Union Township Branch Library

About us:
In 1870 the library was started in the village of Union City and was called the Ladies' Lending Library. The patrons paid to borrow the books. It was located in the Corbin Block on the East Side of Broadway. Around 1883 the library was moved across the street and occupied a portion of a Tailor Shop owned and operated by a Mr. Barnes. A few years later Mrs. Mortimer took the library into her Millinery Store. Mr. Mortimer Vosburgh took the library job when the books were moved into the Vosburgh Home on Ellen Street, the house owned by T.B. Case, which was torn down to make way for the bank parking lot next to the Post Office.

Some of the early librarians were Miss Katy Vosburgh, Dorethea Johnson Bien, Mrs. Clara Townsend, Harriet Carpenter, Pearl Bater Whitney, June French Carpenter, Miss Georgia Bassett, Mrs. Viola Brisbane. During Harriet Carpenter's reign the library moved into the building now occupied by the Hensley's Variety Store.

In 1948, under Fred Gray Township Supervisor, the board purchased the building occupied by the Township Clerk's Office. In 1956 under the reign of George Hubbard, the Union Township Building was traded for the building adjoining, occupied by Hensley's. Agreement between the Branch County Library and the Township of Union was entered into in 1973.