Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Brown Memorial Library

by Audrey V. Sylvester
President, Friends of the Library

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Saturday, December 18, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. celebrating the opening of the new, expanded Brown Memorial Library, Bradford. For over a year architect Peter Tennant and builder Bruss Construction have met regularly with trustees and librarians to assure that the new building was constructed as intended. Since groundbreaking on April 16, the site has been a hive of activity. Said one library trustee, "Our architect, builder, and crews are fantastic. They worked extremely well together and performed well beyond the call of duty. They put in long hours to give the Town a beautiful and functional library within a tight budget." Maggie Ainslie, Librarian, said, "Since the first money was set aside for a larger library in 1979 ($198 earned at a bake sale), we have been planning and working to make this happen. This is the day we have all been waiting for."

For the first time in its 106 years, the library will be handicapped accessible. There are many visible new features, including a handicap lift, a children's area, a study area for young adults, an adult reading area, computer stations, more room for books and other materials, a handcrafted circulation desk, and accessible bathrooms. Not-so-visible new features include all new wiring, new water and septic systems, emergency lighting, and efficient radiant heat.

The first public library in Bradford was set up in 1893 in a millinery store in a private home on Main Street owned by Almira Hall, the first librarian, and now the home of Francis and Donna Page. The name, Brown Memorial Library, honors James S. Brown, a Manchester painter who married Carrie Hoyt of Bradford and gave $2,000 to the Town towards construction of a library building. After John E. French offered to match town funding, the original building was erected on the site of the old Presby House hotel, and dedicated on October 7, 1932.

Regarding the new expansion, one trustee said, "We are so grateful for the tremendous good will and support from all the people in our town and beyond. Contributions of time, dollars, materials, and expertise by the librarians and staff, our generous public, private and business donors, the Friends, volunteers, public officials and our talented architect and construction crews have made the new expanded library possible. So many people gave more than expected."