HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLO What Dec 2015
HISTORY of SAN LUIS OBISPO
History of San Luis Obispo
Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
Readers are familiar with the quest to bring the railroad to San Luis Obispo. A less familiar event in 1894 – indeed
the month after the first train rolled into the community in May 1894 - another civic milestone was reached when the
community library opened its doors. As with the railroad, the journey to improve the municipality’s literacy was as
daunting as that of improving its rail commerce although not as expensive. Many residents were educated and
literate, maintained personal libraries, established many schools throughout the county, and – since 1868 - enjoyed a
local newspaper (well, if you were a Democrat, you might subscribe to the Pioneer but Republicans waited a year
until Walter Murray founded the Tribune: See this month’s Journal Plus).
Over 20 years previous to the coming of the railroad, records indicate in January 1872, a Library Association was
formed with membership replete with many prominent Town members. Victor C. Allen (who was also the Town
Clerk) was appointed librarian. The Standard (another early newspaper) hoped the Association met with “universal
encouragement.” The reader should understand this was not a FREE library…but one that simply was not private.
The reigning civic improvement model of the time was to support with tax mone y only the most basic community
necessities. Everything else was at the direction and funding of the community. Today, the county library system still
operates as a reflection of this late-nineteenth century philosophy. If a community wants a library today, the residents
are responsible for generating half of funds needed…in addition to paying their regulated taxes.
In 1872, membership was $5 plus $1.50 per month to use the Association’s reading room open daily from 2 – 5 and 7
– 10 pm. While records are scarce, the library seems only to be supplied with magazines and newspapers and there
were no withdrawal privileges. A year later, the Association claimed at least 40 members in a town of about 1500
residents. Reminiscent of more modern perpetual budget issues, a festival was planned to raise funds along with fee-
based lectures for the edification of the members.
This may have not lasted long – or have been supplemented - as by the mid-1870s, merchants S. A. Pollard and J. J.
Simmler established a circulating library in their store along with selling State textbooks. Assuring its readers the
effort “will no doubt be well patronized,” the Tribune also depended on readers.
Another issue was the ability of local governing boards to establish taxes for specific p urposes. It was not until 1878
that the Legislature authorized the County Supervisors to establish (and fund) free public libraries. Not unexpectedly,
the County Supervisors seem not to have embraced any library levy. They would not consider the issue unti l 1915.
That, too, is another story.
In the meanwhile, a Literary Society was formed with many of the same members of the Library Association. With
no movement afoot to create a public library anywhere, interest in literacy persisted typified by a newspape r article
extolling the virtues of a home library. Of course, books were expensive and any personal collections were subject to
taxation. Nonetheless, vision preceded reality.
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com 12/2015
Located at the corner of Monterey/Court Streets, the
IOOF Hall upstairs in the Schwartz store held the Odd
Fellow's library