Portville Free Library in the Early 1930’s

A Brief History of the Portville Free Library

In 1909 Edgar Gregory Dusenbury purchased the Smith Parish home and donated it to the village of Portville so that the collection of books circulated by the Portville Free Library would have a spacious and permanent home with room for growth. After extensive repairs and renovation the library was opened in 1910. Although Smith Parish would probably be able to recognize his home today, the library has undergone many changes over the years. A series of professional photographs from 1930 and 1931 offers a glimpse back at the what patrons saw 84 years ago when visiting our library. But first, a look at the original Smith Parish home…

Smith Parish Home in 1869

Mr. Parish, wife Lavinia and Miss Ellen Parish are seen on the front porch.

Lillian McGraw Rogers

Mrs. Rogers served first as the temporary librarian in 1915 then on a permanent basis from 1922-1934. She has been remembered for her kindness, especially to the children of the community. It was through her efforts that a dedicated children’s area was established for the first time in the library. She is shown here when the Portville Free Library hosted the Cattaraugus County Library Institute on June 6, 1930.

The children’s alcove was established in 1924. Although the changes which this room has undergone may make it difficult to visualize, the alcove was located in the current computer room. A History of the Portville Free Library, published in 1950, confirms this.

The space in the children’s alcove became inadequate, so the area was expanded to include the entire room. This arrangement continued until 1950 when the children’s area was relocated to the remodeled basement.

The view that greeted patrons as they approached the library in 1931.

This exterior view of the library allows us to see the style of the streetlights in 1931 Portville as well as the brick street that ran through the town at that time.

1875Smith Parish Residence

1931Library with Addition

The north end of the building as it appeared nearly 30 years before the addition of the Hill Wing.

ChargingRoom1931

with original fireplace

ChargingRoom1931

View through fiction and non-fiction rooms to Dusenbury Room. The door on the right led into the current lift room.

1930

Non-fiction room and

Dusenbury Room

1931

In 1930 work began on an addition to the rear wing of the library. Funds for this project were given by William A. Dusenbury, Duncan C. Dusenbury and Dr. George E. Vincent in memory of their uncle, Edgar Gregory Dusenbury. The fire-proof addition was intended as a museum to house items from his art and literary collection. It continues to do so now, along with other items which have been donated to the library. The room was opened in 1931.

In 1931, today’s lift room was known as the reading room. This is the left side of the room coming from the library entrance. The door pictured on the far right lead into the fiction room and is an open doorway today.

The present Parish Board Room served as the reference room in 1931.The old town hall is visible through the window.

This 1931 view of the reading and reference room shows a window near the spot where the lift is today. The window frame is still in place.

Thank you for viewing

Portville Free Library in the

Early 1930’s.