Hamilton North Public Library

History of the Hamilton North Public Library

During his travels as a salesman, Newton A. Roads saw public libraries popping up in many Indiana towns. He had a vision to build a library in Atlanta, Indiana. He inquired of Henry N. Sanburn, the State Librarian, about how to obtain a donation from the Carnegie Corporation. They also discussed how to gain the township's support for library maintenance after the building was complete.

Once Mr. Roads was informed that the laws of the State provided funds for a public library and board of directors through a special tax, he set about making his vision a reality. Mr. Roads selected I.M. Gasho and H.E. Snyder to assist him in this great undertaking.

A subscription list was started, as provided by the law, securing the amount of $91.36. The funds would be put toward securing the organization of a library board and gaining the township's support. The subscription was raised in a few hours.

Next, a petition with 68 signatures of property owners in the township was produced. The petition was presented to the Township Trustee and Township Advisory Board. They immediately passed a resolution to levy a library tax in Jackson Township for the maintenance of a public library in the town of Atlanta.

In September of 1916 the Carnegie Corporation addressed a letter to Mr. H.E. Snyder, the secretary of the Atlanta-Jackson Township Public Library board, informing that their request for funds was approved and that $10,000 was available to build the library.

In 1997 the name of the library changed to Hamilton North Public Library, and the main branch was moved to Cicero. The original Atlanta building stands to this day as it was originally built in 1917, with only a few renovations on the inside.