Our Past Is Present August 29, 2018

August 29, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Many of us remember using the George Smith Public Library, which was located at the corner of Seventh and Washington Streets in Junction City.  Today’s story is about the man for which that library was named.       

            When George Smith died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head in 1905, his entire estate was left to the city of Junction City for the building, equipping and maintaining a library.  The intent was not only to have a building built, but the money was provided in the will to staff and operate the library for 50 years. 

            It was to be built on the southwest corner of 7^th and Washington Streets.  The plan was for businesses to be on the bottom floor and the library on the upper stories containing not only a library, but also a reading room. 

            A board was to be appointed by the Mayor and the City Council to administer the estate and the library.  It took 3 years after his death for the building to become a reality.  It was begun in 1907 and dedicated on March 17, 1908.

            George Smith came here in 1866 and opened a hardware store.  He left for a short time and came back in 1879. He worked in the tinner and cornice (pronounced kornis) professions. During his lifetime, George Smith acquired substantial property.  At his death his holdings included all business buildings on the south side of West 7^th Street and several prime corner locations on Washington Street.

            He retired in 1886 with an incurable kidney malady, which caused him considerable pain.  He withheld spending money on pain medication in order to leave more for his estate.

            The George Smith Library was closed in 1983.  There were 27 steps from the ground floor to the library, which made it inaccessible to those who were handicapped.  The Dorothy Bramlage Library was established in 1983 and is the current public library location at 230 West 7^th Street. It IS handicapped accessible. 

            And…. that is today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.