![]() ![]() ![]() On May 17, 1981, the new 3,500 square foot Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library opened - finally replacing the small one-room library in the Town Hall building. The estimated cost of the library was $200,000 and about half of that total came from a Town of Clayton bond issue. In 1979, the Clayton community raised over $52,038 toward construction of the new library and the Johnston County commissioners pledged a $15,000 grant for the project. The Town of Clayton, businesses, industry, and individuals teamed together to make the dream of a new library a reality. organized in 1976 to seek funds for the building and maintenance of the new library. Hocutt's office property by the Town in 1975 and the 1978 gift/purchase of the log cabin property from Allan Tew by the Friends of the Library, Inc., with the original site, provided half an acre of land bounded by Main, Church and Second Streets." (Supplement to the Clayton News, 1981)įriends of the Library, Inc. Library Commission, Johnston County Librarian and the Clayton Library Board recommended a new building be constructed on the site as well as the adjoining property. The library board requested that the Town begin a library-building fund, setting aside $1000 a year. Ellington, thus the name Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library. The property was given in memorial to her late husband Dr. Hocutt deeded over her home to the Town of Clayton to be used as the future home of a public library. The book volume count was at 7484 and the circulation for that past year was 18,470. Betty Coats came on board as librarian and three Johnston County Youth Employment aides: Renee Kirby, Johnny Wallace and Sharon Cooley. Miss Evelyn Harris became the librarian in 1968 and an aide was employed under the NYC program. During this time a closer relationship with Johnston County Library was cultivated and books, bookmobile and technical services were shared. By 1963 the Town of Clayton appropriated $125 per month to the librarian and book volumes were added. The library was given a facelift and Mrs. Carmen Satterfield, Stephen Cauley, and Miss Grace Barbour. Sadly in August 1961 the falling circulation and interest prompted the library to close, but in September of that same year the library was reopened with a new board of trustees: Charles Crone (Chairman), Mrs. Melba McCullers was substitute librarian. Sponsorship of The Woman's Club of Clayton ceased in 1943 when the North Carolina State Library Commission and the Johnston County Library recommended that a seven-member board be appointed. After 1941 WPA funds were no longer available and the Town of Clayton began paying for the librarian's salary. Dalton became the librarian in 1937 and the librarian's salary was paid for with WPA funds. Melba McCullers and Miss Grace Smith were appointed librarian and assistant librarian. The librarian's salary, a stove for heating and other equipment was furnished by The Woman's Club of Clayton. W Robinson became the first librarian with an annual salary of $48.50. In 1931, the Clayton Library opened to the public and Mrs. The citizens of Clayton were proud of their library room that opened two afternoons each week, with an initial collection of donated books equaling 600 volumes. The Town Council was persuaded to include space in the Town Hall building for a public library. The move to build a public library in Clayton began January 12, 1927, when The Woman's Club of Clayton voted to sponsor a town library. ![]()
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