NEWTON TOWN LIBRARY posted in Deseret News Feb 3,2011

NEWTON, Cache County — In a town of 803 people, one market and about 2,400 cows, a room filled with 25,000 books is something to marvel.

Besides supplying the main ingredient for gourmet cheddar cheese, this small dairy town's claim to fame is that it has the smallest certified library in Utah — a remarkable feat when you consider that 12 years ago you had a better chance of being beamed up by space aliens than getting your hands on the latest Stephen King.

Best-sellers were a rare thing in Newton before then, unless families chose to fork over more than $100 for a library card to check out books in Logan, 15 miles away.

Now, thanks to dedicated volunteers and a handful of part-time paid employees, the Newton City Library is the hottest gathering spot in town.

It's also the only gathering spot in town, but no matter.

"We love our books," says library director Sarah Rigby, 37, taking a Free Lunch break from cataloging to share the story of Newton's greatest asset with longtime volunteer Cleo Griffin, 82.

"Having a library has opened the world up for everybody in Newton," says Rigby, who has worked there for nine years. "Probably the nicest thing is that when people come in, they're not just another face. In such a small community, I get to learn a little something about every single person in town."

Located in the town's old schoolhouse, the Newton library was started by Griffin, a book lover who grew up in the small town of Georgetown, Idaho, where a visit to the library required knocking on her neighbor's door and browsing the shelves in her living room.

"She was a wonderful lady, devoted to providing books for our little town," Griffin recalls. "She introduced me to the classics and helped me develop a love for reading."

After she married and moved to Newton to raise a family, Griffin always longed for a nearby place to check out mysteries and historical novels. When she was given the title of literary specialist at her Mormon ward, she decided to take her new task a big step further and start a town library.

"My living room wasn't nearly big enough," she jokes, "so we talked the city into giving us a space in the school, next to the town hall. Basically, with $50 and a box of books, we were in business."

For 11 years, Griffin worked as the head librarian, cataloging all the books that townsfolk contributed, ordering new books on her limited budget, setting up a computer system and holding children's story time.

Now retired, she still comes in several times a week to look after the library's historical archives and browse through the mystery section. "Books are my daily Prozac," she says. "Whatever would we do without them?"

Rigby concurs. In a world where a Nook is now a handheld gadget for book downloading, it's nice to have a cozy place in Newton to escape for an hour or two.

"Electronic books might be good for some people," says Rigby, who still calls patrons personally if they have overdue materials, "but I think in Newton, most everybody prefers a trip to the library."

Good, old-fashioned books, she says, will always outnumber those Holstein cows.

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delete if you wish.

EARLY NEWTON SCHOOL

 

DEER AT TOWN HALL JAN 2011

 

NEWTON' FIRST SCHOOLS

FIRST SCHOOLS IN NEWTON; Randomly taken from school trustee meetings compiled by Larry D Christiansen

The first school in Newton was held in Franklin W Young’s home. It was on the lot south of where Pat Dagley now lives. John H. Barker Sr. was the first teacher. The town started a new rock school house in 1872 just south of the town hall. It was not completely finished until 1875. In 1875 the census shows 49 males and 36 females. The school house was 43 feet long and 25 feet wide, with and arched ceiling 16 feet high with a stage across the hall 14 feet deep and 18 inches high..This building was sold for about $100 and was torn down shortly 1908 when the new white school house was built.

A. P. Welchman was engaged to on March of 1875 for on school year ( 240 school days) at salary of $40 a month. One third was paid in cash , two thirds to be paid by patrons according to number of days their children attended. ( note the town kept reducing the amount they paid the Mr Welshman) .At one time L George Clark noted that there were as many as 75 students at one time in class. The school reported of having a library with 8 books in it.

A special trustee meeting was held in Feb of 1886 to hear a complaint by James Parson against Mr Welchman for punishing his son. The following conclusions were arrived at.

Detaining children after School hours concede to the teacher , but with advice to use cautiously , of the particular in reference to large scholars, females especially. Corporeal punishment admitted, under similar restrictions: and further more this it should never be inflicted on the head. The palm of the hands were suggested. A certain strap used by Bro Welchman was allowed under the foregoing restrictions.

In Feb 1879 Trustee Barker on visiting the school found a lack of system and lack of progress. Trustees had now given Bro Welchman an assistant expecting him to implement a system ( Outlines of Study by Miss I.I. Cook Supt of district Schools).Several of the trustees complained that this course was not being followed and a change of teacher was needed. Teacher Bro Welchman said he had never laid claim to be a thoroughly educated man and he could not systemically implement this system. He reminded the trustee that they came to him and invited him to come to Newton, he had done the best he could. The trustees are willing to release Bro Welchman at the end of this quarter. (note Arthur Pendrey Welchman was the clerk for the trustee's and all the minutes were recorded by him. He also wrote many articles about Newton that were publish in the current Newspaper at this time.)

CELEBRATING YOUR HERITAGE January 28, 2011

CELEBRATING YOUR HERITAGE

January 28, 2011

AT THE NEWTON CHURCH HOUSE

SPONOSERED BY THE PETER BENSON DAUGHTERS OF THE PIONEERS

AN PIONNEER ART CONTEST FOR CHILDREN 3-23

PLEASE TURN IN YOUR ART WORK TO THE NEWTON TOWN LIBRARY BEFORE THE 27TH

THE ART WORK WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE PROGRAM AT THE CHURCH HOUSE

2-4 P.M. SET UP TABLES AND /CHAIRS, STAGE, ART WORK

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

DINNER 6 P.M.

MENUE : CHILIE & SOUP, CHEESE & CRACKERS, BREAD & BUTTER,, APPLE CRISP & ICE CREAM

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR DINNER, GET THEM FROM ANY DUP MEMBER, SO WE WILL KNOW HOW MANY ARE COMING.

PROGRAM 7 P. M.

HIGHLIGHTING THE THREE SELECTED PIONNERS

MASTER OF CEREMONIES : FLOYD SALISBURY

PROGRAM PREPARED BY JEANINE DAVID

BRIEF HISTORY OF EACH PIONEER

ANNIE MARIA JENKINS – BY TODD PARKER

READING BUY MARLENE JENKINS LARSEN

AMOS CLARKE- BY VAL JAY RIGBY

MUSICAL PRESENTATION : ROXANNE SALISBURY

ALFRED GOODSELL -BY AMY GOODSELL

MELODRAMA

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

ART CONTEST

DUP PIONEER CELEBRATION 2011
The DUP invites children of all ages (3 to23) to contribute  to a Pioneer Art 
Exhibit held at the Newton LDS Church on Friday , January 28th 2011.
Please submit your art work to the Newton City Library on or before 22 January 2011.