by Kari Cameron
On September 18, the Newman Riga Library, located in Churchville, kicked off its centennial year with a well-attended community celebration.
The day was a true celebration of the library, with food, music, games, a book sale, and speeches by local dignitaries and public speaking contest winners Josh Bennett and Natalie McCaffery. Local officials in attendance included County Legislator Steve Brew, New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Monroe County Library System Director Patty Uttaro, Town of Riga Supervisor Brad O’Brocta, and Churchville Deputy Mayor Diane Pusateri.
A Brief History
The Newman Riga Library has a long and storied history. Records show that the Town of Riga had a library as early as 1813, not too long after the area was settled by Samuel Church in 1806. In 1874, village residents formed a Library Association, and in 1875, the library purchased 200 books. To attend the library, residents paid for season tickets, which granted them access to the library for a year.
In 1920, residents of the village organized to form the Riga Free Library Association, establishing a village library that would be free to the public. Granted a Charter by the New York State Board of Regents on September 22, 1921, the Town of Riga’s library, the Riga Free Library, began.
Originally located over the former Brown’s Hardware Store, the library moved in 1948 to the Village Hall. In 1951, the Village of Churchville granted access to a portion of parkland seated at the corner of Buffalo and Main Streets, entering a 99-year lease with the library.
Construction on the Riga Free Library building was completed in 1952, overseen by architect Carl Ade and builder Burton Sage. This was possible with a donation of $40,000 by philanthropist and former Churchville resident Floyd R. Newman. In 1988, Mr. Newman donated $50,000 and another $25,000 in 1989 toward the library expansion project. Once completed, the library was renamed the Newman Riga Library after Floyd R. Newman.
The Library Today
Today, under the direction of Library Director Lynn Brown, the Newman Riga Library is a hub in the community with ties to its past. Sandra Wilson and Letitia Juergens are the daughter and granddaughter of builder Burton Sage, respectively. Both serve on the Newman Riga Library’s Board of Trustees, along with seven other dedicated community members.
To continue the year-long centennial celebration, the library is hosting additional events over the upcoming months, including book talks with local authors. On Tuesday, October 19, at 6 p.m., local authors Gary Craig and Deanne Quinn Miller will be at the library to discuss their latest publication, The Prison Guard’s Daughter, a book about the Attica prison uprising. The “Who Really Killed John F. Kennedy” program returns on Tuesday, November 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. In January, local author Melissa Ostrom will visit to talk about her works (The Beloved Wild and Unleaving). All are welcome to attend. To learn more or register, contact the library at 293-2009.
Nestled on the corner of Buffalo Street and Main Street in the village of Churchville, the library is a steadfast reminder of the importance of books and knowledge. It remains as important to the community today as it has for the past 100 years.
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