Early days of Brookhaven’s library
Brookhaven’s library history began on the back porch of the home of Edna and Weldon Shows. The Shows moved to 56 E. Brookhaven Drive in 1942. Weldon Shows was one of the mayors who served the municipality of North Atlanta during the years it existed, 1924-1963. (History of Brookhaven, by Mrs. Willig, DeKalb History Center Archives)
Louse Trotti coordinated the DeKalb County bookmobile unit and drove the bus throughout the county. Trotti had certain homes where she could park her bookmobile. In Brookhaven, that was the Shows home. The children of Brookhaven would come to the Shows’ porch, browse the books on shelves they had installed and check out books.
Edna Shows also told stories to the children. Each time they visited the back porch library, she would ask them to name three things they would like to hear in a story next time. This was an added incentive for the children to return.
After a while, the Shows porch and the bookmobile couldn’t manage the demand for books. The closest library was the Ida Williams Library in Buckhead, which charged Brookhaven residents $5 to check out books.
Carol M. Johnson, former society editor for the North DeKalb Record newspaper, suggested the need for a library after seeing children buy books in a drugstore that she believed were inappropriate. She went to the North Atlanta Brookhaven Planning Council to ask for their help.
The American Legion hut was offered to DeKalb County for $1 for the purpose of a library. With the help of DeKalb County Commissioner Scott Candler, the rent-free building was refurbished. In later years, the hut was used as the St. Martin’s School Field Resale Shop.
Maude Burrus, first librarian of the county, shared her knowledge and guided the citizens of Brookhaven towards their goal of having a community library. Donations came in from individuals and businesses, including Rich’s Department Stores.
On February 10, 1951, a formal opening of the Brookhaven Library, located in the former American Legion hut, was held and the people who helped make it happen were invited. Nine days later the doors of the library opened to the community.
In the beginning, the library was open three days a week from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Local businesses continued to support the library, including Big Apple Grocery Store, DeKalb National Bank and Woolworth’s.
Mattie Dodson was the first librarian in Brookhaven and continued in that role from 1951 until 1972. She had previously worked at McElroy’s Supermarket but was offered the job of librarian with a starting pay of $15 per week.
It soon became apparent a more permanent library building was needed for Brookhaven. A bond issue passed to provide the money needed. Rather than purchase land for the library, land that was already owned by the county was selected. That meant all the funds from the bond issue could be used for construction.
In 1955, plans for a $30,000 library, designed by John R. Edwards, appeared in the Atlanta newspapers. The library was referred to as Fernwood Park Library and described as a building of Roman brick, featuring a 2,475 square foot reading room. Plans included a small basement auditorium, kitchen and storage room. Lillian Gregson, Chairperson of the Brookhaven Library Board, announced, “we hope to have the building ready for dedication in time for the February 1956 celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Brookhaven Library’s establishment.” (Atlanta Constitution, Sept. 2,1955, “Northside News”)