Cronkhite Closes Door On 32 Years At Weller Library

WAITSBURG - People want to know what Jan Cronkhite will do now that she's retired from her post of 32 years as director of the Weller Public Library on Main Street in downtown Waitsburg.

"I don't have any plans," the longtime resident said Monday. "I've always got my big garden, but no real special or different plans."

Will she continue to be a part of the little community library where she has lovingly kept house and introduced a whole generation of children to a passion for books and reading?

"You betcha," she said.

Whether through volunteer work on the library board or with Friends of the Library, or more hands on by presenting special story times to the children, Cronkhite may be off the payroll but she's not ready to leave it all behind.

In fact, she'll return in just a week or so to do something special for young readers during Halloween, she said.

Despite the desire to stay connected, however, Cronkhite's retirement at the end of September concluded a long and giving chapter in her life.

"We expected it, but it was still heartbreaking," said Waitsburg resident, teacher and member of the library board Sarah Reser. "She's so wonderful. We're just happy that she's been able to serve us for so long."

Cronkhite moved to Waitsburg from Idaho with her husband, Bob, and two teenage sons in 1978. Bob Cronkhite, who passed away in 1988, worked as an electrician in the Walla Walla area. Ross and Fred Hamann, Cronkhite's sons, attended Waitsburg High and engaged in school sports - a connection the two still have today through volunteering at the school, announcing at football games, keeping score, and designing graphic art pieces for the district.

With her family busy at school and work, Cronkhite took a full-time post at the Walla Walla Public Library. Although not technically a "librarian" - she doesn't have her masters in library science - she's been called a librarian most of her life. In Idaho she worked for the Nez Perce County Library.

And it wasn't long before she was further called to serve in her own neighborhood. The former Weller Library director had to leave suddenly for fam­ily reasons, and the board asked Cronkhite to take his place. This was, as best as she can remember, in 1978 or 1979.

She cut back her hours at the Walla Walla library in order to accommodate 10 hours per week in Waitsburg. And that was her routine until January 2000, when she retired from Walla Walla.

It never even entered her mind to give up her work in Waitsburg at that time. "It was my calling," she said. Her son, Ross Hamann, described the relationship his mother has had with library pa­trons

and the community over the years.

"The library was an ex­tremely important part of her life," he said. It allowed her to be involved with her favorite citizens of Waitsburg - the children.

"She spent a lot of her time putting together programs and getting to know the kids," he said. The summer reading pro­gram,

for example, was one of her favorite pleasures.

"She'd come up with differ­ent prizes, and she just adored how the kids would then come in to read and read to get those prizes," Hamann said. "It was amazing the bond she would form with these kids. I always thought it was special to see how they would seek her out as they grew older to share their accomplishments with her. They became like her own kids."

And as the years progressed, Cronkhite began to build rela­tionships with the next genera­tion, as the children she'd read to in her first years at the library started bringing in their own little ones for story time. "It was very heartwarming," her son said. "Kids and animals are her soft spot." This is no great secret in town. She's been known to rescue spiders and other little critters, and her tolerance and enthusiasm for children is well-acknowledged in Waitsburg. "She's always been willing to do anything for the commu­nity and the library," said Jim Leid, Waitsburg High School teacher, community advocate and chairman of the library board. "She's given more than she's ever been compensated for and made huge contribu­tions to the city." But most importantly, Leid said, she's touched the lives of many, many children. "She's been a Godsend to all of us in the community." Cronkhite has spent three decades giving tours of the his­toric library building. She loves the history and enjoys showing patrons and visitors the old bank vault, photos and the for­mer town hall jail (once the brig of a ship) in the basement. Until just a few years ago, Cronkhite was the only paid employee at the library, though she's had help from many dedicated volunteers over the years, she said. Recently she petitioned the board to hire Su Alexander as her assistant and protégé. With Cronkhite now retired, Alexander has taken up many of the usual duties - including children's story time.

Cronkhite says she will miss her time at the library, and she won't be able to stay away completely. It will, however, give her more time to devote to another of her passions - the theater.

Cronkhite has been an en­thusiastic member of Dayton's Liberty Theater since it opened 10 years ago. This fall she's appearing again in the theater's 10th anniversary production of The Music Man.

For those who would like to help thank Cronkhite for her dedication to the library and the community, the board is throw­ing a retirement party on Satur­day at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Pie Party at Weller Library to honor Jan at her retirement on Saturday, 2 p.m. Members of the pub­lic

are welcome.