Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-01-20
LIBRARY DEDICATED.
VA, Lawrence Presents Town Of
Bristol with Memorial Library. q,

Bristol with Memorial Library. d
The Lawrence memorial library of
Bristol was dedicated Tuesday. presented
to the town, with the only condition
that the town maintain it for library
purposes. and formally opened to the
public. The donor, Hon. w. A. Law
renee. has been resident of Bristol for
nearly 80 years, having located there in
the spring of 1881. He has prospered
and likes the town and its people and
proves that assertion by his gift. On a
tablet in the hall of the building are
these words: Lawrence Memorial Lii
brary presented to the town OF Bristol
by Hon. w. A. Lawrence in memory Of
Locke Partch Lawrence and Minnie
Peet Lawrence, Jan. l, 1911"
Mrs. Locke Partch Lawrence was his
frat wife and one of the original pro-
moters of the Bristol Library association
that was formed January 20, 1898. She
WAS ever a true and loyal worker in its
;nt.rests I'D to the time of her death,
December II, 1899. Mrs. Minnie Peet
Lawrence, after her marriage, took up
the work and helped greatly in ad
vancing the interests of the library. In
March, 1902, the library, containing a
little over 1000 books, was turned over to
the town. Since then it has grown
steadily and today contains over 1000
books. The proposition made by MIR.
Lawrence to put library building and
present it to the town was accepted by
the voters in town meeting last March
without a dissenting vote, and the sum
of $500 was voted for library purposes.
The new building is 36x4S feet, de-
signed by c. E. Paige of Cavina, CAL,
and erected under the supervision of c.
C. Miller of Ferrisburgb. The building
is of wood, the best quality only being
used in its construction and the work.
manship is such that the claim is made
that this is one of the best finished public
buildings in Vermont. The interior Of
the building is decidedly pleasant and so
arranged that the Librarians desk, which
faces the front entrance, commands
view of every part. On the right of the
entrance is the chidren's room and on
the left the reception room. These
connect with the main reading room
with wide alcoves. In the rear of the
librarians desk are the stacks and shelves
for books. In the basement are the
heating apparatus and work room. The
building cost about $4,000 and the lot
is worth $1,000. Mr.. Lawrence refused
an offer of $1,000 for it few years ago.
MIR. Lawrence and the library trustees
gave public reception in the new build
ing Tuesday afternoon from to o'clock.
attended by several hundred people,
many being present from different towns
in the county.
The dedicatory exercises were held at
Holly hall in the evening and standing
room was at premium. Music was fur
nished by Vttums orchestra of this VIII
lage and local male quartette. E. H.
Eastman acted as president and extend
ed greeting to the audience. Mrs. j. r.
Kilbourn, who was second vice president
of the original organization, read his
tory of the library. Mr.. Lawrence, in a
brief and feeling speech, presented the
binding to the town of Bristol. E. w.
Varney, clerk of the board Of library
trustees read the deed Mrs. w. w.
Rider, president of the library trustees,
made the response. Superintendent A.
w. Eddy gave an interesting talk on
1.-THE Value of the Library to the
Schools" Prof. w. E. Howard of Mid.
dlebury college made the closing adj
dress, which was of an inspiring charac-
ter. Benediction was pronounced by
Rev. 1. s. Usher, thus bringing to a
close one of the most important days in
the history of the town of Bristol, day
that marks another step upward in the
line of progress. The new library build
ing is an ornament to the town, an asset
of immense value, and will in the years
to come be appreciated more and more.
Mr. Lawrence, since his residence in
Bristol, has been deputy sheriff, repre-
scented the town in the legislature, the
county in the senate, is now president of
the village, and loyal and progressive
citizen who believes in doing things
while alive for the benefit of his fellow
men. Besides making this gift to the
town, Mr.. Lawrence has been instru-
mental in identifying the town cemetery,
now known as Greenwood cemetery and
controlled by an association, making it
the most attractive in Addison county
He has spent weeks of time and many
hundreds of dollars in the work. Mr..
Lawrence is director in the Middlebury
National bank and the Addison County
Agricultural society.