The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-07
The Free Library.

The Free Library.
The daily papers of Rutland and Troy
have lately taken in hand the writing
up of Bennington" The same CORE
spondent, D. G. Burt, contributes
historical papers likewise to the Poultney
Journal. These sketches are based upon
the events that at the time were noted
in eItensO in our columns, but the lapse
of time may have driven part of the
particulars from the public mind. AS
an evidence of how it looks to-day to a
new resident we copy, from time to lime,
part of these articles. One of the
latest is in relation to the Free Library
The BANNER mentioned the removal to
the first floor of the reading room and
library. The following shows how the
changes appear to our correspondent,
who says; 1t is principally owing to
repeated opportunities made to the late
Seth B. Hunt in 1854 to aid in the
erection of hotel, then much needed,
that Bennington owes the existence of
its Free Library, After repeated urgings,
all of which were vain, the late T. W..
Park went to New York, where Mr.. Hunt
was, and urged for subscription. Mr.,
Hunt heard him through, and then turn
ing to him, said: Park, there is that
unfinished building ON Main street; l
will go half with you; we will buy it, put
in the books, and give it to the town for
free library" Mr.. Park agreed, and
the building which was begun in 1859 on
the corner of Main and Silver streets was
purchased. 1t was finished as fast as
possible, the upper part being devoted
to public hall and the library room,
the lower part divided into two stores
and entrance to hall, etc.. above. The
building was decided to the following as
trustees: Hiland Hail. Benjamin R..
Sears, Daniel MCGOWAN, Thomas j. Tiff
fanny, John V. Hall, and was dated June
25th, 1865. The deed specified that the
library should be free, that it should
never be used to advance any sect or
creed, that the hall should be used as a
public hall and should be free to no
society or for any purpose, and that all
income should go to replenishing the
library after paying incidental expenses
necessary to keep the building in repair.
A society, known as the Young Mems
Association, was formed early in 1865,
the first meeting being held February
21st, at which temporary officers were
elected. At subsequent meeting the
following officers were elected as first
officers of the association: President,
Rev. Duane Phillips, principally through
whose efforts the association was
formed; Vice Presidents, j. V. Hall, J..
B. Meacham, Enos Gould; Correspond
ing Secretary, W. S. Apsey; Recording
Secretary, w. II. Cook; Treasurer, E. A.
Cobb. Total membership about $50.
| Any person can become a member of the
| association hxr tha uaarlu naun1ant nf n
which entities one to take book which
can be retained two weeks. Those not
members can take volumes and read in
the reading room connected with the
library, which is open every week day
avening. The report of the Librarian al
the close of the first year showed the
whole number of volumes to be 1868, OF
which 1891 were contributed by Messrs.
Hunt and Park when the library was
opened. The value of the BOOKS was
| 81, 429.75, and the average number taken
out daily was As.
The largest number of members of the
association was in 1878, when there were
27S.
| Until within two weeks the room used
for the library was not at all fitted for
the purpose. Small, dimily lighted, ii
became evident last winter that larger
room was necessary. The association
decided to take the east half of the lower
| floor and fit it up, which has been done,
and last week the new rooms were
opened. The library room proper is 80
by 40 feet, directly in rear being two
rooms, one used as a reading room.
| Each is II by Is feet. In front are two
windows by 6 feet, with two lights OF
plate glass in each. On the east end is a
large bay window in which are three
| lights. These with Is electric lights
furnish plenty of light. The walls are
covered with light tinted paper, the
ceiling being painted to correspond. The
book shelves are on the west side, the
shelves being supported by iron frames.
The volumes are arranged in alleys so
that they are easily reached. Five new
cases entire were procured in Rutland.
| The other walls are adorned with steel
engravings and maps for reference. The
reading room is supplied with various
daily papers (the BANNER included) and
magazines. The report of the librarian
at the last annual meeting showed that
there were 5040 books on che printed
catalogue. During the year 24O1 books
were taken out, an increase of IL per
cent over the previous year. There are
now 40 members of the association.
The receipts the last year were 81 ,254.51
and disbursements $1,225.05. The
present officers are: President, Rev. G.
X. Seymour; Vice President, G. S. Davis
Corresponding Secretary, G. S. Kehoe I;
Recording Secretary, A. W. BREASTED
Treasurer, Charles H. Dewey. The cost
of fitting up the rooms was about $1,000,
and the work was done under the
personal supervision of l. e. Gibson and
Col. E. ID. Bennett of the building com
mirtea