Rogers+City+Library

Rogers' City Library

Years ago an organization in Forest Grove appointed a committee of 3 women to see about starting a library. The committee rented a small upstairs room to be used as a reading room and hired an elderly man as caretaker.

There was a millinery store on the site of the present library. They offered a small corner for a book store. Miss Penfield, who started the book store, kept a few of her own books on a separate shelf for people to read while they rested. The miniature library soon outgrew their small quarters.

When Mr. & Mrs. Burdan quit the millinery business, the whole building was leased to be used as a library. There was a City Library Board appointed by the City Council. The met in the "free reading room". Miss Penfield accepted the position of librarian. Mrs. Rogers became interested in the library after it became organized. She cherished a dream that tired work-a-day people could rest and read, and where out-of-town guests might meet their friends. She purchased the library building to give to the city on a contract basis, the terms of the contract with the donor, included a provision that the library always maintain a "comfort station" so that travelers could refresh themselves after a long ride on horseback or by wagon.

After a fire in 1090, the library was rebuilt exactly as it was before, store front and all. After the war it was remodeled; ceilings lowered and lighting improved.

A report issued in September 1931, gives the following standing of the library:


 * || Books ||  || 2,923 ||
 * || " purchased ||  || 158 ||
 * || " donated ||  || 90 ||
 * || Circulation ||  || 12,000 ||
 * || Registered patrons ||  || 1,200 ||