Seagrove Public Library turns 50

SEAGROVE — The Seagrove Public Library will hold a birthday party from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The event will celebrate the library’s 50 years of service to the community with live music, clogging, comments from dignitaries, a bounce house, games and activities for the kids. 

Harking back to the library’s famed hot dog sale fund-raisers, free hot dogs will be available. Crystal King Pottery has created a library-branded mug for the occasion in a nod to another library fundraising effort in which a different local pottery created a mug each year for sale. 

After hearing citizens express their interest, the Seagrove Town Council chartered the library on Dec. 5, 1972, and appointed a board of trustees. Board members included Jack Lail, chairman; Jane King, vice-chairman; Mae Auman, secretary; Martha Comer, treasurer; Mary Ann Teague; and DeWitt King.  

Thomas Marsh, Seagrove’s mayor pro-tem, represented the town council.  

The trustees secured space on the main floor of the Seagrove Grange Hall. Seagrove Lumber Company bought and donated a library showroom lock, stock and barrel from the Alma Desk Company in High Point to furnish the library.

Some 100 local residents made donations, including books to stock the shelves and funds to run the library until town government could contribute in the next budget year. 

Sarah Auman, a former history teacher at Seagrove High School, was hired to be the first librarian.  

With more books provided by the Randolph County Public Library, the library opened on March 11, 1973. 

Recognizing that the Seagrove library served the whole southern part of the county, Randolph County Board of Commissioners in 2005 funded construction of the current  library building, and the Randolph County Public Library took over full operation of the library.

The Seagrove library is located at 530 Old Plank Road. For more information, call the library at 336-873-7521.