| Sources |
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 1 Jul 1974.
Grady Bascom Fox obituary
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 19 Oct 1957.
James Lee Fox obituary
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 23 Nov 1984.
Lynn Rawlings obituary
- [S80] Rawlings Funeral Home, (http://www.rawlingsfuneralhome.com/).
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 21 Mar 2015.
Upland Chronicles: Fred Rawlings launched Sevier County Public Library
CARROLL MCMAHAN
The Masonic Temple on Main Street let the Sevier County Public Library operate on the first floor of its building for 48 years.
On June 21, 1889, a reporter for the Sevier County Republican wrote an article titled "Things Sevierville Needs." The third thing on the list read as follows: "Sevierville needs a public reading room or library, if the young men are to be kept out of idleness and mischief, and if they are to be prepared for useful, honorable lives in the future." However, it wasn't until 1920 that a Sevierville library became a reality.
Growing up in Sevierville, Fred P. Rawlings loved to read, but library books simply were not available. Later, after Rawlings returned from the Army, college and a teaching job in Virginia, he wanted more than ever to establish a library in his hometown.
His initial step was to ride the Knoxville, Sevierville & Eastern to Knoxville to visit Mary Rothrock, director of the Knoxville Public Library. She assured him that she would assist him in every way possible. The next step was to find a place for the library. Fortunately, the officers of the Mountain Star Lodge offered the use of two rooms in the Masonic temple on Main Street and furnished electricity and water.
Once a building had been secured, Rawlings began to solicit funds to purchase books. He persuaded a group of local citizens to pledge up to $10 each for the purchase of books and was successful in convincing 54 people to donate a total of $233.50. In addition, he donated books from his private collection.
The group agreed the funds would be used to pay for the establishment of a public library in Sevierville where the citizens could obtain books at a rate of 10 cents per week. All money received for book rental was to be used to purchase new books.
The next task was to find someone to open the library doors and stay there during the hours of operation. Anne Catlett McMahan, wife of Stanley McMahan and Mrs. James C. Trotter, volunteered their services two afternoons a week. Later, Blanche Ballard Cox and Edith Rawlings volunteered as well.
The first books for the new library, which were catalogued by the Library Science Department at the University of Tennessee, were delivered to Sevierville from Knoxville in the back of a Rawlings Funeral Home hearse.
On Aug. 11, 1920, Editor Bill Montgomery wrote the following in the Montgomery Vindicator: "We are slowly but surely getting the vision of a public library in Sevierville crystallizing into reality. To be sure, it will be small at first and lacking in many things but with the sympathy and cooperation of the people it will grow into a real library of which everyone would be proud."
About five weeks later, an article in the same newspaper reported: "The library in the Masonic Temple will be opened Friday September 24, 1920. Everyone is invited to come and look through the library. Parents should see the wholesome reading programs for the children and get their own children interested in reading. There are 242 books in the Library at present. You will find history, geography, and juvenile books. The library is for everyone. Come see it."
A formal opening was held on Tuesday, Oct. 5, and everyone who attended was encouraged to donate one good book. Forty books were donated on opening day, and several more in the following days. Forty-two new books were purchased and 150 additional new books arrived shortly thereafter. Two hundred books were loaned by the American Library Association.
Blair-Love Hardware donated a little heater which was used to heat the library rooms throughout the winter months. Charles Doughty, former county agent, donated a sign prepared from a design drawn by Annie Whittle.
In 1921, Rawlings obtained an indefinite loan of 200 books from War Surplus Department. A.J. King and M.B. McMahan supplied a bookcase, and a card file was bought for five dollars. H.O. Eckle, editor of the Record-Republican, contributed 500 library cards.
In 1923, the Manthano Club, under the leadership of Mrs. E.A. Bishop, took over the management of the library. The Manthano Club held teas and fundraisers and continued to solicit money and books from private contributors. In 1928, Malcolm Hodge became the first paid library assistant. From October 1926 through November 1927, he was paid a total of $21.
Before World War II, a representative from Nolichucky Regional Library went with Fred Rawlings to the Sevier County Court to request financial assistance for the library. The court gave the library $50. A library board was created, and Rawlings was named chairman.
In 1932, the library, which had outgrown its two-room space, was expanded to include the entire west wing of the Masonic Temple. In 1947, the library became a member of the Tennessee State Library system's Nolichucky Regional Library, assuring state and federal aid in the form of books and services. A bookmobile delivered books to the library on a regular schedule.
The bookmobile extended library services to Smoky Mountain Academy, Pittman Center, Gatlinburg and the Sevier County Board of Education Materials Center. Branch libraries in small communities were established, such as the little library located in Louise Rader's Pigeon Forge store.
In 1957, the Sevier County Library Board voted to hire a paid librarian. In April of that year, Nora Belle Ward was appointed to serve as the first official librarian. On June 1, 1961, Willie Delozier became the first paid employee. Her sister, Elizabeth Denton, joined her in 1966.
In January 1966, the board created the Sevier County Library Foundation, chaired by John B. Waters Jr., to raise $10,000 to build an independent library building. Mr. and Mrs. John E. Temple donated land for the new library, which was to be located at 321 Court Ave. in Sevierville.
The new Sevier County Public Library opened Nov. 24, 1968, 48 years after Fred Rawlings worked tirelessly to establish a library in his beloved home town.
Carroll McMahan is special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the past of Sevier County. Contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name Fred Rawlings
Event Type Census
Event Date 1940
Event Place Civil District 5, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 45
Marital Status Married
Race (Original) White
Race White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Head
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Birthplace Same House
Birth Year (Estimated) 1895
HOUSEHOLD
ROLE
GENDER
AGE
BIRTHPLACE
Fred Rawlings Head M 45 Same House
Mattie Rawlings Wife F 44 Same House
Frederick Rawlings Son M 21 Same House
Helen Rawlings Daughter F 18 Same House
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-27883-6911-53?cc=2000219 : accessed 26 February 2016), Tennessee > Sevier > Civil District 5 > 78-9 Civil District 5 SW of State Highway 71 and Road from State Highway 71 to W District Line Across West Fork of Little Pigeon River and along Big Gists Creek, Pigeon Forge (part) > image 11 of 43; citing NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012).
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 23 May 1990.
Rawlings, Fred P. Nov 5, 1894 Tn May 23, 1990
Father: Rawlings, Mikon
Mother: Painter, Sarah
Sons: Fred Jr.
Cemetery: Shiloh
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
groom's name: M. R. Rawlings
groom's birth date:
groom's birthplace:
groom's age:
bride's name: Sallie S. Painters
bride's birth date:
bride's birthplace:
bride's age:
marriage date: 20 Oct 1878
marriage place: , Sevier, Tennessee
groom's father's name:
groom's mother's name:
bride's father's name:
bride's mother's name:
groom's race:
groom's marital status:
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race:
bride's marital status:
bride's previous husband's name:
indexing project (batch) number: M51968-1
system origin: Tennessee-VR
source film number: 969965
reference number: 2:DQDK6J
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