A Bookish Destination- DeFuniak Springs, Florida
An hour’s drive northwest of Panama City a
small picturesque wooden building is home
to the library of Walton-DeFuniak Springs.
Opened in 1887, it is the oldest library in Florida that is still serving continuously as such. Among the requisite book collections, a quirky assortment of antiques and weapons–some of which are rumoured to be of medieval origin–can be seen on the walls. Poised on the shores of spring-fed Lake DeFuniak in the town’s historic district, the library’s construction followed the first Chautauqua Assembly, an adult education movement popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The first assembly was held in 1885 and, a year later, local citizens, mainly from the Ladies Aide Society, decided to elevate the “moral and intellectual standing of [their] community” to support the Chautauqua movement and formed the Ladies Library Association.“The initial members paid a subscription. The ladies paid an initiation fee of 10 cents. Gentlemen could become honorary members by paying 25 cents,” says Dan Owens, the library’s executive director for almost 20 years. Constructed for just under $580, the inside of the original building measured 16.5 feet by 24 feet, with a wood-burning stove and brick chimney. The chimney can still be seen and the original wood floor remains. According to the meticulously recorded minutes of the Ladies Library Association the library’s expansion became necessary in 1893-94 as there were “so many books and so little room.” A second addition, a reading porch, was added in 1921. The last addition, completed in 1984, added two levels and reconstructed the porch area.The first librarian, Ms. Alice Fellows, served from 1902 until her death in 1926. She kept detailed minutes of the association meetings in lovely, flowing handwriting for her entire tenure.
Her writing style offers a glimpse into life and language of the times – “. . . and it came to pass that … certain women of the town of DeFuniak of the county called Fla, unto the Library that is by the lakeside to consult to the good & welfare of the association.” Years later, Ms. Fellows’ nephew visited the library. Now a kind gentleman in his 80s, he recalled that when he was a boy, Ms. Fellows left DeFuniak Springs and went all the way to Chicago to take classes in librarianship so she could return and become the DeFuniak Springs librarian. He remembers her as strict and severe woman “who did not tolerate any frivolity in little boys who were to be seen and not heard.”The library’s collection includes 800 historically significant books. The highlight is a signed first edition of writer Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Lee frequently visited a friend in Wal- ton County and, on several occasions, the author stopped by the library to visit, only to fi it closed. One Christmas she left a personal note lodged in the library door. The library’s director immediately wrote to Lee’s publisher to let her know she was welcome for a personal tour. Lee returned for that tour and then gifted the library with her beloved novel
“THE first LIBRARIAN, MS. ALICE FELLOWS, SERVED FROM 1902 UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1926. SHE KEPT DETAILED MINUTES OF THE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS IN LOVELY, FLOURISHING HANDWRITING FOR HER ENTIRE TENURE.”
A collection of antique weapons catches a visitor by surprise. Owens acknowledges its uniqueness amid the books. The collection was donated by author and poet Wallace Bruce, former U.S. Consul to Edinburgh, Scotland, who was also president of the Florida Chautauqua, and a professor at Palmer College and Academy in DeFuniak Springs. Bruce’s book of poetry, “The Land of Burns” published in 1879, is the library’s oldest book. The weapons are displayed hanging high on the walls, above rows of books, and includes more than 100 items. There are battle axes, one of which is estimated to date from the 12th century, a halberd from the 14th or 15th century Japanese combat and ceremonial swords, African spears, crossbows, an assortment of cutlasses from India, Ceylon, and Zanzibar, muskets from the 18th century which are in appearance much like the Lawrence of Arabia flintlocks. seen in the movie. How Bruce came to collect the pieces and their provenance remains a mystery. Owens smiles, “Grown men visit the library today and tell me they used to come here every day after school just to stare at the weapons.”A Regina Music Box from 1897 stands in the corner of the entry hall. With a deep golden patina, the oak cabinet holds beautiful memories and just as the Walton-DeFuniak library, it is a treasure well worth a visit.