A couple of libraries are featured on the Franklin County Pastport, and one of those is the Red Bay Public Library or Weatherford Library.

The Weatherford Library first opened in 1974 in the R.V. Waldrep house. It was moved into the old Medical Clinic in early 1980 while a new building was being constructed on the lot where the Waldrep house was torn down.

This new library building had a significant patron: Dr. Z.L. Weatherford. He donated $100,000 to construct the new building.

Weatherford was born in Marion County but made his home and legacy later in Red Bay. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis and began a general medical practice in Red Bay in 1916. He went on to serve in World War I as a battalion surgeon then was a subdistrict medical officer for the United States Veterans’ Bureau until 1924, when he resumed his medical practice in Red Bay.

He became president of the Bank of Red Bay in 1938 and held the position until 1970. Weatherford served as mayor of Red Bay from 1945-48. He passed away in Red Bay in 1983.

The Weatherford Library offers a variety of services, including six computers for public use, along with a printer, copy machine and a fax machine.  It has approximately 12,000 fiction and non-fiction books available for checkout. In addition to this, the library also has a reference section.

Librarian Linda Ezzell has served the Weatherford Library since 2003.

This is the seventh in a series in which the Franklin County Times will spotlight each location on the Franklin County Pastport. Please have your Pastport ready to travel throughout the county!