The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1901-05-31
The East Corinth Public Library.

ne East AOff0tn T0DhC Library.
In the present exultation of the people
of East Corinth and in fact of the whole
Waits River Valley over the coming Ii
many to know something of the history
of the association.
The first beginning OF anything of the
kind outside of the Sunday School libra
ry was back in the early eighties. Until
this time, the dearth of good books was
felt by m; ny. A club paying one dollar
per head was formed; and large num-
Der of standard works of fiction, paper
bound, were put in circulation. The
writer as child remembers well of read
ing adam Bede" and daniel Deronda"
in this way. The club has Icing been a
thing of the past. Later. number of So
cables were given; and thirty-six dollars
was raised and left in the hands of Miss
Emma Grant and Mrs. j. +. Fulton of
Lakeport, N. H. Twelve dollars raised
in like manner, was in the hands of Miss
Hattie M. Page. The library then talked
of not materializing, the first money was
given the school; and the latter used in
repairing the church. In 1893, S. l. Divoll,
9. 9. Dickey and others tried to form a
second reading club, but did not succeed
Later, the same year the present library
association was formed which took the
name The East Corinth Public Library
ASSN; and a constitution and bylaws
adopted.
At the first meeting on the first Satur-
day of November, '93, se ven people were
present and elected Wilson Chapman,
Pres. GA. Renfrew, Vice. G. M. Page,
Sec. and Treas. w. r. Rowland, Librari-
an. The seven present paying in their
membership fees, the treasury began its
career with three dollars and fifty cents
u E. Divoll was appointed to solicit
members and raised the number from
seven to twenty-six.
By means of donated books, fees, and
an entertainment the library opened Sat
urday evening, Dec. 9, with sixty volumes.
and furniture was donated by q. A. Nc
Arthur, Mrs. E. r. George, and E. S.
Rowland. The association knew it must
work, and during the winter, sixty-seven
dollars was raised by entertainments,
and this with liberal gift from Mrs. AL
mira Fenno and Mr.! G. M. Blake raised
the number of volumes to over 300, and
the first catalogue was issued in '95. In
1917, the association being forced to re-
move from the Way house were given
shelter by Mr.. Horace Blood in his store.
At this time, the question of removing
the small frame building owned by the
defunct Rifle Club was seriously discuss
ed and man secured to undertake the
job, Z. w. Jewell Offering site for it.
Soon after this, K. s. Rowland offering a
room in his building free, the Assn voted
to accept the same. at the same meet
ing, the Assn voted to become an incor-
porate body under the Vermont laws.
At the next annual meeting in '98, an
amendment to the constitution was adj
opted changing date of annual meeting to
the last Saturday in June and creating
the executive committee. A new era
had dawned in the library affairs. The
entertainment scheme of raising money
was still in vogue; Mrs, Fenno and Mr..
Nathan and Mr.. G. w. Blake were con-
slant in their help; and resident friends
never failed. To this time not one cent
had been paid for rent; and by Mr., Row.
lands otfer,nO was asked and heat and
light were given as we'll.
The officers may we'll be considered here
The presidents place was filled by Will
son Chapman for the first four terms.
At the fifth annual meeting. the execu-
tive committee being given some of the
presidents former duties, Mr.. Chapman
was made chairman of this, his former
place beng filled by DR., Frank A. Stew
{ as who soon removed from town, and G.
M. Page as Vice President succeeded him
and was reelected in go In 1900 Mr. w,
L. Jackman was chosen and during the
past year has ably done the work. The
Vice Presidents have been A. e. Jack
man, Z. 5. Rowland. Cyrus Dickey. G. NJ.
1 age ana ID, l.. dOllan nj. Inc SEQ. ana
Treas. have always been the same person,
G. M. Page holding the office for three
terms and W. r. Rowland for the past
five. The librarians work has been Civ |
On with exception ofsone year; w. Z.
Rowland serving two years; Mrs. E. r.
George, one year; Miss Henrietta Fox,
Two years; Miss Daisy Prescott and Miss
Addie Butterfield, one year; and the ex-
ecutive committee have cared for it the |
past two years. A book buy ing commit |
Tee which went out OF existence when |
Ihe executive committee came in had for |
It's members at different times Mrs. E. B.
Iorlss, Miss Anna Divoll, &C. q. Dickey, |
W. r. Rowland, Z. NJ. Page, E. 5. Row
and, Mrs. Susan Butterfield, A. ID. Jack
nan and Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Holland |
The executive committee has had the
following members all the time: Wilson
chapman, E. S. Rowland, Mr.. and Mrs.
3. I. Holland, sMrs. Z. B. Corliss, A. d,
Jackman. Miss sSarah E. Smart, until
Ter death, served as member of it and
Ter place has since been filled by DR.. q.
Fox. Miss Susie " Taplin also served
me year. The Pres, Vice Pres, and
Sec. are members ex-officio. This
ketCh will be cOmDleted next week