Connecticut western news., 1895-07-18
SCOyILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

pride for the people of Salisbury, in which sentiments they had the sympathy of the neighboring towns. Fortunately it was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, and just warm enough to be comfortable. The fine grey stone building with it's massive battlemented clock tower presented a beautiful ap- pearance, fronted by pretty lawn and surrounded by handsome trees, many of them grand old oaks, among which winds little babbling brook coming down from the neighboring Taconic Mountains
 At two o'clock 8 concourse of not less than 300 persons from Salisbury and surrounding towns had completely filled the auditorium of the new build | ing. Hon. Donald T. Warner, presi- dent of the Scoville Memorial Library association, called the meeting to order. The exercises began with an anthem, Jubilate in B flat, which was finely sung by quartette consisting of Mrs LaPlace, Mrs Wilson, George B Bur rall and Mr Wilson, Dr Knight play ing the accompaniment on the new piano, grand with an oak case. Rev James H George then read an appro- priate prayer composed for the occ.- sion. After the prayer the president 1 of the association delivered an address in his usual happy and entertaining style. He first expressed his regret that the venerable Prof Henry Bar nard, of Hartford, was prevented by in- disposition from making an address, as he had much desired to do. He said that the existence of 8 library il the town dated back to 1771, forty years after committee of the General As- sembly, after visiting Salisbury, had in effect reported to the assembled wis dom of the commonwealth" that owing to the broken and rugged character of the country the condition and prospects of Salisbury were hopeless. And yet in this present year the chairman of the important committee of cities and boroughs (Hubert Williams) had been taken from Salisbury. The substance of Judge Warmers narrative of the history of the library is reserved for the concluding portion of this article Miss Sypher, of Philadelphia, then played, with much skill and delicacy of touch, mandolin solo. for which she received hearty encore. The secre- tary of the association, Rev John Cal. win Goddard, at this point read inter. esting letters of regret iron Mr Barton, 8 Salisbury boy now a lawyer in Boston, Theodore s Gold, of Cornwall, E. H. Butler, of Buffalo and George ". Hol- ley, of Bridgeport. After the reading of the letters. Mrs LaPlace sang 8 Ger man Trust Song" the music for which of touching, plaintiye character, was composed by the late Hon. Robbins Battell, of Norfolk, who evinced 6 strong sympathetic interest in the library project and aided its promoters with valuable suggestions. Miss Hew ins, librarian of The Hartford Library read paper expressing many practical ideas in regard to the management of g public library. She said one great ob. ject to be attained was to develop 6 love of reading in the young. The paper iucluded extracts from the letters of Hartford public school children ir answer to questions in regard to theil reading, many of which were very original and amusing. Hon. Lyman D Brewster, of Danbury, read long original poem. This poem, which it is proposed to publish. was beautiful production, truly poetical in character and descriptive of the beautiful natural scenery of Salisbury, with its mountains and lakes. It also includes an outline of the history of the town, introducing the names of men who have been prom inment in it's annals, as for instance the names of Holley, Landon, Burrall Coffipg, Scoville, Whittlesey and Bar mum among others. Hubert William. made short speech, in which he sup piled what the presidents modesty hat omitted, viz. that the chairman of the judiciary committee was also Sails bury man. "America" was then sunf by tue whole audience, all standing and singing with much spirit.
 Refreshments were served consisting of cake. coffee, sandwiches, ice cream and lemoaane.
 The first public library in Salisbury was established in 1771 by Thomas Smith, Tory gentleman, to promote religion, learning and morality. Later Caleb Bingham, of Boston, donated books and the library was known a, the Bingham Library. The books O these first libraries were mostly on the ological subjects. In 1892 the Sails bury Library Association was formed and bequest of Sl2,OO0 was received from Jonathan Scoville. who with hi brother. Nathaniel Church Scoville were natives of Salisbury and went tt Buffalo, N. r., where they amassed large fortunes in the iron business Jonathan was at one time member o Congress and succeeded Grover Cleve land as mayor of Buffalo.
 | The building just opened is memo rial of the two brothers above mention ed It stands on a two acre lot or which are some immense oaks ant through, which the Wachocastinool | hrnnk hnws The hnildinn ia hnilf a