SILVERHILL, Alabama — In a corner of the room at the Oscar Johnson Memorial Library in Silverhill sits a tiny desk, along with an old manual typewriter, an adding machine and a framed certificate.

While the desk may be small, its historic significance to the town is immeasurable. The desk, along with the other items sitting on top, belonged to the town’s founder, Oscar Johnson.

“We’re just really thrilled to have it here,” said Library Director Shirley Stephens. “It means so much to us and to our town.”

The town of Silverhill was founded in 1897 by the Svea Land Company of Chicago, led by Johnson, the company’s owner.

The original settlers were mostly Swedish. Like many of Baldwin County's older communities, it was developed by people of vision and determination. They purchased a large tract of land, divided it into manageable parcels and advertised these for sale in the north.

The area was promoted as ideal for farming and building homes. They stressed the area's fertile soil, abundant forests and temperate climate.

The library was built in 1896 and served as the original land company office. Later it served as a school and a church before becoming the town’s library in the early 1900s.

Over the years a museum developed on the second floor. The library grew and in 2001 the town built an addition to house a children's library and named it after the library's long time volunteer and director, Elsie Chandler.

Johnson’s office was on the second floor and the desk was most likely placed in a corner alcove of the office, Stephens said.

The second floor office now houses a museum, but because of the limited access to the area, Stephens said the desk and other contest will likely be left on the first floor for display purposes.

“We will keep it on display down here at least through Heritage Day (set for Sept. 21),” she said.

The desk and other items were passed on through Johnson’s daughter, Agnes Utter, and were donated back to the library following the death of her son, Paul Edwin Utter, last year.

As for the certificate, you will need to be able to translate it from its original Swedish to make out exactly what it says, but it is essentially a flier inviting residents to ride the train from Chicago for an excursion to Silverhill in 1904.

On Sunday, May 19, Stephens will present a program on the history of Silverhill to the Baldwin County Historical Society at Oscar Johnson Park, located on the north side of Highway 104, just east of the center of town.

Stephens, a descendant of one of the town’s earliest Swedish families, the Edhegard family, will present a program on the history of Silverhill and recollections of Baldwin County.

In addition to serving as library director Stephens is a long-time member of the Silverhill Town Council. She worked at several post offices around Baldwin County for 30 years before retiring from the Postal Service in 2012. She enjoys meeting people and sharing local histories of Silverhill and other areas of Baldwin County.

Admission is free and the public is invited. Refreshments will be provided.

The Baldwin County Historical Society was founded in 1923 to bring citizens of Baldwin County together to ensure the preservation of the rich heritage of this area.