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Central Library Groundbreaking Celebration

Library News & Announcements RSS Feed September 29, 2002

A crowd of over 700 citizens, including local government officials and other dignitaries, attended the Central Library Groundbreaking Celebration on Friday, September 27 on the American Legion Mall.

Emceed by Emmy-winning documentary producer and veteran broadcaster Tom Cochrun, the Groundbreaking Celebration featured a number of special presentations. Following the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by gospel recording artist Gina Nelson, the President of Martin University, the Rev. Fr. Boniface Hardin, re-enacted "A Plea for a Public Library," originally delivered as a Thanksgiving Day sermon in 1868 by the Reverend Mr. Hanford A. Edson, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, as a call for the creation of a public library in Indianapolis. Other presenters included the Hon. Bart Peterson, Mayor of the City of Indianapolis, Dr. Beurt SerVaas, President of the City-County Council, J. Albert Smith, President of Bank One, Indiana, and Edward M. Szynaka, Chief Executive Officer of IMCPL. Following a musical interlude by the Stratford Brass Quintet, internationally known writer and educator Mari Evans recited a new poem she had written for the occasion, "Paean for a New Library." The keynote address was delivered by noted Indiana author and educator Dr. Scott Russell Sanders.

Immediately following the ceremony the crowd gathered on the mall in front of Central Library for a panoramic photograph by acclaimed Indiana photographer Darryl Jones. For the photo Mr. Jones used a 1907 Kodak Cirkut Camera which was the same as the camera used to photograph the 1916 laying of the cornerstone of Central Library. Reproductions of both photos are available for purchase through Firehouse Image Center by emailing sally@fire-house.net or by calling 236-1747.