Hatboro Library Reopens Room 2 Years After Hurricane Ida

HATBORO, PA —Like many places in Hatboro and Horsham, Hurricane Ida caused havoc, downing trees, causing power outages, damaging homes, and bringing a tornado that left a lingering impact two years later.

The Union Library Company of Hatboro was also battered and bruised.

The South York Road library's basement got the brunt of the storm. The Myron G. Thomas Room suffered significant rain damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The flooding closed a room used for the library's book sale.

But after undergoing an extensive restoration effort from the flooding, the room is back in service.

The library reopened the room in late September in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by State Rep. Nancy Guenst, Borough Manager Diane Hegele, and other guests.

The room was dedicated as a used bookshop and meeting space. It was reopened on Sept. 24.

Library Director Christine Law said the celebration also included a cocktail hour, open house, library tours, and Doug Thomas, who spoke about his father’s legacy.

The room was dedicated in honor of Myron G. Thomas on Nov. 2, 2007, for his continuous support throughout his life of the Union Library of Hatboro.

The concept for the room originated with Hatboro Federal Savings Bank, a major funding source for the room, Law said.

Thomas spent a lot of time in the library as an avid reader as well and had a rather large book collection at his home. His son remembers that his father always with a book in his hand in the evenings.

Thomas served as a director and treasurer of the Union Library of Hatborough for 25 years.

He was the chief executive officer of Hatboro Federal Savings from 1946 to 1987, was named president in 1974, and continued to serve on the Board of Directors until 2005.

In 2005, he was named Director Emeritus.

Thomas was a World War II veteran and served his community on the Warwick Township Planning Commission and the Central Bucks School Authority. He was President of the Hatboro Rotary Club, a member of the American Legion, and a member of W.K. Bray Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Neshaminy Warwick Presbyterian Church.