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Now you may be looking at this page wondering what a free library and a Roman goddess have in common. Well the name of the club comes from the goddess of wisdom, Minerva. Which is what the club and library are also trying to share with the community. Origanally started to help under educated women find an education to equal that of a man's education at the time. Women did not receive the same education as men during the late 1800's and early 1900's. In order to catch up with the men, women started a library that basically floated around from house to house and other buildings around town. Eventually around 500 books were moved into the town hall. In 1899 the club joined Western NY Federation of Womens Clubs. In 1907 Oliver Norton offered to build the library for the town of Sherman NY. The building was finished in 1909 the same year an absolute charter was granted by the State Board of Regents. |
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Oliver W. Norton: A former civil war enlisted soldier, that was later commisioned as an officer after the battle on Little Round Top, at Gettysburg. Norton also was the first person to play Taps after it was written by General Butterfield. Along with the library he also helped to fund the town of Sherman's lights, water, and school. A yearly donation of 500 dollars was also setup to come from the town to the library in his name. Thanks to the selfless donations of people like Oliver Norton many others, this library will continue for many generations. |  |
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