A money order between McEnroe’s on May 4th, 1946 has been in a library desk for 80 years!!
Nic Gunning, Director, DAHPL, pictured with Ric McEnroe
We unearthed quite a few treasures during the week-long winter cleanout that happened over several days in January here at the David A. Howe Public Library. The haul included sentimental discoveries like pictures of beloved staff members, historic newspapers, and every version of library cards dating back to the early days. Then there were the odd discoveries like random doll legs, an old dissection kit, and a cowboy toy that grew when placed in water. However, the thing that sparked the most discussion and interest was a Western Union receipt that went unnoticed for nearly eight decades.
While the furniture pieces and room layouts have changed over the years, there are some pieces that are not only original, but remain where they were placed in 1937. The best example of this is the sturdy front desk, which has been serving Wellsville patrons for going on 90 years. It was in the process of cleaning this space out when the receipt in question was discovered.
I was slowly going through drawers and even removing some completely to clean and catch any debris that had managed to slip through. I removed one of the built-in drawers and saw the corner of a piece of paper poking out. I maneuvered my arm down and around and managed to snag a corner. What I found was a thin piece of folded paper. I opened it to discover a Western Union Telegraphic Money Order from Chester McEnroe, made out to Walter McEnroe in the amount of $15. The issuing date was May 4, 1946 right here in Wellsville.
This discovery was too good not to share, so I snapped some photos and posted them to the library social media accounts. The McEnroe name sparked recognition by many in the comments and in the days after the post I was paid a visit by Ric McEnroe. He knew the sender and the recipient, and holding this piece of family history in his hand was quite meaningful. I offered to give this discovery back to him and the family, but Ric had another idea.
In April of 2026, the Western Union Telegraphic Money Order was returned to the library where it had been stored unnoticed since Harry S. Truman was in the Oval Office. Here it will remain, with a substantial upgrade from its previous location under a forgotten drawer. It now hangs in the main reading room where it has been archivally framed by Ric McEnroe, the grandson of the man who sent it all those years ago.
