Green Mountain College, Library, Poultney, Vermont, 1955

 

LIB221950

1908, Interior of Public Library, Fair Haven, Vermont

 

LIB598556

Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, Vermont

 

Whiting Library, Chester, Vermont

LIB276865

Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, Vermont

LIB792984

In 1905 Eber W. Cobleigh donated $15,000 to erect a public library building in Lyndonville. The site of the Silsbury Livery Stable at Main and Depot Street was authorized for purchase at the annual town meeting in March and the library building was completed in late 1906. Plans for the building were drawn by William J Sayward, a member of the well known firm that had designed the Boston Public Library. The library was dedicated and opened to the public in January, 1907.

Northfield, Vermont, Public Library

Northfield, Vermont, Public Library

LIB400501

1908 Starr Library, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont

[LIB11055]

1910 Library, Windsor, Vermont

[LIB11041]

Windsor Vermont 1886 Antique Panoramic Map Print by terraprints_classic
Browse additional posters and prints from zazzle.com.

Goodrich Library, Newport, Vermont

[Z10551] The first library, established in the town of Newport, Vermont was originated by Dr. John M. Currier in the spring of 1862. In 2003, Goodrich Memorial Library received a substantial grant and the building has been restored to its original beauty and elegance. [Website]

Public Library, Northfield, Vermont

[LIB9933] - George Washington Brown was donor of Northfield's Brown Public library built in the early 1900s on the corner of South Main Street (VT Route 12) and Slate Avenue. The Classical Revival building of red brick with granite trim was completed in 1906 and cost between $20,000 and $25,000. [Read more here...]

The recent photo is courtesy of  Northern New England Villages, Encouraging the preservation and restoration of towns and villages in Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont) via picture galleries, blogging, forums, social media and more. [http://northernnewenglandvillages.com/]

1911 Spafford Library, Springfield, Vermont

Springfield, VT Panoramic Map - 1886 Posters by photos_maps
See another framed artwork on Zazzle

[LIB9894]

1917 Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, Vermont

[LIB9880] - A tradition of learning and imagining since 1868, The Goodrich Memorial Library envelopes you in its stunning woodwork, cozy fireplaced nooks and crannies, and the impressive staircase.  You'll be drawn back in time with the grandeur and friendly access of books to peruse, computers to use and events happening for locals and out-of-town visitors as well.  The first library, established in the town of Newport, was originated by Dr. John M. Currier in the spring of 1862. He conceived of the plan for a circulating library by having each member take two dollars' worth of stock and allowing stockholders to pay for their shares in books. Some of the books belonging to the first library passed along down through all the later organizations and are now found in the Goodrich library.  Curl up in a chair by the fireplace and hook your laptop into the complimentary wireless internet service. [http://www.discovernewportvt.com/see-do/goodrich-memorial-library]

Public Library, Springfield, Vermont

[LIB9879] The bottom image is courtesy of http://www.johnson-roberts.com/.

1933 Public Library, Waitsfield, Vermont

[LIB9864] - Erected in 1913, the Joslin Memorial Library was the gift of George A. Joslyn, a Waitsfield man who made his fortune in the newspaper business in the West. The building, constructed at a cost of $21,387, is still one of the finest of its kind in the state. As you enter the building between the two imposing Indiana Bedford Limestone columns, notice the starburst windows over the door and the slate hip roof decorated with dentils. The entry is polished marble. The circulation desk is a fine example of woodworking and the handsome light fixtures are original. Of particular note is the stained glass skylight called an art-glass window. [http://www.joslinmemoriallibrary.com/about.htm]

Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, Vermont

[LIB9860] - For additional resources visit our History and Genealogy collection located in the Vermont History room of the library. We have family histories, ship passenger lists, census data, the New England Genealogical Register and more. [http://normanwilliams.org/]

1952 Kimball Public Library, Randolph, Vermont

[LIB9737] - History of Kimball Public Library

         In 1903, Col. Robert J. Kimball, a Randolph native who became a successful financier in New York City, donated the library bearing his name. The red-brick building, located next door to the Chandler Music Hall on Main Street, is an impressive monument to Kimball who at age 13 began his career as a newsboy and telegrapher for the Vermont Central Railroad.

