Who We Are >> Heritage Library
The current Heritage Library, so designated in 2010, is the home of the majority of historical information and relics, furniture, and books belonging to First Presbyterian Church. The library is the modern-day relative of two previous historical rooms that have served the same purpose and were located in opposite areas of the main building on Washington and Main Street.
During plans for the 1944 dedication of the 1925 church, the Session appointed a committee of fi ve to oversee plans for a historical room to house and preserve all historical treasures of the church of—at that time—100 years. This room was located on the south entrance of the church school building on Main Street, making its site the corner of what is now the sanctuary in 2021. Although the actual room was not aesthetically described, its first contents were well documented.
Unfortunately, there are no photos of this earliest room, nor are there any that have been found of the second location of this room. All contents were detailed, however, which has aided the research of our present-day historians.
Prominent in the first historical room were portraits of nineteen ministers, Bibles belonging to some of these ministers, and other books donated by former ministers’ families. A Victorian walnut Communion table from the 1903 church had its home there as well as a pew and chairs from the building. These relics are still on display in the modern-day Heritage Library. The pew is positioned at the entrance of the library, and the first silver Communion set used in the 1903 church is on display.
In 1969, an unused section of the building that had become what is now the Parlor, was transformed into a new updated historical room. Fashioned with gold carpeting; rosewood paneling; and handsome built-in illuminated display cases, this space vastly improved the home of the church’s prized possessions. The room housed the original pulpit of the 1903 church, the matching Communion table listed above, as well as a one-person pew chair. The matching Victorian high-backed minister’s chair and two turned side chairs, all now upholstered in dark red velvet, reside in the Heritage Library.
In 2005, the former historical room located off the Parlor was involved in further renovations. The room had another move, with its new site being the former location of the Men’s Sunday School room, in the north narthex adjacent to the sanctuary. Having been chairman of the sesquicentennial anniversary celebration in 1996, and thus becoming the custodian of all things historic, Marion Howard continued her decades-long service to the church, embarking on the task of furnishing the new room. The addition of a huge glass display case donated by Kay and Kent Hull lent a spectacular home and focal point for many historic articles of value. Susan Beckham became Marion’s assistant in 2009, and in 2010 the third historical room was officially named the Heritage Library by the Session.
Improvements and renovations continue to this day to honor and appropriately celebrate our church’s history. 2013 marked a significant addition to the Heritage Library as two backlit stained glass windows were constructed to create a magnificent entrance in memory of loved ones. In 2020, Solon Scott handcrafted a beautiful bookcase for the Heritage Library in commemoration of the 175th anniversary celebration in 2021. Other specific memorials honoring family members and generations of First Presbyterian members adorn the walls and shelves of this handsome room, making it a showcase chronicling hundreds of years of Christian heritage.
The Heritage Library continues to upgrade with all relative and incoming information and additions. All historical info, gifts, items and donations are digitally preserved and documented. A monitor in the library reviews this information including historical videos also available on this website.
VIDEO COLLECTION AND LINKS
