D Brown Library celebrates 75th anniversary
Even though it “rained on their parade,” the Wednesday Study Club of Rosebud provided a 75th Anniversary celebration for the D Brown Library in grand style.
The city was without power, but thanks to City Administrator Ken Murray along with Emergency Management Coordinator Owen Smith, a generator provided electricity to the D Brown Library and the event was able to continue.
President Pat Runcie welcomed guests into the beautifully decorated Community Room. Tables were covered with white cloths centered with vase decanters atop reflecting mirrors and filled with pastel flowers and tiny lights. The recently refurbished huge oak table was centered with a lovely floral arrangement from Westphalia Roots.
The program included a Proclamation read by Mayor Marlene Zipperlen. Runcie also read the Proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott. She recognized Librarian Kelly Hughes for all of her hard work to make the library a place for people to get books as well as to use available technology. Runcie then gave a short history of the library, stating how C. F. Brown had donated money for the library in memory of his wife D Brown and gave it to the community of Rosebud to be used by all.
Runcie thanked the many individuals who helped to make this event possible including the Rosebud City Administrator, Ken Murray, and all of the Rosebud City employees.
Smith was thanked for helping with the generator. Also included was tree trimmer, Jesse Reyna; craftsman, Bryan Arispe; Debbie Meyer of Westphalia Roots; and Kenny Hensel for the sound system.
Publicity from Channel 25 KXXV, The Temple Daily Telegram, and Publisher Lindsey Vaculin of The Rosebud News, The Marlin Democrat, and The Cameron Herald was greatly appreciated. Numerous friends on Facebook posted the event flyer so the word of the event went out into the community. Runcie recognized all of the Wednesday Study Club members for the work they had done to prepare for the event.
Secretary Carol Stock introduced the Power Point program that she and Sharon Skupin created several years ago which told the story of how the Community Room has been used over the years. The Community Room has seen farm and church meetings; blood drives and polio sugar cube distributions; scout meetings and banquets; bridal showers, wedding receptions and golden anniversary receptions; piano recitals and Little Red School House graduations; birthday parties and reunions; and so many school dances.
C.F. Brown had stated when the library was dedicated on June 28, 1949, that he wanted it to “express my love and affection for my wife and our appreciation of this good community.”
He also stated, “I had rather it would wear out than to rust out.” Indeed, the D Brown Library has stood the test of time, even with multiple layers of color and paint. Even today the Community Room continues to be used by a variety of organizations and family functions.
At the conclusion of the program, guests were treated to charcuterie cups of fruit, veggies, cheeses, meats, accompanied with pretzel and cheese sticks. Cellophaned wrapped cookies displaying a sticker depicting the anniversary date, D Brown Library, 1949-2024, 75 Years. Due to the weather and warnings that were being given out on everyone’s phones, guests were ushered into the back of the library for safety reasons.
Later guests were able to visit the Memorial Room addition containing Rosebud High School memorabilia. WSC member Diana Pagel displayed albums that she has created honoring local men and women who served in World War II.
The depth of information that she has collected will serve as a research tool for interested historians and family members for years to come.
This 75th Anniversary was a reunion in itself as guests reminisced about events at the library that they had participated in over the years. New Rosebud residents gathered a little history of Rosebud and realize the welcome sign on the city limits of Rosebud that states, “Welcome to Rosebud. We call it Home, you should too!” certainly means what it says.