President of the Patchogue-Medford Friends of the Library from 1984 to 1990. But, you might say, it all started here; and she probably caught the "bug" not just from her parents but from the contagious enthusiasms of Hal and Edith Fullerton. (So PML can proudly claim a pretty solid link, directly to the remarkable Fullertons, the founders of Medford.) When Medford Scout Library was opened in March, 1927, the school made a point of stressing its openness to the entire local public; at the same time asserting that a separate school library (with no outside adult admission) was in the offing.
We don't presently know what happened to the public library, except that it did open and that before the month was out, Hal Fullerton had pulled a grand publicity stunt to put the library and Medford on the European map, at least in the eyes of his Medford readers. His article, "Medford Library Known in Europe" (see below) in the March 29, 1927Patchogue Advance,beautifully contorts the library's being placed on the English Review's mailing list (following his assertion of wide Continental newspaper coverage of the library's 700 book start-up) into Europe's abiding interest in the village and the fate of its new library.
A very probable, related link is Mrs. E.H. Theis, prominent contributor to the library, also active with the scouts in 1927. Decades later, when a Mrs. Martha Theis -- possibly her daughter, but who had been active in Medford and 4-H affairs -- died (May 4, 1964), she left funds to go to an eagerly anticipated new Medford Public Library. The vote to establish the latter failed. A bench in Medford Memorial Park was dedicated to her in 1965, but the trustees of her estate were left in a quandary over what to do with the library-designated funds. Eventually it was decided to donate them to establish a homemaking collection in Martha Theis' honor at the then Patchogue Library. Patchogue Library Director, Elaine Phipps, made careful selections over the course of a a year, in areas related to Mrs. Theis' interests. Memorial plates were placed in each volume and the collection was dedicated in June 1968.
* Hal Fullerton, was a late 19th-early 20th century pioneer photographer, creator of Long Island Railroad Experimental Agricultural Stations (the one at Medford, becoming his home, and giving the village its start). He was also the L.I.R.R. and Long Island spin doctor and publiscist, par excellence. His wife's role as "junior partner" in these ventures, has only recently been researched and properly extolled. Both were very active in scouting groups. Both helped start the library.
"Medford Public Library Formed Through Efforts of Scouts: School Board Readily Sanctions Institution as Projected by the Fullertons: Will Be for Use of Whole Village -- Many Books Contributed...," Patchogue Advance, Section 2, Fe 8, 1927: 2.
"Medford Public Library Opens with 700 Books: Many People Contribute Toward Getting New Institution Started--Volumes Cover Great Variety of Subjects," Patchogue Advance, Tues., Mr 8, 1927: 1.
"Medford Library Known in Europe," Patchogue Advance, Mr 29, 1927: 5.
"Medford," Patchogue Advance, Oc 11, 1927, Sect. 3: 4. "New Library Books Honor Memory of Mrs. M. Theis," L.I. Advance, Je 6, 1968: 8.
The Martha Theis memorial collection included: "All About Upholstering; Applique Stitchery; Arranging Church Flowers; The Art of Casserole Cookery; $$$ and Sense; Eat Yourself Full; Embassy Cookbook; Fell's Guide to Mobile Home Living; Flowers at the White House; Gardening by the Sea; Greenhouse: A Place of Magic; Good Housekeeping's Guide for Young Homemakers; Leone's Italian Cookbook; Make Your Paycheck Pay Your Way; Navy Wife; Pleasures of Japanese Cooking; Victoriana; What Every Air Force Wife Should Know; What Every Army Wife Should Know."
Further Reading
Ferguson, Eleanor F. My Long Island: Growing Up on Hal B. Fullerton's Blessed Isle, 1902-1942. Las Vegas, NV: Scrub Oak Pr., 1993. L.I. Ref.: B FERGUSON; Biog.: B FERGUSON ELEANOR F (3 copies)
Ferguson, Eleanor Frances Fullerton. As I Remember It. Berryhenge, St. James, NY: The Author [typescript photocopy], 1978. [by the Fullertons' daughter] L.I. Ref. B FULLERTON FER Fullerton, Hal. B. Gardener of Eden: The Wit and Wisdom of Hal B. Fullerton. comp. and ed. by Anne Nauman. Las Vegas, NV: Scrub Oak Pr., 1998. Non-Fic: 974.721 FUL; L.I. Ref.: 974.721 FUL Nauman, Anne. The Junior Partner: Edith Loring Fullerton, Long Island Pioneer. Las Vegas, NV: Scrub Oak Pr., 1997. L.I. Ref.: B FULLERTON EDITH NAU; Biog.: B FULLERTON, EDITH NAU
Full Text Articles & Advertisement of Hours - Reprinted Courtesy of the Long Island Advance:
"Medford Public Library Formed Through Efforts of Scouts: School Board Readily Sanctions Institution as Projected by the Fullertons: Will Be for Use of Whole Village -- Many Books Contributed...," Patchogue Advance, Section 2, Fe 8, 1927: 2. [Full text, emphasis added]
"At the Medford Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. H[al].B. Fullerton were present for the purpose of conferring with the board about the new Medford Scout Library to be installed at the school. Mr. Fullerton, with the help of the Boy and Girl Scouts, collected about 300 books, as a start, and [since] it was rumored about that [there] would be a library for the public many others have offered books which will swell the number nearly to 500. The books cover a wide range of selection such as nursery and fairy tales, boys' and girls' adventures, travel and geographical, fiction and novels, nature study and outdoor life, astronomy, art, music, and science, and many others. All the books that the Scouts now have been thoroughly gone over, by Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton, to [see?] that there was no book that was unfit for the library, and it is hoped that all those who donate any books will use the same care. Some of the books are rare collections from interested friends and quite a number of authors' first editions. To honor the Scouts, who have staffed the library, it will be called the Medford Scout Library, but it must be strictly understood that it is a public library, and any one, boy, girl, or adult, is eligible to become a member. It is to be placed in the library of the school, and some adult person will act as librarian, with two scouts as assistants, namely Wallace Rothe and Ida Medick, who were appointed by their scoutmaster [i.e., by Hal B. Fullerton]. The days set apart will be on Wednesday evenings, between 7 and 9:30, and Saturday afternoons between 3 and 5. It will start just as soon as all the books are taken to the school. They will all be cataloged and a copy with the list of books will be at the post office and one at the school. Cards are all ready for use, and may be had for the small sum of 10 cents. The books may be kept for one week and a renewal will be granted it required longer. If the book is kept over the time asked, there will be a fine of 10 cents. These regulations had to be made in order to keep the library in perfect condition. The committee in charge is Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton, Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Rider, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Weber. The rules and regulations of the proposal were satisfactory to the board and in the near future the town will [?] a public library, one more good achievement by the Scouts and another [arises] to the village of Medford. A school library will also be added for school children only."
