North Virginia Beach , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Early Libraries of Virginia Beach
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025
1. Early Libraries of Virginia Beach Marker
Unfortunately, the marker has weathered significantly and is hard to read. However, a QR code has been added with a link to the original text and images from the marker.
First Stand Alone Library in Virginia Beach
How it began- Mrs. A.C Maury, Mrs Darlie Patch, Mrs E.M. Johns and several other members of the Womens Municipal League in 1930 bought two books each to a party to form the nucleus of the present library. A one room real estate building was purchased for $50.00 to house the books. This small frame building, heated by a wood stove for which the committee members chopped wood, was moved, books and all, to five different locations within 15 years until finally closing in 1946.
[Captions:]
The library as it looked after being abandoned. The building was used for storage on 19th street until 2001 when it was moved to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum grounds.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sills Edgar T. Brown, Caroline de Witt Woodley & Mayor Meyera Oberndorf at the dedications
Peter de Witt in the museum gift shop.
Mrs. Emily Moore Johns was Virginia Beachs librarian for about thirty years. She operated Mrs. Johns School from about 1921 to 1930. She ran her library from 1930 to 1959. The present Department of Libraries of the City of Virginia Beach is the culmination of Emily Johns unending work. When you use the 21st century central library remember her spirit there, and she knows the location of every book.
Topics.
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Location. 36° 50.426′ N, 75° 58.361′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in North Virginia Beach. It is at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 12th Street, on the right when traveling north on Atlantic Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1141 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach VA 23451, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: de Witt Cottage (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named de Witt Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Atlantic Wildfowl Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Patsy Cline (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Jefferson (about 500 feet away); John Marshall (about 500 feet away); Ella Fitzgerald (about 500 feet away); Walter Reed (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025
3. Dedication plaque on the former library building
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
