By Ron Gower

Lehighton borough had a splendid 150th anniversary. The organizers are to be commended for putting together a celebration that will be remembered for a long time.While the community was reveling in its history, there was one small entity that had a big anniversary that not only wasn’t celebrated, but wasn’t even mentioned.The Lehighton Memorial Library dedicated its present facilities 50 years ago on June 19, 1966.The library has been existence since Aug. 14, 1948 — which also happens to be V-J Day officially ending World War II — when it opened at 188 S. Third St. as a memorial to the war dead of World Wars I and II.The library outgrew that building and a plot of ground at 124 North St., next to Lehighton Post Office, was donated for construction of a new library. The Third Street building is now a private residence.The property for the new facility was donated by Donald and Samuel Miller, in honor of their father, David Miller. The Miller family at the time was publishers of The Morning Call and former Evening Chronicle newspapers. The late Edward Mandour and his wife added 5 feet to this grant. Mandour was a business owner in Lehighton.Groundbreaking happened on Nov. 9, 1964, and the cornerstone was laid on Nov. 1, 1965.Placed in the cornerstone were: An agreement between the Lions Club and Library Association, a copy of the Call-Chronicle newspaper, a list of the library’s first board of directors (Elizabeth Budihas, a teacher in Lehighton, was the first president).There was a history of the library, minutes approving the new building donated by Mazie Ziegler, the first secretary; a list of Lehighton war dead from World War I, World War II and Korean War, and other materials about the library and the borough.The dedication happened June 19, 1966. The main speaker was Donald C. Potter, library development director of Pennsylvania libraries.The dedication was conducted by the Rev. George Bickel of Weissport, who also gave the invocation. The Rev. George Fenzil offered the benediction.To transfer books from the Third Street location to the new North Street site, a human chain of volunteers was formed to pass the books the entire route. Several hundred people formed the chains.The officers of the library at the time were John Wehr of the Lions Club, president; Bickel representing the ministerium, vice president; Mrs. Wilbur Noll of the Woman’s Club, secretary; and Mrs. Horace Obert of the Garden Club, treasurer.Libraries have undergone a lot of change in the past five decades.The facility has embraced the age of computers and has several work stations available to the public. It also has partnered with Allentown Public Library to expand it services.Check the library’s website for its summer programs.Libraries are like newspapers. They’re struggling to survive but there always will be a niche for them. If you haven’t visited one recently, stop by your local library. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.Happy 50th anniversary to the Lehighton Library!