         At the March 1896 town meeting not long before the building was completed, the Randolph Public Library was established under the law of 1894. The state sent 134 books, space was "fitted out" over Morton's drug store in the DuBois and Gay block, and the library opened on November 14 with Maud Blanchard as librarian. The following March, the King's Daughters, the Randolph Book Club, and individual donors added to the core collection. In 1898, the Ladies' Library Association, an earlier literary group, donated its 1500 books. The following year, the Sarah Jane Crocker estate provided $3500 for the library's use.

         After Kimball offered to give $10,000 to build a library, the town acted swiftly in acquiring the $3200 property that included the site, a tenement, and a barn. The choice was pleasing to Kimball, for he had lived in the house as a boy. At a special meeting on November 30, the "wide-awake citizens of Randolph" accepted the generous proposal.

         The architects were H.M. Francis & Sons from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and the contract for construction was given to Wiley & Foss from the same town. In the early spring of 1902 the site was cleared and the building begun. Dedication ceremonies were held on February 24, 1903. At the ceremony, Col. Robert J. Kimball stated, "In making this presentation to you we do not attach to it any conditions. Our only desire is that you shall be liberal in your appreciation of the value it may be, by giving it such cordial and large appropriations for maintenance as will make it most useful to yourselves, your children and to generations to come." The Town of Randolph has followed that directive faithfully to the present day. [Website]

Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, Vermont

[LIB9471]

A reproduction of this postcard is available from my Zazzle store, click here!

Windsor Library, Windsor, Vermont

[LIB7712] The Georgian Revival structure, as designed, was opened to the public on June 4, 1904. The library building, on State Street in Windsor is one story, 60 by 28 feet, with an annex, 26 by 16 feet in the rear. The roof is the “finest Maine slate”; the foundation, Ascutney granite; the exterior walls are red brick and the base, cornices and all exterior trimmings, with quoins and dentils, are of Fitchburg granite. Two sets of elongated windows are on each side of the entrance in front, a portico with Doric columns, of the same granite. In the vestibule entrance, on the left, is a bronze relief of Mr. Blood, and a plaque bearing his birth date and place together with the following inscription: This building was erected by Benjamin F. Blood, of Waltham, Massachusetts, A.D. 1903, and by him presented to the people of Windsor to be forever used as a public library. A former citizen of Windsor, by industry and ability, he accumulated a fortune, and this he dedicated to the best interests of the descendants of his early associates and providing for them church, school and library advantages. [Website]

1947 Public Library, Fair Haven, Vermont

[LIB7634] Original building still in use as a library. 

The Fair Haven Public Library, established in 1887, owes its existence to the suggestion and influence of Mr. Moses Coit, a non-resident greatly interested in the establishment of libraries. The persistent efforts of Hon. A.N. Adams, and the earnest advocacy of Prof. Walter E. Howard, who notwithstanding much opposition obtained an appropriation of $1,000 from the town for its establishment and support. Since then a sum averaging $600 has been voted annually. In 1894 a reading room supplied with periodicals through private yearly subscriptions was added to the library, increasing its influence. The interest of the readers continues to increase from year to year, over 700 more books having been drawn out in 1897 than in 1896. Librarian Elizabeth Perkins. [Board of Library Commissioners of Vermont, 1895-1896. Published 1896. Available through Google Books]

1945 Pettee Memorial Library, Wilmington, Vermont

[LIB7242] Mr. Lyman Pettee came along and gave funds for a new library to be built.  Mr. Pettee, who grew up in Wilmington and also went to school here, named the building after his parents Anson and Lucy Pettee, PETTEE MEMORIAL LIBRARY. The building was completed in 1906 and is still the home of Wilmington’s public library today.  [Website]