Located off
the beaten path in the residential area of town, the Denny Ashby Memorial
Library is a beautiful turn-of-the-century building. Constructed in
1909 by Frank Cardwell for use as a residence, it was owned by Walter and
Grace Robinson for a year before being purchased by John J. and Mary Ashby.
John J. and Mary
Ashby had two children, both of whom died early. Jennie, born in
Weston, Oregon on December 23, 1873, passed away at the Ashby's home on
Falling Springs in July of 1887, at the age of 13. It was believed
that she suffered from organic heart disease.
J. D. Ashby, also
known as Denny, was born Feb. 8, 1876 on Pataha Flat and was the first
person born in Garfield County to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He attended both Idaho University and the University of Portland, and
graduated from Wesleyan University in Montana. In 1900 he entered
the New York Homeopathic College, and would have received
his degree in 1905. Tragedy struck, however, during a vacation with
his fiancée, Miss Oughtred, on Oak Island Beach, near Fire Island, New
York. Miss Oughtred was caught by a huge wave while swimming.
Denny tried to save her, but they both drowned.
John Ashby died in
1914, leaving his entire estate to his wife. She died in 1923 and
left the use of the home to her sister, Alice F. Grueb, with the provision
that upon her sister's death, the property was to be given to the city of
Pomeroy for use as a public library in memory of her son. The city
acquired the property in January of 1925.
About three years
passed between the time the city received the building and a library was
started. The city eventually relegated that responsibility to the
Civic Club, with the club agreeing to finance and operate the library for
a term of five years, and the city agreeing to pay for the upkeep of the
building.
On June 1, 1928,
Mrs. J. T. Ledgerwood opened the library, using her own books as the
library's first collection. The Civic Club operated the library
until 1935, when it could no longer meet the financial burden. At
that time, the city leased the building to the county, and a library board
was established.
Up until April of
1999, half of the building served as the librarian's living
quarters. The entire building is now a library, with a special room
designated as the Helen Shepherd Reading Room in acknowledgement of
Helen's interest in the library. Many renovations have been
made possible through the Shepherd Foundation.
The collection
currently is made up of more than 5,000 titles, with a smaller number of
audio-books and videos also being available. For more information on
selection and for business hours call (509) 843-3710.
