AJ News

Dennis Martin Special to The Abington Journal

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Abington Community Library. After opening in June 1960 at the former Abington Fabric Shop on State Street, it soon became obvious that larger quarters were needed especially when in the fall, 12 chairs were purchased and more shelving was built. By March 1961, the Board was discussing renting the adjoining building, the Abington Restaurant. After extensive cleaning, it was laid out as a Children’s Room slated to open in September “if adequate shelves and drapes are finished in time.”

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Betty Stark and Mike Kuhta, both who feature predominantly in Abington Community library history are shown in this photo taken May 3,1992 at the Grand Opening of the Grove Street library. At that time, both Betty and Mike had been active volunteers for about 30 years and were being honored for that service.

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But in April, before this room was available, the first grade class of the Grove Street Elementary School was already listening to their weekly hour of “good” literature in the original library. The storyteller was Mrs. George W. (Jane) Schautz, one of the founders of the library. The class filled the library fully as they listened to classics, such as “Winnie the Pooh.” The second grade class also had a similar hour each week. A number of these children returned afterward and obtained library cards.

In August 1962, it was decided to hold a June 1963 auction as a fundraiser for the library. Mike Kuchta agreed to be chairman. This auction was in conjunction with the Businessmen’s Association and the first $600 would be used for Christmas lights. By April 1963, the Board decided to start amassing moneys for acquisition or construction of a new building.

Memorial books were also added to the collection. For example, Henry Null III, editor of the Abington Journal, donated a collection of adolescent books in memory of Esdras Howell and also donated were 40 children’s books in memory of Bruce Schautz, young son of Jane Schautz by “The Neighbors,” the Clarks Summit Elementary PTA and others.

This building, which saw the start of what is now a pride of the Abingtons, had a very friendly neighbor in Young’s Funeral Home. Young’s would accept packages for the library when it was not open. When patrons were waiting outside during scheduled hours because a volunteer was late, someone from Young’s would call Mrs. Harold (Betty) Stark. Betty, chair of the Volunteer Committee, would then go down and open the library. While not one of the founding members, Betty was very active very early in the library and received the first 10-year volunteer recognition. She also was in charge of the overdue fines which were an important though not substantial part of the library budget.

In 1966, after looking at several sites, the library, now incorporated, purchased a home on School Street but it was mid-1967 before the library could move.