Port Arthur Public Library | TBPL Research Blog

To follow up with our February Blog about the Mechanics’ Institute in Port Arthur, we will turn our attention now to the development of the Port Arthur Public Library and the building of what is now called Waverley Resource Library. 

In 1900, after much deliberation, the town of Port Arthur took over the Mechanics' Institute Library and it became the Port Arthur Public Library. The library operated out of at least three different locations from 1900 to 1909, and there were even talks with the Carnegie Foundation about helping to fund a standalone building, but those plans never came to fruition. The library eventually settled into the Walsh Block in 1909.

In March of 1911, a plot of land was purchased for the library at a cost of $12,500. The property had 100 feet of frontage on Waverley Street and there were residential properties on either side of it. The Port Arthur News Chronicle of March 22, 1911 described the location as "ideal and central to the residential, business and tourist sections of Port Arthur, surpassing in many advantages any other obtainable site." It was Port Arthur's first move toward creating a standalone library space. Only two years after the land purchase, the Port Arthur Public Library moved into rented rooms in the upper level of the addition to the Ruttan Block on Court Street.

In September of 1927, a letter to the editor was published in the Port Arthur News Chronicle that directly called for a dedicated library and a city hall (see the newspaper clipping to the right). Another letter to the editor in November of that same year expressed the writer's frustration about the lack of a city hall and a standalone library, while claiming that most of Port Arthur's utilities were in surplus.

“Port Arthur itself is hampering the development of the city. Because it is being so managed, the families of hundreds of men are driven to live in Fort William while the men themselves are working in Port Arthur. They cannot find shelter in Port Arthur. There is no one person to blame for this condition. Port Arthur is itself to blame for this condition. [...] Instead of the “letting things go” policy that has prevailed for too many years every man who has aught to do with the city should be on the balls of his feet to make Port Arthur the city it is entitled to be.” Letter to the editor, Port Arthur News Chronicle, November 8, 1927. 

Despite public outcry for a library building, the Port Arthur Public Library Board did not officially approach City Council for funding until 1944, and by this time the lot they had purchased in 1911 was completely paid off. By 1946, the Board hoped that they could build a library once the construction material shortages of the Second World War were addressed; however, nothing materialized that year.

In September of 1948, the Library Board approached the Finance Committee of the City for $130,000. The figure would cover construction costs as well as furnishings for a library building. The space in the Ruttan Block they were operating out of had run out of room entirely for books. City Council put the question to a plebiscite for the upcoming election. The librarian at the time, R. Porter, was quoted in the paper as saying: "[...] no other city of comparable size in the whole Dominion is without its own library building. Here in Ontario, towns and cities like Barrie, Brockville, Chatham, Fort William, Kitchener, Niagara, Oshawa, Peterborough, Welland, etc. all have suitable, adequate library buildings. Port Arthur hasn't." (Port Arthur News Chronicle, September 21, 1948)

The library had 24,000 books, had completely run out of room for new books, and didn't have adequate space for reading rooms. The space they occupied in the Ruttan building was described as two long, narrow rooms with books from the adult and children's departments overflowing into each other. There were also new theatres, the Odeon and the Paramount, opening nearby, and the current quarters would not be "choice," being so near the entertainment establishments. The library also wanted to expand its collections to include a teen collection, but the Ruttan building did not have space. They also didn't have enough space to host all of the children's storytime participants who would attend on Saturday mornings.

“We are not doing our best work, nor securing best result in the present quarters, for we are altogether too crowded and cramped. The people of Port Arthur would, I am sure, welcome a library building program. If the City Council and Library Board agree to discuss the possibility, I shall do everything in my power to assist them.” Port Arthur News Chronicle, September 21, 1948 

The final ask, in October 1948, was $140,000 for the building itself and $30,000 for equipment, set to go to a plebiscite on January 3, 1949. With a total of 4,802 votes, 3,140 Port Arthur citizens voted in favour of funding a library building.

The architect chosen for the project was Andrew Angus, and the contractors were Barnett-McQueen Construction Company for the building and L. A. Green and Company for the plumbing work. (Port Arthur News Chronicle, November 22 and December 5, 1949) The total funding breakdown was:

• $136,000 to Barnett-McQueen Company for the building. 
• $26,023 to L. A. Green and Company for plumbing, heating and ventilation.
• $13,277 for furniture and equipment.
• $9,700 for the architect, Andrew Angus. 

