Mid-Continent Public Library has built a 21st Century library and incorporated a 19th Century country home that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The result is a balance between modern need and preservation of the old.
Woodneath is the only property in the Northland on the city, county, State and national historic registers. Construction of the house began in 1855; the Greek Revival “big house“ was built by Elbridge and Finetta A. (Cox) Arnold. The Arnolds with the help of slaves produced hemp, along with raising livestock and corn. Mr. Arnold died a “sudden death” before 1856 and Finetta was left with the task of its completing house. After Mr. Arnold’s death, Finetta was forced to sell the family’s slaves.
During the Civil War Sara Arnold (the oldest daughter for the Arnold family) used the west second floor bedroom as a school room. The nearby Brick-Monroe School was forced to close due to the guerilla activities in the area during the war. The house survived the Civil War in part because Clay County was not part of Order Number 11 which removed citizens from their homes south of the river. As a result Woodneath was spared the torch.
After the Civil War, the property was sold to Presley L. Moore who owned the farm until 1900. It was he who gave it the name “Woodneath“ for its wooded area and setting. The estate was acquired by the Crouch family, whose descendants fought to save and keep the historic farm in the family. They sold Woodneath in 2008 to the Mid-Continent Library.
As this cache is established, none of the historical sites are open to the general public yet in part due to archeological work being done and in part due to funds being needed for restoration work. Some of the results of the archeological work can be seen in the display cases inside the library entrance. Also on display are artifacts from the area provided by the Clay County Historical Museum and a third display of Couch Family memorabilia. These display describe life in Clay County from about 1855 onward to present times.
Future plans call for the preservation of the area from which the slaves dug and made bricks along with barn area. The silo which was a 1920’s addition is unsafe and will be torn down. It is also possible that archeological remains of a slave quarter once used by the Arnold’s 7 slaves is on the property along with their original homestead.
The house itself will be renovated and become part historical museum and part meeting site for various library and public functions. The planes call for a Story Center which will celebrate the at of storytelling, including oral, written and digital storytelling. A second goal is to establish the Woodneath Press which will allow the library to print, on demand, out of print titles and original works in book format.
The library at Woodneath, which opened June 22, 2013, is the most advanced in the MCPL system. New technology is integrated into the building, and public space is a focus of the library. The entire working space is on elevated floor so that new technology can easily be accommodated. An automated book sorter is visible to customers.
The cache is located in the public use area of the library grounds. There is no need to leave the developed zone around the library to find the cache. There are numerous signs making the zone under development. The cache is available only during daylight hours when the library is open.
Permission for this cache was granted by the Mid-Content Library Branch Manager. Library staff is aware of the cache and are pleased to answer questions about the land, house, and/or the library.