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ATTLEBORO - At least 200 city residents stepped back in time Sunday to celebrate the centennial of the Attleboro Public Library building.

They did so amid library and community volunteers throughout the building dressed in period costumes, offering tidbits of information about life in Attleboro during the turn of the 20th century.

They also did so in the Balfour Room by singing along with costumed singers from the local a capella group Hello Stranger to such memorable tunes as "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis" and "Shine on Harvest Moon."

Those singing along also enjoyed tidbits of the earlier era offered by Kevin Myles of Hello Stranger, who noted among other things that in 1907, the year the library was built, Teddy Roosevelt was president, Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state, the automatic clothes washer and dryer was first introduced and the first New Year's Eve ball dropped in Times Square.

On the second floor, in the original marbled reading room, visitors enjoyed patriotic songs in honor of Veterans Day and songs from earlier days performed by the Attleboro High School Select Choir and Women's Choir. But, visitors also looked to the future as speakers in the original reading room spoke of the building's purpose for the future.

George Comeau, vice-chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and member of Canton Public Library Board of Trustees did so by pointing out that "It would be easy to confuse today's celebration as merely an anniversary of a building."

"Today, this is a continuing celebration of our freedoms in these United States," Comeau said. "Libraries are not built; they grow. And, you are celebrating the growth of your library today."

After noting several ways the city has supported the library, Comeau said, "The people of Attleboro celebrate today their faith in learning and in your city you say in a tangible and lasting way that you value literature, music, fine arts, and in the next 100 years who will be influenced by this great library - a nobel prize winner, a great composer, a poet laureate, a great writer, a doctor a painter, who can tell. But in this building will pass our future leaders to be sure, our doers, our thinkers, our dreamers."

Other speakers on behalf of the library's centennial celebration included Library Director Walter Stitt, Library Board of Trustees Member Edward Lee and Mayor Kevin Dumas.

As another tribute to the future, the event included the burial of a time capsule that is scheduled to be opened in 50 years, complete with historical items of the city to happenings of the city's 1 ABC project.

Janette Sears can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or at janette@janettesears.com.