Stella Hill Library holding grand reopening Sunday

The work is complete; the books are on the shelves; the new furniture placed; and the computers are on -- the newly renovated Stella Hill Memorial Library is ready for its public debut!

Library volunteers are inviting everyone to the grand reopening, featuring an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, 2-4 p.m., Sunday, March 24, at the library, 158 W. San Antonio St., in Alto. Alto native and Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis will be the guest speaker. Door prizes and refreshments will also be featured.

“Eighty-four years after their first meeting in 1935, the ladies of the non-profit Alto Thursday Study Club (ATSC), are blessed to have fulfilled their dream of a fully renovated Stella Hill Memorial Library,” ATSC President Judy Landrum said. “We’re so excited! We want everyone to try to come out and see our new, beautiful library. We worked very hard to get this far and we’re so blessed to have done so.”

According to Landrum, the club’s dream started coming to fruition in April 2017, when she and Library Director Virginia Singletary attended a library meeting presented by the Tocker Foundation in Diboll. The Tocker Foundation, a non-profit foundation, helps small libraries in areas with a population of 25,000 or less.

The pair met with the Foundation’s Executive Director Darryl Tocker and his assistant, along with representatives from two other libraries in Texas, to explore different ways libraries could benefit the most from a Tocker grant.
“Danelle Wrightson, a consultant, was hired by Tocker to help Stella Hill Memorial Library,” Landrum said. “She used her expertise to help plan and maximize the benefits of the grant money.”

The Tocker Grant was expressly to be used to purchase new furniture and shelving.

“There is lots of new furniture throughout the library where you can relax, read, or visit with friends,” Landrum said. “The new community room is ready to be used for community and group functions and is open to everyone to enjoy. Libraries are not just about books anymore, but communities.”

The library was able to acquire the Tocker grant, thanks to the city of Alto’s help. Alto City Council approved putting a new roof on the 116-year-old building, which Landrum said was key to getting the Tocker Grant.

“Their contribution to the renovation motivated the Thursday Study Club to move forward to find other grants to help with other needed renovations,” Landrum said. “Through the generous financial support of the Friends of Stella Hill Memorial Library Drive, the Thursday Study Club Renovation Fund, and other grants received from the Ladd and Catherine Hancher Library Foundation, the Temple Foundation, and the Still Water Foundation, the seemingly impossible dream of a newly renovated and updated library facility has become a reality.”

The library closed in August 2018 to clear the building in preparation of rehab work. All the books, furniture, and computers were removed and stored in an adjacent building. Clint Glaze Construction Company began construction work began in October 2018. Upgrades include new wiring and lighting, new flooring, a suspension ceiling, some demolition of walls, upgraded restrooms, sidewalk repairs and a new community room

“Clint Glaze Construction Company did a fantastic job for us,” Landrum said.

The new carpeting was laid in February, and as the new furniture and shelving began arriving, Study Club members worked tirelessly to arrange the furniture and reshelve the books, getting ready for the grand opening event.

“We want to thank the Alto Middle School Student Council, the youth group from Alto First Baptist Church, and all the numerous community members who helped get the facility ready,” Landrum said. “They all were a tremendous help.”

During the construction phase of the library’s refurb, several historic discoveries were made.

“If these walls could talk,” Landrum said with a laugh. “’A Glimpse of History’ was discovered during the demolition of the east wall of the library. Notes made by the original contractor in 1917 were found behind wall and are now enclosed by glass for future generations to enjoy.

“An old fashioned wall telephone, with a crank ringer and separate mouthpiece, was found by Danny Landrum in the back of a closed-off storeroom and cleaned up by Janie Daniels.”

The telephone, along with an old RCA Victor radio discovered on location, are now on display in the library.

“Although neither work, visitors can take a trip back in time to experience the latest “technology” of the early 20th century,” Landrum said. “Imagine, if you can, having to stay in a certain place to make a telephone call or listen to the radio.”

The newly renovated Stella Hill Memorial Library also now boasts a children’s reading section, a teen reading section, and an adult reading section; free wi-fi service; a genealogy section; new computer stations; a coffee bar; and a new office for the library director.

“The ladies of the Alto Thursday Study Club would once again like to thank the City of Alto for their generous financial support, the Friends of Stella Hill Memorial Library for their charitable contributions, and the Tocker Foundation, the Ladd and Katherine Hancher Library Foundation, the Temple Foundation, and the Still Water Foundation for their timely grants totaling over $125,000.

“The newly renovated Stella Hill Library is a library the citizens of Alto and surrounding areas can utilize and be proud of!”

Library hours are 2-5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursday; 4-7 p.m., Wednesdays: and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays.

Beverly Milner contributed to this article.