Woman's Club Of New Cumberland
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Swaney Memorial Library

Woman's Club Of New Cumberland, also, Swaney Memorial Library. . , Woman's Club Of New Cumberland. Organized in 1933, the Woman's Club of New Cumberland's objective was to promote mental, moral, civic, and social improvement in the The home and community. Their motto is "Unity in Diversity." original 44 members first met in each other's homes, but then moved At one time, New to the Swaney Library when it was built in 1954. Cumberland actually had three women's clubs: The Woman's Club, the and the Civic Club. One of their first Young Woman's Club, projects was raising money to build the town's Community House. Club members have sponsored many worthwhile projects over the the years, including the city's first pre-school Story Hour, kindergarten, the annual House Tours, HOBY, a delegate to Girls' State, Conservation Camp, and the building of the wall along Station Hill. They also played a key role in the town's 100th In 1995, anniversary celebration and its bi-centennial celebration. the club began a project to build a river walk along River Avenue downtown. Money was raised, and an overlook was built to enable In 2017, the club visitors to enjoy a beautiful view of the river. celebrated 84 years of being a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of West Virginia. They meet the first Tuesday of each month at the library., Swaney Memorial Library. The oldest library in Hancock County, the Swaney Memorial Library was dedicated on April 25, 1954. Built of brick in the colonial style, the building overlooks the Ohio River and the town of New Cumberland. It is the legacy of local doctor turned steel magnate Charles T. Swaney. Swaney was born in New Cumberland in 1871, the son of a family who owned river boats on the Ohio. He began medical practice in Niles, Ohio, but left medicine to take over his brother's steel fabricating plant. After his brother died, Dr. Swaney made a fortune from his business which later became part of Sharon Steel. Swaney always considered New Cumberland his home, and his concerns for the young people of the town led him to create a library with meeting rooms for the community to use. The building was designed by local architect Ray Shaw and covers 6,700 square feet. Swaney gave $160,000 for He died the construction and another $20,000 for maintenance. He died in 1950, so he did not live to see his dream completed. From his Thousands estate, the library received an additional $100.000. of young and old alike use the library not only to check out books, Several local but also to take advantage of the world-wide web. groups and organizations use it for meetings and special events. Over the charging desk is a mural by Robert Haworth that measures 3 feet by 22 feet and depicts the history of the town Recent renovations to the from its earliest days up until 1954. Recent renovations to the library include a handicap ramp added in 1993.