Library marks 100 years

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POCATELLO -- More than 60 people turned out Monday to help the Marshall Public Library celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of its original building.

Monday's celebration commemorated the completion of what is now about one-third of the current structure used by Pocatello's library. The northern most one-third of the building was completed in 1908. The southern two-thirds of the building was added in 1994, said Library Director Mike Doellman.

"We now use the older part of the library as administrative offices on the (second floor), and a community meeting room on the first floor," he said.

Members of the Pocatello Masonic Lodge started the ceremony Monday by re-dedicating the building with the same ceremony their predecessors used to dedicate the library 100 years ago.

"They did it just as members did 100 years ago using corn, wine and oil, except they put it on a plaque, which we will put on the wall in the library," Doellman said.

After the ceremony, the Marshall Public Library hosted an open house of sorts. Although the library is typically open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, food was served and employees and volunteers were giving tours of the building.

"We also have on display some of the things that we have here at the library that often seem to surprise people," Doellman said.

Among them, he said, is the original Pocatello Police Court records, a simple log book displaying the defendant's name, arresting officer, judgment or disposition of the case, and the fine and time served if any.

The first line of the book Doellman had on display was dated Jan. 3, 1916. It was the arrest of a local man with the last name Dueth, who was arrested by an officer Oak. Dueth was charged with stealing coal and being drunk. He pleaded guilty and served six and one-half days in jail and paid a $10 fine, according to the record book.

"One older gentleman was in here looking through it and said he found his father, who had been arrested for bootlegging during prohibition," Doellman said. "A number of people have looked through it and seen someone they knew or commented that someone's descendents still live in the area."

The library has similar records, although updated with the times, through 1991.

At another table, Doellman showed some vintage letters and diaries. He also pulled out a 31-year-old newspaper story about the start of Channel 12 in Pocatello. Doellman said the Marshall Public Library started the public access channel in 1977.

"(Marshal Public Library) started the first public access channel in the state of Idaho," Doellman said. "This library has been at the forefront for a long time."

He said the Pocatello library was also the first in Idaho to have a bookmobile. The Marshall Public Library started its bookmobile in 1956.

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