Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Hudson Brown of Gun Barrel City (center) places a book in the Little Free Library, which comes courtesy of the Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, while Chapter Recording Secretary Marti Tanner helps during Jan. 22’s dedication at Mabank’s Veterans Memorial Park playground.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Jensen Weddell of Kemp looks for a book to place in the Little Free Library at the Mabank Veterans Memorial Park playground Jan. 22 during the library’s official dedication by the Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Schoolchildren and parents smile as Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution America 250 Chair, Honorary Regent and Chapter Treasurer Susan Martz-Cothran (left) takes a photo during the Jan. 22 dedication ceremony of the chapter’s donation of a “Little Free Library” at Mabank’s Veterans Memorial Park. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Tony Jenkins (from left), who handles code enforcement and oversees parks for the City of Mabank and who installed the Little Free Library at the city’s Veterans Memorial Park playground, shows off his work with City Administrator Bryant Morris.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Ramona Southerland (foreground) reads dedication remarks during the Jan. 22 ceremony officially unveiling the Little Free Library, with Chapter Recording Secretary Marti Tanner (from left), Mabank City Administrator Bryant Morris and Assistant City Administrator Michael Main listening.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
The Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gather at Mabank’s Veterans Memorial Park Jan. 22 with City of Mabank officials as well as school-aged children and their parents to dedicate an addition to the playground area, the Little Free Library, honoring America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution members Angela Webb (the chapter’s corresponding secretary, from left), Past Chapter Regent Carole Ruska and DAR America 250 Chair, Honorary Regent and Chapter Treasurer Susan Martz-Cothran prepare the dedication ceremony Jan. 22.

MABANK—The Sarah Maples Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), whose membership is from and who serve the Cedar Creek Lake area, teamed up Jan. 22 with the City of Mabank to dedicate a Little Free Library at the Veterans Memorial Park playground.
Chapter Regent Ramona Southerland said the Little Free Library is part of the national DAR’s America 250 program celebrating in 2026 the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. “Part of that is the Little Library, that people can come, take a book, bring a book back and share, in an effort to promote literacy,” Southerland said.
“You just open the door, take a book if you want a book to read – or books,” Southerland explained. “After you read the book, you take it back. It’s a free library, basically. It has children’s books and adult books. Or you can donate books.”
It’s also a way to honor American patriots who fought, served or provided support during the American Revolution who are direct descendants of DAR members, which is a DAR membership requirement, according to Southerland. “We have labels inside each of the books, and we denote on the label one of our ancestors that did fight or serve in the American Revolution,” Southerland continued.
The chapter regent informed further, “Our mission is literacy as a part of education.” Education, preservation of history and patriotism are DAR’s three main goals, Southerland added.
Southerland said the Sarah Maples Chapter received a grant from the national DAR as part of the America 250 program. “That’s how we ordered it, our members put it together and painted it and today we’re dedicating it,” Southerland remarked.
Mabank City Administrator Bryant Morris said Dan Cothran assembled the library and then Tony Jenkins of the City of Mabank along with workers from the city’s parks department set the posts in the days before the Jan. 22 dedication and then secured the library to them that day.
“It means something for you to take time out of your day to come out here in the cold weather and be a part of this,” Morris told the dedication ceremony crowd. “I thank Susan (the chapter’s America 250 Chair, Honorary Regent and Chapter Treasurer Susan Martz-Cothran) and everybody with Sarah Maples Chapter for allowing us to be a part of it and always helping out here with our Veterans Memorial.”
For Sarah Maples Chapter membership information, email sarahmaplesinfo@gmail.com.