09/15/2026
đź“–150 YEARS OF HALSEY- THE STORY OF OUR LIBRARYđź“–
Halsey’s Library has a long history rooted in community service, civic involvement, and the dedication of local women who believed that education and access to books could strengthen their community.
đź“šThe Halsey Study Club
In 1907, a group of Halsey women organized a book club known as the “Gleaners.” The purpose of the organization was “diffusing knowledge among the members, to become familiar with the best authors of the day, and the promotion of sociability.”
The following year, the Gleaners became the Halsey Study Club, adopting the motto, “No nation can rise higher than its women.” In addition to studying and reviewing books, the Study Club took an active role in community betterment. Among its accomplishments was helping promote the establishment of electrical power in Halsey in 1911.
By 1925, the Study Club recognized that Halsey needed a permanent library building. The women organized bake sales, plays, socials, and other fundraisers to raise money for the project. Clyde Koontz donated land north of the M.V. Koontz store, and Albany architect Cleo Jenkins volunteered his services to design the building. The library was completed in 1929 at 773 W. 1st Street.
🏛️From Library to City Hall
For nearly fifty years, the building served as Halsey’s library. Following the Columbus Day Storm of 1962, which destroyed Halsey’s City Hall, the library eventually took on a new civic role. Library activities ceased several years after the storm, and the former library building became Halsey City Hall sometime in the late 1970s. It continued to serve as City Hall until 2012, when the current City Hall at 100 Halsey Street opened.
🔨Bringing the Library Back Home
With the opening of the new City Hall, the community began working toward returning the historic 1929 building to its original purpose: a library once again. Countless individuals and organizations contributed money, materials, and volunteer hours to make the vision a reality. A special collection of plaques just outside the library entrance recognizes many of those who donated funds to the project.
Physical work began in the summer of 2014, relying almost entirely on volunteers. In August, a community “painting party” brought volunteers together to paint the exterior of the historic building. Book donations were collected to fill the shelves, and on August 25, 2015, the Halsey Public Library celebrated its grand reopening.
Today, the Halsey Public Library continues the legacy begun by the Gleaners more than a century ago. Through books, activities, programs, and opportunities for community connection, the library remains a place where knowledge is shared, friendships are formed, and Halsey’s community spirit continues to grow.
As Halsey celebrates 150 years, our library reminds us that some of the community’s most lasting contributions begin with people coming together around a simple idea—and believing it is worth building for the future.
