The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-03-14
AIdrich Library to Be Built
by W. E. Jackson
WHEN WEATHER PERMITS
Building Will Be of Brick with as Much
Granite as Funds of the Trustees
Win permit--The Details
Of the Structure.

The contract for constructing the al.
drich public library building was yes
terday afternoon awarded by the trus-
tees of the library fund to w. II. jack
son of Montpelier, whose bid was con.
siderably lower than any other received.
Work on the building viii be started
just as soon as the weather viii permit.
As the lot on which the structure win
trest, at the corner Of Washington and
Elm streets, has already been cleared,
there is nothing TO hinder the putting
in Of the foundation at the opening of
spring
Three complete bids were received, tue
trustees throwing out those which did
not comply with the specifications. Tbs
bids considered were as follows: w. e.
jackson, S34,703; Bradford and Messer,
S35,300; nj. m. McIver, $3a,737, The
4 jackson bid, being the lowest, secured
the contract. The bid covers practical
/ ly the entire cost Of the structure, ex-
elusive, of course, of the lot, which is
the gift of the city. When the con-
tractor turns over his work, the trustees
win install the furniture. put in the cleo
| trio light fixtures, decorate the plas-
tered surfaces and equip the building
with oak shelves.
The trustees have funds available, ac-
eording to the compilation January 1
of this year, S46,03s.96. OF this amount
the sum of $4,000 must be set aside
for the purpose Of buying books, accord
ing to a stipulation of the generous do
nor, the late Leonard r. Aldrich. The
trustees figure that they win have lust
about enough funds remaining to com
Eplete the building after it is turned ovec
to them by the contractor. Mr.. jackson
has had experience in library construc-
lion, having erected the public library in
Mortified, also several Norwich uniyer-
sity buildings. In this city he erected
the Sortwell building occupied by A. p.
Abbott & Co.'s store. In this contract
he places himself under bonds of $4,000.
The architect of the AldTich library is
Penn Narney of Lynn, Mass.
The building is designed to face Wash
ington street, a tri1c to the front of
the middle Of the lot. In exterior con-
struction II win be Of brick, with as
much granite as the funds of the trus-
tees viii permit. 1t was hoped that an
rll-granite building might be erected, but
the money available would not permit
of it, and as there was not enough ma
terial interest manifested by the people
Of Barre to insure the use of all granite,
they reluctantly decided to have the
main material Of brick. Without ex-
ira contributions the erection of the
building of granite would nec-
essarily have been postponed ten
years at the present rate OF
increase, and the trustees thought
the demand for library too strong to
be postponed so long. On modified plans
for a granite building, the lowest bid
submitted in 1906 was $4,000, of which
amount over $4,000 was required for
the granite material, exclusive of cost
OF drawing and setting. Thus it win
be seen that the funds at hand were far
short of the required sum.
Nevertheless the plans call for hand
some. although not elaborate building.
It viii be two stories high and face 72
feet on Washington street. The depth
win be els feet The entrance on Wash
ington street win be largely Of granite,
with granite pillars. There will be gran
ite pilsster bases and caps, granite arch
itraves, while the sills and the water
tables will be of the same material. The
trustees have endeavored to get a de-
sign which shall be attractive but not
CANDY.
Inside the bailding win be model Of
convenience. TREE floors practically ars
! adapted for library purposes, as the light
, basement, besides containing the boiler
, room has a storage room, a storage and
unpaelSing room under the stack room,
, two toilet rooms, an entrance hall and
/ another room, "a feet six inches by 81
, feet and four inches in size, which can
be easily adapted 10 nearly any use.
The entrance to the bailding leads into
the entrance hall, which contains a dou-
bic staircase to the upper story. Leao-
ing from this room Is the delivery hall,
| 1s BY 90 feet, and just in the rear OF
this is the stack room, running to the
roof and capable of holding three tiers
I Of books. At this point it may be well
to state that the capacity Of the build
( ing will be 10000 volumes. The stack
room measures 16 by AZ feet. On
either end of the stack room is small
room for the librarians purposes.
On the right Of the entrance Is the
Z main reading room, measuring "a feet
; six inches by 81 feet four inches. On
!. the other side OF the building is a
> juvenile room Of identically the same
Size, fitted up with oak shelves on two
sides.
An ascent TO the second story leads
directly into an art gallery hall, 1s by
ls6 feet in dimensions. On the right Of
this Is hall which has been named
n Aldrioh hall in memory of the donor.
' This ana the entrance hall can be thrown
together as lecture room. In addi.
Y ion, there are two reference rooms, each
4 of ample size and fitted with book lifts
a from the basement. Thus 1t will be
\ seen that building commodious for
: parre's needs for many years will be
I provided.
{ The trustees Of the Aldrich library
Z fund hava put in great amount Of
K work in bringing matters to head 70
4 chat actual construction Is now only a
K Imatter Of few weeks They are John
v rrow, n. b. Phelps, J. NJ. Perry, Henry
q IL. Mills L. W. Bisbee, Alexander Gordon