Modale has had a public library since 1928, thanks to the Modale Federated Married Teachers' Club. The first library was located in the City Hall above what is now the U.S. Post Office. The original books were donated, and additional money was raised by community plays, bake sales, box suppers, and card and bingo parties.
Members of the first Modale Library Board were Art Hansen, Mrs. Ed Eliff, Mrs. Hickman, Mrs. D. D. Wiltse, Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. H. Hansen, Mrs. M.F. Zahner, Mrs. W.W. Sims, and Mrs. Wilhelm. Each of these persons represented a business, club, or the Modale School.
The members of the Modale Federated Married Teachers Club donated their time to manage the library, which was open one day a week. Fred Warner was the first hired librarian, followed by Mildred Thomas, Alice Imrie, Pearl Jones, Dorothy Brandiff, Sharon Johnson, and Margaret Vittitoe.
The town of Modale has always supported the library by providing building space and furnishing utilities. During W.W. II the library received money through the sale of scrap paper. In the mid-1940s, the library received funds from the town of Modale and Clay Township. In 1964, the library began to receive support from Harrison County through an assessment levied on rural properties, which helped fund the six libraries in Harrison County.
Modale Public Library celebrated its 50th anniversary in October of 1978 with an Open House at the Legion Hall. Marjorie Jackson, who was a member of the club that founded the library, came to the Open House from Troy Grove, Illinois. She told of the library's early history, when the Federated Married Teachers' Club operated the library.
In March 1980, the community of Modale celebrated the opening of a combination Modale Firehall/Library. The new library has three times the space for books than the old library. This building continues today to be a place for our community residents to take advantage of the library's services.
Members of the first Modale Library Board were Art Hansen, Mrs. Ed Eliff, Mrs. Hickman, Mrs. D. D. Wiltse, Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. H. Hansen, Mrs. M.F. Zahner, Mrs. W.W. Sims, and Mrs. Wilhelm. Each of these persons represented a business, club, or the Modale School.
The members of the Modale Federated Married Teachers Club donated their time to manage the library, which was open one day a week. Fred Warner was the first hired librarian, followed by Mildred Thomas, Alice Imrie, Pearl Jones, Dorothy Brandiff, Sharon Johnson, and Margaret Vittitoe.
The town of Modale has always supported the library by providing building space and furnishing utilities. During W.W. II the library received money through the sale of scrap paper. In the mid-1940s, the library received funds from the town of Modale and Clay Township. In 1964, the library began to receive support from Harrison County through an assessment levied on rural properties, which helped fund the six libraries in Harrison County.
Modale Public Library celebrated its 50th anniversary in October of 1978 with an Open House at the Legion Hall. Marjorie Jackson, who was a member of the club that founded the library, came to the Open House from Troy Grove, Illinois. She told of the library's early history, when the Federated Married Teachers' Club operated the library.
In March 1980, the community of Modale celebrated the opening of a combination Modale Firehall/Library. The new library has three times the space for books than the old library. This building continues today to be a place for our community residents to take advantage of the library's services.