Page 204 - John Anderson

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On January 9, 1891, a group of Ormond women met at the Ormond
Union Church to form a community service organization. Ormond was
becoming nationally known for its seaside ambiance and local
attractions and it was decided, by several civic minded residences,
that attention should be given to promoting neatness and
healthfulness in the town’s public areas. The name “Village
Improvement Association” (known as the VIA) was selected and the
group soon became an exclusive woman’s organization dedicated to
keeping Ormond beautifully landscaped. In 1894, the VIA purchased
the property next to the original Ormond Union Church containing a
small building for $1200. The building on the property was
subsequently used as a town library and residence for the librarian,
Mrs. Elisha Pinkerton. By 1912, the VIA felt the need to build a new
building on this site (now 42 N. Beach Street) and Mr. Gail Borden
was called upon to hire an architect.
Mr. Borden commissioned famed New York Architect Ogden Codman,
Jr. to design the building and he rendered several possible choices.
For unknown reasons the VIA rejected the Codman plans and
subsequently had Mr. Borden commission Mr. Meredith E. Fidler to
design the building. In late July, 1915 Mr. George Carlton was hired
to construct the VIA building and construction was completed
November 26, 1916. By the end of January, 1917 the building was
furnished, a library was set up and a total of $8000 was raised from
fund raisers and donations. The VIA now owned the building free and
clear and it was named the “Anderson - Price Memorial Library
Building” in honor of John Anderson and Joseph Price, both of whom
died in 1911. Anderson and Price supported the Ormond VIA
organization since its inception and their portraits are proudly
displayed today.
In 1958 the VIA changed its name to the Ormond Beach Woman’s
Club and in 1963 they added a new kitchen and “Tea Room” to the
back of the building. The library for Ormond remained in the building
until 1969 when it moved to its present location next to the city hall.
All the library books were donated to the city library at that time along
with a $1000 contribution by the Woman’s Club. In 2002 the
Woman’s Club deeded the Anderson – Price Memorial Library
Building to the Ormond Beach Historical Trust (now the Ormond

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