The public library system in Clare, Michigan, has undergone several major institutional transformations, evolving from a small pioneering book collection into a modernized multi-county district system.
The Early Days and the School Fire
Pioneer Origins: In its earliest form, the municipal book collection was curated and kept inside the Union School building located on State Street.
A Shared Resource: The library operated out of the school for decades, serving both the student body and the general public of the growing railway town.
The 1921 Fire: Disaster struck the community in 1921 when a catastrophic fire completely destroyed the Union School, incinerating the entire community library collection alongside it.
The Reorganization: On April 22, 1922, determined to rebuild, the women of the local Clare Study Club officially organized the Clare Library Association to assemble a replacement book collection.
Tenure at the Doherty Hotel (1924–1950)
A Generous Offer: Senator Alfred J. “A.J.” Doherty, a leading civic developer, stepped forward to support the library association by allotting a dedicated space on the first floor of his landmark downtown project.
The Northwest Corner: When construction on the historic Doherty Hotel concluded, the new community library officially opened its doors in the building's northwest corner on October 11, 1924.
26 Years of Service: The library operated successfully out of the commercial hotel hub for over a quarter of a century, anchoring downtown literacy directly alongside the city's premier political and social destination.
The Final Eviction: In 1950, needing to expand its physical hospitality services, the Doherty Hotel management asked the library to vacate the space so the corner room could be converted into a hotel dining room.
The Garfield Memorial Library Era
The New Home: Displaced from the hotel, the library eventually relocated its collection to a dedicated building purchased in tandem with municipal leaders.
The Name Change: Under an administrative agreement, the facility was officially named the Garfield Memorial Library. The title honored the wife of Sam Garfield, a prominent resident, former Purple Gang lieutenant, and local representative of the Mammoth oil interests.
City Acquisition: In the late 1970s, Samuel and Elnora Garfield formally sold the building structure to the City of Clare, allowing the library to expand its public reading rooms onto the building's second floor.
Resource Bottlenecks: While the Garfield building at 101 East 4th Street served the community for decades, the growing population and the demand for computer technology eventually outpaced the limits of the historic storefront.
Pere Marquette District Library (2005–Present)
The District Transition: In an effort to stabilize funding and broaden the library's tax base, the City of Clare joined forces with the surrounding rural townships of Grant, Vernon, and Wise.
The 2005 Formation: On February 16, 2005, these municipalities formally consolidated to establish the new Pere Marquette Library District.
The Modern Construction: The district launch paved the way for the funding and construction of a brand-new, 10,000-square-foot facility designed to offer expanded book stacks, public meeting spaces, and digital learning tools.
The Current Site: In 2007, the library completed its third historic move, opening the new facility at the intersection of Fourth and Pine Streets (185 E. 4th Street). Rebranded as the Pere Marquette District Library, the complex remains the leading center for literacy and community gatherings in northern Clare County.