The Skene Memorial Library #4CLSroadtrip

The four county library system (Broome, Delaware, Otsego and Chenango counties in New York) roadtrip ended September 2, but the memories remain.

Today, we visit the only Carnegie library in the system.

Fleischmanns, New York, in rural Delaware Count, has an interesting history.  It was once a popular summer vacationing destination easily reached by railroad from New York City, and was the home of many grand hotels.  It was also the summer home of the Fleischmanns family (of yeast and gin fame), which had a large family compound built on land acquired in 1883.  Of the five mansions in the compound, I believe only one remains.

One of these resorts was owned by the father of a girl, Tillie Edelstein, who is much better known to older generations as the actress Gertrude Berg, who starred in the radio (and later, television) series The Goldbergs.  But that is a story for another day if any of my readers is interested.

Dr. Alexander Skene, who was born in Scotland and lived in New York City, used to vacation in Fleischmanns.  He was a childhood friend of industrialist Andrew Carnegie, and was one of the foremost gynecologists of the 19th century. 

Dr. Skene's wife Annette worked with others to raise funds to get Fleischmanns a library.   Andrew Carnegie contributed $5,000 with the sole stipulation that the library be named after his childhood friend Dr. Skene, who died before the library was built.  

In 1930, the building was turned over to the Village of Fleischmanns.

Unlike many memorial libraries we visited on the roadtrip, this building (which dates from 1901) has always been a library.  Let's go in.

I'm assuming this is a portrait of Dr. Skene.

I found the wood paneling gave the interior a warm feel.  You'll see the lion statuette, too.  Lions are considered by some as powerhouses of wisdom and a fitting library mascot.

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Fleischmanns family left in 1913 and only a handful of hotels remain in the area out of the more than 50 that were there in the early 20th century.  At one time, the population during the summer swelled to some 10,000.  But when cars became something any household could afford, those days ended.  

The year round population of the village has dropped to around 210 people (2020 census) from a high of some 500,  but it is still popular as a destination for those wanting (and able to afford) a second home.

This roadtrip was so much fun, and I learned so much.

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