Children's room in the New Library!
Even dragons and little people love the library's treasures. Little People love the Library!
Checking out some delightful summer reading materials.
New library showing the adult side.
A view of some of the adult literature.
Miss Scott assists with Summer Reading.
Miss Ham draws kids into her Dragon book.
Waving flags, Summer Readers and supporters greeted the historic Union Pacific
train.
Historic UP passenger train stopped in LaGrange to present T-shirts to the
Summer Reading children.
To promote literacy and community spirit, Unity hosts the annual Easter Egg
Hunt, followed by story time and snacks
Fall Round-Up
Dear Unity Friends: Greetings from the impressive LaGrange Heritage Square, Home of LaGrange-Bear Creek Community Library & Museum! . . ." Click here to read more about Unity's accomplishments in 2011.
LaGrange-Bear Creek Unity Association was founded in 1992 with the express
purposes of providing a library, preserving local history, and promoting appreciation
of our community. With the support of the LaGrange Town Council, Unity Association
founded the LaGrange-Bear Creek Community Library in the previous Town Hall.
In keeping with the association’s purposes, and in support of the historic
preservation of the former LaGrange High School building, renamed LaGrange
Heritage Square, the Community Library will soon be moving into the new LaGrange
Heritage Square.
In addition, Unity Association, being a
501-C-3 non-profit corporation,
has agreed to serve as the administrator of the newly established LaGrange Community
Endowment Fund. Donations for the Endowment Fund have been made as gifts and
memorials in honor of cherished community members or as instruments to continue
the legacy of LaGrange for future generations. The Endowment Funds will provide
a safe, secure way to develop and maintain LaGrange Heritage Square, which in
turn provides a home for our library, preserves local history, and promotes our
community. As the Endowment Fund grows through continued charitable giving,
LaGrange-Bear Creek Unity Association will direct the use of the endowment earnings
to the support of LaGrange-Bear Creek Community Library and History Center, LaGrange
Heritage Square, and other beneficial community needs, in line with Unity’s purposes.
You may read more about LaGrange-Bear Creek Unity Association and the LaGrange Endowment Fund by clicking on the related links. Donations to these causes are deeply appreciated. A gift to the endowment fund will have far-reaching benefits: preserving our heritage, giving back to your community, and passing LaGrange’s legacy to future generations. Your support can make these dreams a reality.
Unity's Year At a Glance
- January - Moving in to LaGrange Heritage Square
- February - Open House/Annual Meeting/Soup Night
- Spring - Easter Egg Hunt/Story Time/Book Sale
- Summer - Summer Reading for Kids
- Back to School - Family Night Closure for Summer Reading
- Fall Round-Up - Fund Drive
- Winter - Planning and Corporation Matters
- All Year - Provide a library. Preserve history. Promote Awarenenss & Appreciation for our Community.
A Peek into the Past – Over 100 Years Ago
Excerpt from Trails, Rails, and Travails, The LaGrange History Book
“We came to Wyoming Territory August, 1888. I was just a girl
at that time. It seemed so lonesome, so far from one place to another, nothing
but hills and stock.
“We came by train to Pine bluffs . . . . We were met with a team and farm
wagon, . . . drove all day, and arrived at the old Whitehead Ranch about sundown.
This ranch was just across the creek west of where Jelmer Johnson now lives.
“The trip over the divide was all new to me. We drove miles without seeing
a home. Then they were small log or sod buildings with a dirt roof and some
dirt floors. It was all open range at that time, not a gate to open or lane
to follow. When we got to the creek we found there were ranches all up and
down it.
. . . .
“The Texas Trail herds were brought through every summer from fifteen to twenty
hundred in a bunch. . . .”
. . . .
“The fall of 1889, the first school house of LaGrange was built, one small
log room, having four small windows. The walls were just logs with plaster
to fill in the cracks, no ceiling and a low dirt roof. A big wood stove stood
in the center, pipe reaching through the roof. Miss Mattie Thomas better known
as Mrs. Winnie was the first teacher. . . .
“The most of the pupils had to ride to school, either horseback or in a cart.
They brought long ropes and a picket pin and staked their ponies out till school
closed. . . .
“Near Christmas 1889, every one favored having a Christmas tree and short program.
The school teachers gave readings, had a few songs, then Santa appeared. .
. . Besides the ornaments, the tree was loaded with gifts for old and young.
. . . After the program, there was a dance and all that cared to stayed the
remainder of the night. . . .”
Continue enjoying this history by Miss Dema Tremain found on pages 5-8. Purchase your copies of Trails, Rails, and Travails for $15 to support the library.
Fine, hard-bound copies of the LaGrange
community history book, full of fascinating local pioneers and families, are
available for $15. Proceeds go to support Unity’s library and historic preservation
projects.
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| Unity Easter Egg Hunters gather their candy. | Kids enjoy the Unity Easter Egg hunt on the LHS lawn |
