This year, the Brumback Library celebrates 125 years. The library was dedicated in downtown Van Wert on New Year’s Day of 1901 as the first tax-supported county library in the United States.
The building itself is part of the celebration’s magic. Designed by architect David L. Stine, the library opened in 1901 and features a striking blend of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, with turreted towers and a castle-like appearance. It was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 125th anniversary celebration is focused on telling the library’s story “chapter by chapter.” Throughout 2026, the library and local historians are sharing stories about different eras of service.
The Brumback Library represents something increasingly meaningful today: a place where a child can discover a first favorite book, a family can learn together, someone researching their ancestry can uncover their past, and neighbors can gather regardless of age or background.
What makes its story especially special is that it began with ordinary citizens who believed books mattered and one person’s dream that knowledge should belong to everyone. After 125 years, that vision continues through the thousands of people who walk through its doors each year.