The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-21
WILLIAMSBURG SOCIAL LIBRARY.
Resume of Mrs. Wilber's Speech at Dedi-
cation of New Building.

cation of New Building.
The following is a resume of the adj
dress written and read by Mrs. Annie
WILDER at the dedication OF the new IL
brary building in Williamstown, Dec 9,
! 1911:
The Williamstown social library is a
most interesting institution, dating as
it does from Jan. %, 1901, only seven.
teen years after the first settlement of
| the town in 1884. In this connection it
is interesting to note that the first three
| public libraries founded in Vermont were
all IN Orange county. The town library
| OF Br9okfeld was started in l79l, ten
| years earlier than the Williamstown IL
brary, and is in a fourishng condition
to-day A library was begun in Bradford
| IN 1876 and after continuing for time
| 1t was allowed to become dormant and
| later its books came into possession OF
new public library. Three residents of
/ Williamstown were charter members of
the Brookfield institution, Josiah Ly-
man, John Crane and Cornelius Lynde,
but they later became connected with the
library in their own town.
To this same Cornelius Lynde the
w
was one of the original proprietors to
whom charter was granted in 1881,
was one of its surveyors, and one of the
first settlers, coming there in l7S4. When
the town became organized, he was it's
first town clerk, and as a justice of the
peace he performed the first marriage
ceremony there, the parties being Jacob
Jeffords and Hannah Richardson. And it
is through the work of Mrs. Laura L.
Aiusworth, a granddaughter of Cornelius
Lynde, that the library is now provided
with suitable building and the methods
and conyenienees which the times de-
mand.
The first annual meeting of the pro-
prietors was held June 8, 1901, and it
was voted to hold meetings quarterly
for the drawing of books. Never, in the
Ito years of the library's existence, has
meeting passed unheld. At the first
meeting Perley Howe was chosen librari-
an and Jared Kimball clerk, the former
holding his position for eleven years.
He was the first settler in the village
and his log cabin was built on the land
later known as the "Uncle" Jacob Mar
tin place, which later belonged to the
late i. NJ. Seaver Perley Howe also
built the first framed house in Williams
town, on the place now owned by Mrs
Orville Briggs and across the street his
son, Enoch Howe, built the brick house
that was early this winter dedicated as
the home of the Willamstown memorial
library.
The books Of the library were first
kept in a chest and carried about wher-
ever the meetings were TO be held, usual
Nv at store or tavern. When the town
hall was built, room was fitted up for
the library. and there it continued until
Mrs, Ainsworth's generosity made it pos
sible to transfer it from its already out
grown quarters TO the new building.
The early records of the library show
that it was necessary. in order to raise
money to buy new books, to lay tax on
each proprietor. this tax varying from
soc to $3.50 a share. This has not been
the custom of later years, as the sums
received from bids fines and shares sold
has enabled the library to buy about
$50 worth of books each year. No mon
ey was paid any officer OF the library
for service, except in few instances.
In 1904 a record book was purchased and
the clerk. Jared kimball, transferred to
it the original articles OF agreement, re-
eeiging therefor $3.50 This book was
used for over IS years and furnished /!
history when looked over, II I
contains the signatures OF many of the I
members and is one of the treasures Of
the library In 1871, constitution WAS I
drawn up to take the place of these arti-
Giles of agreement, and by it the libra I
~ has since been governed.
During its 100 years existence, the IL
brary has acquired over 1000 books, and
while some of them are not in a service
able condition, $500 were turned over TO
the trustees of the new library. Many 4
citizens are due credit for
their loyalty TO the library and their
untiring energy in its behalf. Jonathan
Lewis was treasurer for twenty years;
George Beckett was assistant librarian
for "a years and from 1862 to 1896 he
performed the duties of libra
rian and janitor, was principal member
IF the purchasing committee, and in cold
weather furnished fuel from his own
~oodpile for the fires. For twenty-one
years George T.. WILDER was librarian,
md was succeeded by Charles l.. Hay
ward, who now holds that office.
n. 4