1960 Library Fire
On Christmas Eve in 1960, a fire destroyed the roof and clock tower of the library. As members of local fire companies fought the blaze, faculty, staff and members of the local community moved books from the stacks on the second mezzanine, which was located directly below the fire. The fire was contained by a concrete floor under the roof. Water poured down the staircases into the basement from which it was removed by hoses attached to portable pumps. Although some books suffered water damage, most of the book collection was preserved. The whiteness on the bricks of the library is ice, which came from the water which had streamed down the sides of the building. .