Walton-DeFuniak Library

Walton-DeFuniak Library
Walton-DeFuniak Library, 2008
Location DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Coordinates 30°43′10″N 86°6′55.42″W / 30.71944°N 86.1153944°WCoordinates: 30°43′10″N 86°6′55.42″W / 30.71944°N 86.1153944°W
Built 1887[1][2][3]
Governing body Citizen Services Division[4]
Part of DeFuniak Springs Historic District (#92001048[5])

Walton-DeFuniak Library is an historic library located at 3 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida in the United States. Opened in 1887, it is the oldest continuously run library in the state.[1][2][3] It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.

In 1989, the library was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.[6]

History

After the Chautauqua association had their first session in DeFuniak Springs, locals realized there was a need for library resources to support it.[1] Local woman raised 580 dollars in 1886-7 to build the library, and land on Lake DeFuniak for an annual rent of 25 cents.[1][2][3] The library opened by the end of 1887.[2] The name was changed in 1975 to the Walton-DeFuniak library.[1] In 1984, a rear section was added which blends architecturally with the original hardware-frame building.[3]

Weapons collection

The library is also home to a collection of arms and armor owned originally by Palmer College's Professor Kenneth Bruce. He left the collection to the college in his will. When the college closed in the 1930s, the city became the recipient of the collection, which later gave it to the library. A large number of the weapons are European and from the era of the Crusades. There are also others from the Orient, as well as Kentucky muskets from the 18th century.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Walton County Historical Markers
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Godown, Jan (2004). Scenic Driving Florida. Falcon. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7627-3482-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Hunt, Bruce (2003). Visiting Small-Town Florida. Florida: Pineapple Press. pp. 7 & 8. ISBN 978-1-56164-278-6.
  4. ↑ Walton County, Florida Online - Library
  5. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  6. ↑ A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 9, ISBN 0-8130-0941-3

External links