoemaker. Here the villagers could read a newspaper, journals or magazines.
The first directors of the library were appointed on January 28, 1898 they were R. Hall, Alex Thom and W.D. Auldjo. The new library was still housed at the home of Mr. G. Seidewand for the same $4 a month.
In 1898 a new library board was appointed with Miss Ross, Miss Short and Mrs. Ajldjo appointed as directors.
The same year a tender was put out for a new library room. Mrs. Seidewand’s tender was accepted on the condition that she finish the room, provide heat and light, and act a librarian for $5 a month.
A no smoking policy was established in April 1898. The library books were valued at $400 in 1901 and $12 was paid for insurance.
When Mrs. Seidewand became postmistress in 1907 the library was moved. It was moved to the north side of the Main St. to Mrs. Tom Black’s furniture store (this is now the apartment building beside the post office)
About 1911, the concrete block jail was built on the southeast corner of James and Main Streets. The jail was an ugly square building. The library was moved here. Two cells occupied about one-half of the windowless rear wall which faced the lake. The exterior of one cell supported about ten feet of shelving used for adult books. The rest of the rear wall (about ten by twelve feet) was allocated for additional adult reading material. One small 4’X 5’ open bookcase was for the junior collection. There was nothing for preschool children.
Mrs William Lang Librarian
When the Community Centre was built the library moved to the new location on main street. The Community Centre burned to the ground in 1981. Today the Library is located in the New Community Centre, which was rebuilt in 1982.
Stuart Wilson in the Library First Community Centre
The Community Centre Today