LIBRARY HISTORY

Created in September 1915 by The Fort Valley Library Association, The Thomas Public Library was established from a collection of materials donated by Dr. and Mrs. Edward Gray (Lula) Thomas. Byron Public Library was established in 1936 with a donation of books from The Thomas Public Library.

In 1971, Peach Public Libraries was formed with Thomas Public Library as the headquarters library and Byron Public Library as a branch library.

Locations of Thomas Public Library

• Evans Building (corner of Main Street and Camellia Blvd.): 1915 to 1936
• Peach County Courthouse annex facing Central Avenue: 1936 to 1969 (destroyed by fire in December 1969)
• Vacant residence on Central Avenue: 1969 to 1972
• Persons and Miller Street: 1972 to 1998
• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive: 1998 to present

Locations of Byron Public Library

• Wooden building (former post office and telephone exchange) next to Dr. Kay’s office: 1930 to 1936
• Dupree’s Store (Main Street): 1936 to 1939
• Byron Public Schools: 1939 to 1944
• Old City Jail: 1944 to 1956
• Downtown Store: 1956 to 1975
• Byron City Complex: 1975 to 1985
• Church Street: 1985 to present (expanded in 1997)

Below are some newspaper articles and other items related to the history of Peach Public Libraries, Thomas Public Library and Byron Public Library.

• “In Behalf Of The Public Library”, The Peachland Journal and Leader Tribune, March 9, 1912
• “1927 Annual Report of Thomas Public Library” by Gena Riley, Librarian, The Leader Tribune, February 2, 1928
• Photo inside Thomas Public Library, courthouse location – courtesy of James Khoury
• “Fire Destroys Thomas Library, Part of Peach County”, The Leader-Tribune, December 11, 1969
• “Another Picture of Fire Damage”, The Leader-Tribune, date unknown
  
  • Fire photo 1 – courtesy of James Khoury
  • Fire photo 2 – courtesy of James Khoury
• excerpt from “Fort Valley – Its Century of Progress” by Thelma Wilson. Reprinted from “The Georgia Review”, Volume XII, Number 3, Fall 1958
• “Public Library Hopes to Expand”, The Leader-Tribune, July 29, 1982
• “State funds construction of addition to Fort Valley library; Byron next, says Smith”, The Leader Tribune, September 29, 1983
• “Library Breaks Ground”, photo by Carla Hill, The Leader-Tribune, February 16, 1984
• “Remodelded Library Nears Completion”, by Larry D. Wilder, The Macon Telegraph and News, November 21, 1984
• “Flemm celebrated library expansion with varied performance January 4”, by Cornelia B. Nichols, The Leader-Tribune, January 1985
• “Library to celebrate expansion” by Jimmy Smith, The Leader-Tribune, January 1985
• “Library boasts drive-up book return”, The Leader Tribune, January 24, 1985
• “Library plan shelved by state officials”, The Leader Tribune, January 11, 1995
• “Library keeps fight alive at Council”, The Leader Tribune, January 25, 1995
• “New Library will be built on former Woolfolk site” by Audrey Y. Williams, The Macon Telegraph, March 9, 1995
• “History of Peach County Public Libraries”, by Billy Powell, The Leader-Tribune, November 2004

• “Byron Counil pledges $25,000 for new library”, The Leader Tribune, June 30, 1983
• “Supporters to ‘pound pavement’ this week for last $12,600 of Byron library fund”, The Leader Tribune, August 11, 1983
• “Library group is confident”, The Leader Tribune, August 18, 1983
• “WHOOPEE!, Byron Public Library, Success!”, The Leader Tribune, August 25, 1983
• “Byron Library will move Saturday”, The Leader Tribune, September 25, 1985
• Byron Public Library, Wall Dedication Plaque, 105 Church Street, 1985
• Byron Public Library, Wall Dedication Plaque, 105 Church Street, 1997 Addition