BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro has enjoyed continuous library service since 1821, when local citizens created a private lending library.
Later, in 1842, to continue to build its collections, it became a subscription library.
Finally, in 1882, a group of townspeople created a committee to recommend that Brattleboro's Town Meeting vote town funds to support a free, public library.
This act spurred Brattleboro businessman George J. Brooks - who had built the Brooks House Hotel in 1872 - to donate funds to erect the first public library building in Brattleboro.
The George J. Brooks Memorial Library was dedicated in 1887 and served Brattleboro's library needs for the next 80 years until the current Brooks Memorial Library building was dedicated.
From its earliest days, the library has benefited from private donations. First, in 1852, A. H. Bull provided a gift whose annual interest of $100 could be used to purchase books. This was followed by gifts from the Davenport, Phelps and Hildreth families.
Thus was the library's private endowment fund created.
In 1912, the West Brattleboro family of Charles and Henrietta (Prouty) Loud provided a bequest that added to the original building and began the tradition of bestowing art, books, memorabilia, and other items to what has become a significant art collection.
Since 1982, there have been 11 other bequests by local families with names that many may recognize: Durant, Freeze, Kristensen, Lever, McGrew, Pierce, Roberts, Rounds, Schorling, Stebbins, and Wojtowitz.
“Clearly there is a legacy of giving to support this great institution,” said Friends of the Library President Mary Ide. “Although we're called The Friends, it appears that the idea and reality of a library in Brattleboro has had many friends for many years. Ronald Read joins that illustrious and most generous group.”