The Hannibal Square Public Library was created as a memorial for Mrs. Mertie Graham Grover, a local woman who had spent her early years teaching in the Negro schools, as she was dedicated to helping the Negro community advance academically. This facility would serve the people of Winter Park’s West Side . . . historically a black community.
In order to accomplish the larger goal of an actual library building, a group was formed to drive that vision. After the City Commission presented a plot of land for a building, a building fund was started. Gifts of money were received, and a non-profit organization was started. It was called Hannibal Square Associates.
The need for land had been met and sufficient money had been raised. All that was left to do was to acquire the services of a builder. A builder did step forward, a Mr. Goodfellow. He did the work for cost. In 1937, the little concrete building was completed. In that small building the work of the library was carried on for both children and adults.
The library opened on July 1, 1937 and was officially named: The Hannibal Square Public Library-Mertie Graham Grover Memorial. Upon its opening it boasted 1,400 books. An open house was held to introduce the community to their new facility.
In its early days, the library also served the citizens of the West Side by providing space for community groups and clubs to meet. The Boy Scouts, Benevolent Society, Sewing Society, Colored Women’s Club (later the Ideal Woman’s Club) all initially held their meetings at the Hannibal Square Public Library.
In 1955 a children's room was added. It was made possible through contributions of time, labor and money.
For more information about the Hannibal Square Library, visit:
http://www.wppl.org/wphistory/hannibalsquarelibrary.html
