History

There was the dream of a library in Tully as early as 1903 when Mrs. McGahon organized a book exchange club. And, as long ago as 1913 an Old Home Day speaker made the statement that Tully was in need of a "Carnegie". It was inevitable that our community would one day have a public library, but it was no one Carnegie, but many public-spirited citizens who

The Tekaneata Club, a local women's literary organization, and its president, Katherine Wheeler, spearheaded the drive for a library in early 1935. The Chamber of Commerce was an energetic backer of the project and made the first contribution of $25.00.
After carefully planned organizational meetings and a concentrated drive to procure funds, and 300 books, the Tully Free Library opened its doors on May 15, 1935. 100 books were borrowed from the Syracuse Public Library for one year, at a cost of $100. The books were to be exchanged as often as demand warranted. Tully Library

The original trustees of the library were Mrs. R. Walter Riehlman, President, Mrs. Leon Baldwin, Secretary, Mrs. Louis Wheeler (Katherine), Willard C. Wheeler, editor and publisher of the Tully Times, Mrs. Bailey Hess, Mrs. Norbert Finkler and Leicester Green, school principal. Cecilia Murphy, a teacher then in the Tully Valley school, Mrs. Jesse Garrett of Apulia, and Nathaniel Pierce of Solvay Process and later French's Store in Vesper completed the Board of Trustees.

The library was open Wednesdays and Saturdays 3 - 5 and 7 - 9. Members of the Tekaneata Club served as librarians and many residents donated books and magazines. 100 books were borrowed the first two days and in one year 1300

In November 1936 the library received approval from the State Education Department in Albany for a provisional charter renewable every five years. Perhaps more important, the library was now eligible for assistance from Albany.

In 1937 the library moved down the street to a room in the Masonic Temple, and then a year later it settled into the basement of the then Tully Trust Company Bank, now Marine Midland. There the library stayed, rent free, for 20 years. The basement was damp and dark. Volunteers lit the oil space heater, took care of the dehumidifier and provided all the

The new Mayor was Leon Baldwin who was also Tully's mortician. His interest in a library was so keen that he offered a room in his funeral home for its use. Thus the first of several homes for the library was in the north front room in the Leon and Dorothy Baldwin residence, 5 State Street. This north room also served as a funeral parlor. The library books were stacked on movable shelves. When there was a