Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-23
HAPPY woodstock and Its New Public
Library.
[From q New York Evening Post correspondent,
Sept. SOL

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Library.
[From q New York Evening Post correspondent,
Sept. SOL
Within the last two years there has been
built and presented to this village one Of the
completest and most beautiful public libraries
in this country. Intended Rs O memorial TO
the parents Of It's founder, DIR. Edward II.
Williams OF the Baldwin Locomotive Works
in Philadelphia, ii was erected upon the site
Of his birthplace, q modest cottage facing
the little park on one Of the principal streets
OF Woodstock, and has been called the Nor
man Williams public library. The building,
not very large, Is beautifully proportioned,
the ground plan being shaped like q capital
T, with the top of the facing the street.
Its centre is ornamented with . projection
containing q charming recessed portico In
the Norman style Of architecture, showing
three round arches of carved Isle Ia Motto
stone, resting upon heavy granite pillars
highly polished, and with carved, foliated
capitals. The walls are built chiefly Of
squared stones of beautiful reddish-ehoco-
late color, ornamented with courses Of Isle Ia
Motto stone, which when dressed Is of gray
tint. When polished 1t is of q shining jet
black. Entering the building from the por-
tico, which is adorned with q bronze medal
lion of Dr. Williams's parent, We find the H.
brary provided on the right hand side with q
commodious reading room, the woodwork,
including ceiling, wainscot, ETC., being of
polished Georgia pine, and the fireplace
superb, lofty design in red terracotta, furn-
ished with old fashioned hre-irons, and space
to accommodate four-feet logs. The walls
are covered with . material resembling en-
bossed leather In q simple geometricai de-
sign, gilt-bronzed. Opposite the reading
room, at the other end OF the hall, are ref
ence-room and q Librarians room, all fitted
up and finished TO correspond with the read
ing-room. The library proper occupies the
standard part OF the T-shaped plan, and is
| filled with handsome bookcases, which are
being furnished constantly with the best
books. The wall spaces between the book
cases are filed in with panels of Vermont
marble in gray and green, and believe near
ly every stone in the building Is from Yer
mont quarry. There is q little gallery for
musicians at one end of the library room for
| festal occasions. The tinting Of the walls
and ceiling is very delicate and pleasing, the
| latter being finished to correspond somewhat
with the outline Of the roof, instead OF being
| fiat In addition TO the Gift of the building
and books DIR. Williams has endowed the IL
brary with q sum of money sufficient 10 meet
all the expenses of keeping 1t open and In
order. 1t is thus kept In perfect condition
both within and without
| Last week the trustees Ot the library H.
vited the townspeople TO come TO the library
to pay their respects to its generous founder,
who was to be present with his wife and 9TH
or members of his family. After eli had
been presented, Mr.. Frederick Billings OF
Northern Pacific railroad fame, arose and
made an enthusiastic speech Of acknowledge
ment to DR.. Williams, and was seconded in
this by appropriate remarks from other gen.
tlemen present. As finishing touch to this
monument of filisl affection, DIR. Williams
has had handsome oil portraits Of his parents
painted, which now look pleasantly down
from the walls of the reAding-room, giving
it an even more inviting air than 1t had be-
| fore