By December of 1949, plans for the library had started to take shape. It was reported that the architect, Andrew Angus, had started visiting libraries in eastern Ontario and the United States to gather ideas for the design of the Port Arthur Public Library. The original building had a frontage of 80 feet and was 66 feet deep. The original children's department was on the lower level of the east side of the building and had its own entrance. The auditorium had seating for 220. The main floor was designed to hold 30,000 books and was laid out with no obstructions to allow for the maximum amount of natural light.

In June of 1950, construction began on the library site. The "Town Talk" column of the Port Arthur News Chronicle, written by Theo B. Allen, described the land on which the library was being built.

“They covered part of a dried up creek bed and cribbing of an old bridge when putting in the footings for the foundation of Port Arthur’s new public library building, this week. Workmen found, among other buried things, the shoulder stock of an old gun well worn with age and interment. It is known that a creek flowed through a ravine across Arthur Street [Red River Road] in the earlier days. At least two bridges spanned it there. I can remember, as a lad tramping across a footbridge over the gully on my way to Central school.” Port Arthur News Chronicle, June 3, 1950

On September 28, 1950, a cornerstone-laying ceremony was held at 10 am. Mayor F. O. Robinson placed a steel box containing coins, newspapers, and pictures of Port Arthur civic boards under the cornerstone. Although they thought it was going to be there for "several hundred years" at the time, we might find it when construction on the entrance of Waverley begins next year.

By March of 1951, Library Board members were able to tour the building with the architect in its final stages of construction. The opening was slated for around May 1 at this point, with the remaining work being interior painting and laying floors. The work came in under budget by $3,000 and the additional funds were used for extra furnishings.

On the evening of May 25, 1951, the Port Arthur Public Library was opened to the public. The library was still waiting for furnishings, so the official opening was held on June 1, 1951.

“Particularly noticeable were the daylight conditions provided by the modern lighting system and the almost sound proof floor covering which maintains silence even though a crowd is walking around the building. The building has an 80-foot frontage and is 66 feet deep. It is ultra modern and fully air conditioned. One of the main features is the film room or the “little theatre” in the basement with a seating capacity of 208. It also has a slanting floor for better vision. It is equipped with both a stage and projection room. Children will use a large portion of the basement which has been designed especially for their use. It features a large bow window and adjustable shelving to accommodate the various sizes of children’s books. There is a special room for children from eight to 14. Each unit has its separate entrance.”  Port Arthur News Chronicle, May 26, 1951

Only 10 years after it opened, in 1961, the board was already looking to acquire the land behind the building in order to expand. There was already a need for more space for books. This need grew, and by 1963 Dr. W. L. C. Greer, the librarian at the time, was asked by the Port Arthur News Chronicle why there wasn't a reference department at the Port Arthur Public Library like there was at the Fort William Public Library (now the Brodie Resource Library). Greer stated directly that the Port Arthur Public Library was "quite cramped" and that the Fort William Public Library had recently received an addition. They also struggled to hire librarians in Port Arthur. The two cities' library systems were naturally always compared to each other. In 1968, the space issues at the Port Arthur Public Library were so bad that they were storing books on windowsills. Greer was quoted at the time as saying: "We must build a new building or an addition to the present one. We need three times as much space as we have now." (Port Arthur News Chronicle, September 18, 1968)

In 1970, following the amalgamation of the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William, the libraries merged to become the Thunder Bay Public Library. After amalgamation, the former Port Arthur Public Library was referred to as the Arthur Street Library because of its proximity to the former Arthur Street, which we refer to today as Red River Road. The library became the

Waverley Resource Library in February of 1979.

By 1973, work finally began on an addition for the Arthur Street Library. Once work was completed, the opening ceremonies were held on September 19, 1974. The addition expanded the library from 11,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. It included the additional space on the east side of the library, an entrance ramp to meet the accessibility standards of the time, and a mezzanine level for administrative staff. Opening events ran from September 20 to 28 to commemorate the opening of the expanded library. The addition cost $671,277.94, was designed by Fraser & Browne architects, and was built by Gateway Construction.

Since the addition to the building in 1974, no major renovations have been made to the Waverley Resource Library, which is why work has already begun to bring modern updates to Waverley. These upcoming renovations are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure the Library continues to serve the Port Arthur area and the City of Thunder Bay for years to come. To learn more about the changes taking place at Waverley, you can visit the Waverley Renovation page of our website. 

If you would like to learn more about the history of the Waverley Resource Library, or any of the Thunder Bay Public Library locations, please email research@tbpl.ca.