"Medford Public Library Opens with 700 Books: Many People Contribute Toward Getting New Institution Started--Volumes Cover Great Variety of Subjects," Patchogue Advance, Tues., Mr 8, 1927: 1. [Full text, emphasis added]
"The following Medford neighbors and friends of other sections have contributed liberally to the Medford Scouts public library: Justice Walter H. Jaycox and Reginald Pring, Patchogue; Edward H. Bartlett, Amagansett; Mrs. Goddard DuBois, Riverside Drive, New York; Mrs. Grance Williams, Bristol, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. William Ferguson, Hempstead; William P. Hartman, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mr. Loring Fullerton, Manassas, Va.; Mrs. Arthur B. Tuttle, East Setauket; Mrs. Eugene Cox, Port Washington; Mr. Daniel M. Gerard, East Setauket; Hon. Robert L. Bacon, Westbury; Hon. Edward H. Thompson, Kings Park; Hon. Melville Smith, St. James; Mrs. Donald V. Ferguson, Middle Island; Miss Estelle Smith, South River, N.J.; Mrs. S.R. Corwith, Bellport. [From Medford:] Mrs. Adolph Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Tuttle, Scouts Anna and Hilda Weber, Scout Edna Burkehardt, Scout Grace Roos, Scout Ida Medeck [decades later, President of the Friends of the Patchogue-Medford Library], Mr. and Mrs. R. Medeck, Mr. and Mrs. Hal B. Fullerton [well-known L.I.R.R. publicists, pioneering photographers, creators of a series of experimental farms to draw people to L.I., notably, the one at Medford], Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Knight, Miss Agnes Rowan, Mrs. E. White, Mrs. Alfred Ellis, Mrs. M. Theis [after whom a homemaking collection at PML would be dedicated, some decades later], Mrs. Helen Sauberlich....The contributions added to the nucleus contributed by the Medford Scouts and the Fullertons have enabled Medford to open its library doors to the public with over 700 books covering all lines of literature, history, art, music, fiction, adventure, travel, languages, mechanics, construction, handicraft, scouting, astronomy, biology, biography, poetry, religion, agriculture, floriculture, horticulture, aboriculture, meteorology, geology, phrenology, entomology, palmistry, conservation, homemaking, juvenile, educational, sanitation, watrer supply, boat building, sports, athletics, dictionaries and encyclopedias, dietetics, and miscellaneous. Quite a number of people attended the opening of the new library Saturday afternoon. Hal B. Fullerton, scoutmaster, has the honor of being the first one to purchase a card. Mrs. J. Weber was second and Mrs. E.H. Theis third. The first book was taken out by Anna Knight, second by Mrs. Theis and third by Marion Delaney. Mrs. Fox and her assistants, Ida Medeck, Anna Weber, and Wallace Rothe, were ready with quite a few books for the first arrivals, which came in a steady stream when the doors were opened at 3 o'clock. As only part of the books have been covered with protecting paper covers, the uncovered ones were not given out. [Note: Today, it would be more likely to be the reverse.] Those will be ready soon. The library hours will be Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 and Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5. Every man, woman, and child is eligible to join."
"Medford Library Known in Europe," Patchogue Advance, Mr 29, 1927: 5. [Full text, emphasis added]
"Hal B. Fullerton has notified supporters of the new Medford Library of distant recognition, in the following letter: 'Medford, L.I., March 27, 1927. Dear Neighbor: -- Very much surprised to find that already Medford Public Library has put Medford on the map in Europe as well as in the United States. Evidently some of the big metropolitan newspapers took up the stories carried by our local island papers regarding the opening of the Medford Public Library with the tremendous starter of over 700 books, and as these metropolitan newspapers are widely read throughout all the countries across the water, even such a famous publication as the English Review recognized Medford Public Library as being of sufficient importance because of its large number of volumes on its shelves at the very start to warrant the English Review of London placing Medford Public Library on their mailing list, so that Medford neighbors, who so desire, will have the opportunity of learning of the outstanding affairs of Europe in general, Great Britain in particular, at first hand through the recognized reliable publications giving the viewpoint of Europe, which is frequently very different from that found in American publications. Loyally, H.B. Fullerton"
"Medford," Patchogue Advance, Oc 11, 1927, Sect. 3: 4. [Announcement]
"...The Medford Scouts public library under the direction of Mrs. Fox, librarian, is now open on Wednesday evenings between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. and the afternoon session has been changed from Saturday to Friday, from 3:15 to 5 p.m."