By Gertrude Finney

(Editor's Note: These are the final two diary entries to be printed in the Times/News. Mrs. Finney died last week at the age of 100.)

Diary 7

Seattle Public Library had a station in Rossner's Grocery at 16th and Barton in '24. Country borrowers paid a fee and were limited to 6 books a week. It was closed in 1930.

Families missed the service so with donated books opened the first White Center Library in Leigh Freg's home. Not enough books and circulation forced closing in 1930.

In 1946, the Library Guild was formed and space was given by the County in the White Center Fieldhouse space-- 10 1/2 x 49. Circulation grew. But it still needed more space.

Then with much work and efforts of many people and businesses a building from Century 21 area was purchased (Lela Pinson found it) and moved to leased space on White Center Fieldhouse grounds. Again, volunteers made it into a serviceable and popular library until a new building (16th and 112th) was dedicated Sept. 1, 1976.

A good portion of funding came from the Auto Rescue Sales held at Bob Beyer's Hardware at Top Hat for many years.

Book sales of donated books at Guaranty Bank (now U.S. Bank) over many years contributed to the maintenance fund.

As a "thank you" to the community, the Library Guild with space provided in the basement of Guaranty Bank invited artists and craftsmen to display their work. These art shows were very well attended and gave the many artists and craftsmen in our area a chance to have their work shown.

Diary 8

One year, when the mall was still planted with trees and flowers (before it was bricked), during White Center Pioneer Days there was a small circus as part of the activities. The circus included an elephant.

Jerry Robinson wrote in his column that the elephant doo had certainly made the marigolds grow. (I told him I was going to plant marigolds but didn't.)

I couldn't resist answering. I remember writing that White Center had its fortune made. Because if elephant doo could change marigolds into petunias (which I had planted and he didn't recognize) we really had discovered something that could be worth a fortune! I signed it Mrs. Duck.

I got the idea of that signature from a column in the news (can't remember whether by Lee Robinson or Jerry) saying I glided along smoothly on the surface but my feet were going like mad under water.

All in the news office knew I had written the letter but no one gave it away.

One day as I was passing him in my car, I rolled down my window and went "Quack, Quack." We all caught it then!

Don't forget White Center participation in Seafair. Our community designed and built floats each year that won awards. Once, the best of all entries.