The Downtown Lansing Library Building is 50!
The Downtown Lansing Library is 50 this year! All are invited to celebrate the library’s anniversary at 401 S. Capitol on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014.*
To mark the occasion, let’s travel back in time to Lansing in 1964…
- The president of the U.S. was Lyndon Johnson.
- The governor of Michigan was George Romney.
- The mayor of Lansing was Willard I. Bowerman Jr.
- The population of Lansing was about 122,000.
- Some major industries were: Oldsmobile, Reo Trucks and Buses, Motor Wheel, Fisher Body and John Bean
- There were four hospitals.
- There were 118,480 telephones in service.
- There were four hotels and 32 motels.
- The Fire department had 220 men.
- The Police department had 212 men.
- There were five movie theatres and four drive-ins.
- There were nine golf courses.
- There were 80 parks.
Lansing State Journal October 18, 1964
Events in 1964 in Lansing:
- January 29 Lansing police cars get new miniature three-way radios.
- June 11: A record 513 students graduated from Sexton High School.
- June 12: The Downtown Lansing Library building officially opened.
- Aug. 5: The Faith 7 Mercury spacecraft was on display at the Capitol.
- Oct. 18: The Downtown Lansing Library was formally dedicated.
- Nov. 25: At Capital City Airport, Runways N.W. and S.E. were dedicated.
*Downtown Library 50th Celebration • Sunday, Sept. 28
Tours: 1:30 p.m. Program: 2-3:30 p.m.
Reception follows the program. Local History Room will be open.
The program will feature short films from the 1960s about the building and a photo presentation. Library employees who worked at both the Carnegie and the 1964 libraries will also share their memories. They are our living history of library service in Lansing.
Sources:
- Lansing City Directory, 1965
- The Forest Parke Library & Archives, Capital Area District Libraries
- Lansing State Journal
- Thanks to Timothy Bowman
- Anne R., Public Services Librarian at CADL Downtown Lansing
