Cobalt libraries in the early years

Let’s start at the beginning

Cobalt residents have been able to borrow books from the very earliest days. Then, however, book lending was a commercial venture, not a municipally funded service.

Stadelman’s shop on Silver Street sold a variety of stationery goods. After reading the April 3, 1909 advertisement from the Cobalt Daily Nugget, toady’s researcher would be mistaken if she assumed that the 3,000 books were available for free.
A second ad from August, 1910 urges the public to “Read and be Wise.” It’s here that we learn that their library, now limited to “at least five hundred books by the best authors” is a fee-based service. Residents paid $1.00 to join and then 2 cents a day while the book was on loan.
Stadelman’s had competition. Druggist CH Moore, located in The Square, offered similar terms in a “Special Midsummer Offer” beginning July 17, 1909. “Our stock of books is large and constantly changing so the reader has the opportunity of reading the best books at a nominal cost. Now is the time to become a member.”

A Word about Reading Rooms

At the turn of the last century, reading rooms, a common feature of rural, industrial communities, housed traveling libraries, i.e., a collection of newspapers and textbooks. The primary function of these male-only classrooms was to offer workers an opportunity to expand their skills or learn to speak English.

Of course, these services were not available to the general population, certainly not woman or children, and the books were meant to stay on the premises. The reading rooms held a library, yes, but provided a different service than the public library.

One of Cobalt’s first classrooms was a tent on the shore of Cobalt Lake. Later, the Reading Association Camp’s building was in the Square.

The YMCA was also had a reading room. The image of the Cobalt Y was taken to commemorate Sir Wilfred Laurier’s visit in September 1912.  (The balcony will feature several decades later in the Public Library story.) At the time, the books that made up the collection were available to members only.

 A Carnegie Library in Cobalt?

By the generosity of American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, over one hundred libraries were built in Ontario between 1903 and 1922. New Liskeard’s former library is one such example.

In October 1912, the Cobalt Board of Trade sought to acquire a Carnegie grant. They felt that “all”[1] citizens should have access to a library. After all, the Nugget reported, “there is a large reading public in Cobalt and a library is sure to be appreciated.” [2]

With aid from the Town, the Board of Trade planned to convert the Y’s library temporarily to a public venue. At that point, they figured, the Town would qualify for a Carnegie Grant.[3]

Two conditions had to be met in order for a town to receive a grant. First, the community had to provide the site for the building. Second, the community had to raise 10 percent of the endowment annually for the maintenance and upkeep of the library, which included books and staff.[4]

Delegates of the Board of Trade spoke to Town Council early in November. They argued that “No town in Ontario approaching the size of Cobalt was without a library. There is no doubt of its being a valuable acquisition to the town and it will prevent children from running the streets a night, an evil which is at present prevalent in Cobalt.” Giving kids books to read, they said, would solve that problem. One delegate encouraged French language books for that segment of the population and another urged the Town to keep up with the times. Reference was also made to the newly built, $10,000 library in New Liskeard, a significant structure, and an indicator of financial progress.

The Board of Trade gave instructions to council as to how to proceed. First, the Town would have to appoint a library board consisting of three members of Town Council, two each from the Public and Separate School Boards, and the Mayor.

A motion was approved and the first Cobalt Public Library board was formed.[5]

But not for long.

The Library Muddle[6]

By the end of the month, the Nugget ran an editorial titled “The Library Muddle”.

Unfortunately, the municipal officers who established the board, did not consult the rules and regulations. At that time, before a library board could be formed, “at least sixty signatures of qualified ratepayers must be presented to a town council asking for the establishment of a public library.”

The new board was disbanded until a petition was presented to the Town, and a by-law was passed.

At the December council meetings, more details were revealed. Alderman Wallace reported that “the library trustees can spend $2,000 a year without sanction of council.” Something, he warned, future councils may not be able to afford.[7] This did not sit well with the rest of the councillors.  Which is understandable, considering those expenditures adjusted for inflation represent about $50,000 in today’s currency.

The petition was tabled for future discussion.[8]

That “discussion” apparently never took place. In early 1913, the Board of Trade made another attempt to rally support, but it seems interest had waned.

The silver mining boom had peaked, and the first world war was on the horizon. The first effort to establish a public library failed, in part due to the fluctuating Cobalt economy. 

NEXT: Librarian CP Cross and then the Silver Leaf Group run the public library.

[1] “all” citizens, of course, meaning adult men

[2] The Daily Nugget October 22, 1912

[3] The Daily Nugget November 5, 1912

[4] https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/local-history-genealogy/2023/01/carnegie-libraries-in-ontario-vintage-postcards.html?

[5] The Daily Nugget November 7, 1912

[6] The Daily Nugget November 29, 1912

[7] The Daily Nugget December 5, 1912

[8] The Daily Nugget December 19, 1912