Connecticut western news., 1921-01-13
NORFOLK

AC a meeting Of the board of trustees of the Norfolk library held Saturday, Jan. 8, it was unanimously
 Resolved-That the subjoined minute in reference to Miss Isabella Eldridge, late beloved founder of the library and president of its board of trustees, should be spread upon the records of this corporation in rever- ent and grateful appreciation of the 30 years of her unselfsh devotion of time and resources to this institution, for whose development and success her life was unreservedly given.
 The first attempt to fill the need of a permanent library building was made on Jan. 1, 1881, when Miss Isabella Eldridge opened a reading room in the house then occupied by George W. Scoville. Seven years later Miss Eldridge made plans for the erection of the present library building, which was formally opened March 6, 1889.
 The library then had upon it's shelves about 2,500 volumes of which Miss Eldridge had purchased, 1,O5O; 1,250 were the gift of Rev. Azariah Eldridge of Yarmouth, Mass.
 March 6, 1899, the library cele- brated it's 10th anniversary, a pro- gram of which is preserved in a beautifully illustrated souvenir book let. At that time the books upon the shelves had passed the 5000 mark.
 The 20th anniversary was celebra- ted March 6, 1909, with appropriate exercises and addressed, recorded in historical sketch of the library, handsomely illustrated for the pur- pose.
 At this time a bas-relief of Robert Louis Stevenson, the work of Aug ustus Saint Gaudens, was presented to Miss Eldridge and placed upon the wall of the entrance hall, to- gether with a green bronze triptych containing the names of the contri- butors, including the school children of the town, who had lovingly given their pennies for the gift, also the following inscription:
 "To Isabella Eldridge, founder of the Norfolk Library, after 20 years of enjoyment of her gift, we present this bas-relief of Stevenson as a token of our gratitude. Given to Isabella Eldridge, founder, by her loving friends and townspeople on the goth anniversary of this library"
 In 1910 the original building was enlarged, its capacity and comfort greatly increased by the addition of the present beautifully and thorough ly equipped reading-room, designed, as was the older building, by George Keller of Hartford. Over this room the spirit and presence of the donor falls like benediction on all who enter radiating from an exquisite likeness placed, since her death, above the large reading table by her sister, Miss Mary Eldridge.
 Year by year the value and useful ness of the library has been in creased by everything which money could buy or the most refined taste suggest, and today it records upon its shelves over 10000 volumes, with circulation of l7,000 books yearly, an institution whose uplifting, refn- ing and educating influence cannot be estimated, but for which the coming generation will 'trise up and call her blessed"
 "Voice of the Elms."
 The sign has recently been re- painted and placed on the large elm on the Village green at the library corner. It has been hung lower so that people may read the verse more easily. The sign has always attract ed wide attention and Is sought by most visitors to Norfolk. Through the efforts of Hon. H. H. Bridgmnn, president of the Norfolk Village Improvement society, this work has been done. The quotation, written