The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-03


days." says Carlyle, lis collection OF
books" and recognizing the truth OF
this, the township which would have
it's intellectual growth keep pace
with it's increasing physical powers
early takes steps to place books with
in the easy reach Of the populacc.
1t is immaterial whether the village
depend upon the parsons we'll
thumbed Shakespeare, the country
doctors scanty shelves, or the half
dozen and more volumes of the trav-
cling library, books there must be,
books such as Milton termed the
precious life blood Of a master spirit
embalmed and treasured up on pur'
pose to a life beyond life"
Montpelier's first attempt along this
line was the establishment, in 1894
of circulating library of 200 vol
umes, located in the center of the
town. Novels were considered wick
ed and all religious books were eX'
cluded, thus limiting the selection to
a class of books such as the romantic
school girl of today would find mon
otonously dull.
In 1914, another library was estab-
lished in evidence that the taste for
book learning was not less keen as
the town grew in population and
events. OF much later efforts, we
have the account of the Montpelier
Public Library Association, whose
rooms were in the Opera House block.
then in the Shepard House, now
know as "The Kellogg then located
on the present site of the Kellogg
Hubbard Library. Still later, the
reading room was located in the Y.
M. c. A. building, Miss .'ary No
comber, librarian, and it was during
this period that Thomas w. Wood.
the artist made the gift of his famous
collection of paintings which were
hung in the Y. M. c. A. building. In
spite of the efforts to maintain a
fiourishing association and provide
the reading public with access to
books and magazines, funds were
not always handy and ladies' Ii
brary guild was formed to aid the
struggling association and when the
new Kellogg Hubbard Library was
projected and the old public library
association disbanded this library
league disbanded, also, turning over.
later, the sum of 1865 to the kellogg
library. The books in the public IL
brary association were purchased
and added to the collection of the
new library.
Kellogg Hubbard Library named
for Martin NJ. Kellogg and his wife,
Fanny Hubbard, an aunt of John e.
Hubbard, who bequeathed generous
sums toward it's support and over
whose will there was a certain lit.
cation, was incorporated 2 body pol
itic, by act of the General Assembly
and approved Novembec q, 1894
The trustees who are, virtually, III
themselves "a library were Georgc
w Wing, president, Rev. j. Edward
Wright secretary, both of whom
have officiated in their capacities
rsince the founding Of the library
John e. Hubbard, A. d. Farwell, Hi
ram A. Huse. James w. Brock sue
ceeded Mr. Hubbard upon the deatc
of the latter, and Fred A. Rowland
succeeded Mr.. Huse.
Kellogg Hubbard library was built
in 1S94-5, John E. Hubbard contract
ing with the trustees "who hold t1e
library in trust for the city of Mont
pelier," to put the sum of 100000 in
to the structure, unless he choose
voluntarily, to exceed that sum.
His willingness to contribute larger
means was manifested by the inves
titure of 100000 in the library build
ing, a generous sum which made pos
sible a more sumptuous and splendid
structure than had been expected
and the library completed, as
stands today, is one of the most beau
tfnl in the State, OF simple Ye
stately arehiteethre' the grant
building, whose entrance is betweeI
two massive pillars. is doing Mon'
pelier an increasing service da.'S
On the first floor, is wide corrldc
leading to the librarians window an
opening, at one hand, into capaciou
reading room, on the other, into IN
librarians room and leading directi
into the stack room, dotted VIII
many alcoves which are built 10 III
roof with access to the second noe
by means of winding stair OF ire
and a narrow corridor. A skyhgi
ensures the best possible llght lacl
tiles in all weathers and the buiidil
is wired for and lighted by electr'
\ DOES YOUR BACK ACHE!