Historic Tour at Library

Mainstreet Greenville‘s schedule for Historic Preservation Month is impressive. The month of May is designated as such and Darke County abounds with interesting, beautiful, and significant historic places worthy of preservation and discovery. Pick up a brochure with the schedule and participate!

The Greenville Public Library is playing its part by hosting its own historic tour on “First Friday” May 2nd at 5:15 p.m. This free event is an opportunity to learn about the building's design and decor, the story of its architecture, creation and renovation, the people and proceedings of the past, and to inquire into little known stories of the over-110-year-old building.

Even though the Library was built by grants from Andrew Carnegie and the Greenville Schools, the “extras” came from Henry & Ella St. Clair – the marble stairwell, the stained glass, the imported statues, and the private book collections of Henry himself. Henry's portrait in stained glass graces the Reference Room.

To brief yourself on Library history, go to www.greenville-publiclibrary.org and click on “About Us” then “History.” You’ll see old photographs and a year-by-year account from 1889 to the present.

The tour will conclude in plenty of time to attend the “Upper Floor Tour” in downtown Greenville from 6:00 to 9:00.

In addition to the tour on May 2nd the Library is also sponsoring Bill Booker’s free walking tour “Historic Downtown Greenville” on May 13th. Bill is a regular lecturer at the Library on local history. The May 13th tour will reveal little known and interesting facets of the downtown. Meet at the City Building at 6:00 p.m.