Library Receives Large Donation, Fulfills Plans

Harrison District Library

125 W Beech Street
Harrison, MI 48625

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

Upon purchasing the historic Surrey House, the Harrison District Library had on its list a new roof as part of future improvements. This was a more of a wish list prior to a large donation by a patron that came as a complete surprise.

Several other elements of the original plan had been put on the backburner while the main part of the library was remodeled to facilitate the move to the new location, namely the parking lot and drive-up service window.

Prior to the move to the Surrey House in 2023, library director Sheila Bissonnette received a phone call saying that the library would be in receipt of a donation as part of the estate of patron Edward Sloat. It’s not uncommon for the library to receive memorial or estate donations and Bissonnette made a note of it. Donations and memorials are typically from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, or funds are given to purchase specific books or enhance specific collections or services at the library.

Bissonnette was surprised a year later to receive a check for $100,000 from Mr. Sloat’s estate. The library in all was given 10% of his estate. It is the largest single donation the Harrison District Library has ever received.

“A gift of this magnitude speaks volumes about how deeply Mr. Sloat valued the role of the library in our community,” Bissonnette said. “This donation is not just a generous contribution, it’s a powerful statement about the lasting impact of library services. We are truly thankful for his gift and the belief it reflects in the value of lifelong learning.”

 Harrison resident Edward Sloat passed away in 2023 and a stunned library staff remember him as a quiet, polite, and unassuming patron. Little was known about Mr. Sloat other than he checked out books regularly.  He was retired and previously owned Superstructures Inc. of Harrison, a construction company. A few ads for his business can be found in local newspapers from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

With almost two years of smoothing out the day-to-day operations at the new location, the library is now focused on those outstanding projects that were a part of the original plan.

One piece of that puzzle was taken over by the City of Harrison. The library sold the piece of property north of library to the city for $1 with the specific intent for the city to build a municipal parking lot. Planning for a municipal lot went as far back as 5 years to Tracey Connelly, former city manager. Connelly had applied for many grants for the parking lot prior to her retirement. Those grants never scored high enough to come to fruition, so the Downtown Development Authority made a plan to fund the parking lot over several years.

“Thanks to the generous donation from Edward Sloat, we’re able to replace the library’s roof – an essential improvement that ensures the safety and longevity of our facility,” Bissonnette said. “Coupled with the new city parking lot next door funded by the City of Harrison DDA, these upgrades will greatly enhance access for everyone who visits downtown Harrison.”

With years in the making, construction began in mid-April for the municipal parking lot and is expected to be completed by mid-summer.

The library has already earmarked funds as part of their original plan for a drive-up service window and the window will be completed in conjunction with the parking lot project.

“The addition of a drive-up window will make it easier than ever for our patrons to pick up holds without leaving their cars,” Bissonnette said. “It’s all about making library services more accessible and convenient for everyone.”

The Harrison District Library is located at 125 W. Beech St. in Harrison, and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 9 a.m.  to 1 p.m. Saturday. Visit its website at www.hdl.org.

 © Clare County Cleaver