GENWEB\HAMPDEN\h-library

History of the Holyoke Public Library
Notice: The following article was included in A
History of Hampden County Massachusetts, edited by Alfred Minot Copeland,
and published by The Century Memorial Publishing Company, 1902. This
work now resides in the Public Domain, and may be used for personal, non-profit
and non-commercial purposes only. The file may be downloaded.
Ellen Pack
HOLYOKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
During the summer and
fall of 1869, a number of leading citizens of Holyoke discussed the subject
of organizing an association for the establishment and maintenance of a
public library in the city, and as the natural outgrowth of the sentiment
expressed on every hand, a public meeting was held January 12, 1870, in
the hall of No. 1 engine house. Judge BUCKLAND was elected chairman
and Henry A. CHASE secretary of the meeting, and after an earnest presentation
of the needs of the city in regard to the library project, it was voted
to "establish a public library in Holyoke," and also it was voted to appoint
a committee of eleven persons to prepare and report a constitution and
by-laws for the government of the association. The committee charged with
this work comprised
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Rev. J. L. R. TRASK
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Moses NEWTON
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Henry A. CHASE
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George W. PRENTISS
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William WHITING
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J. WEBBER
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Charles H. LYMAN
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Oscar ELY
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E. P. JACKSON
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Joseph BUCKLAND
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William B. C. PEARSONS
At the same time a committee of ten persons was appointed to solicit funds
with which to carry into effect the objects of the association. This
committee comprised
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Rev. J. L. R. TRASK
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J. S. WEBBER
-
Moses NEWTON
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Timothy MERRICK
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Judge BUCKLAND
-
Oscar ELY
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George H. CLARK
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Charles B. PRESCOTT
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William S. LOOMIS
-
Chalmers CHAPIN
At a meeting held January 18, it was voted to
adopt the name of "Holyoke Public Library," and also to petition the general
court for an act of incorporation. On January 24 a proposition was
received from the Parsons Paper Company in which the company offered to
furnish land and erect a library building, of the value of $20,000, provided
a like sum be raised by subscription for the final purchase of books and
fixtures. Upon the receipt of this offer a special committee (William
WHITING, Judge BUCKLAND, and Henry A. CHASE) was appointed to canvass the
town for subscriptions to the fund, but at the end of the month the committee
reported that pledges to the total amount of $11,000 had been secured,
and that it was doubtful if more than $2,000 additional could be raised.
Then a conference with the Parsons Paper Company was held, but without
material results, upon which the former finance committee was instructed
to resume its canvass on the original basis.
On April 22, 1870, an act of the legislature
incorporated the Holyoke Public Library, for the "formation and maintenance
of a public library and museum," and authorized the association to hold
real and personal estate to the amount of $100,000. The act also
provided that the management and control of the property be vested in a
board of directors, not less than five in number, to be elected by the
corporation; and that "so long as said corporation shall allow the
inhabitants of the town of Holyoke free access to it's library at all reasonable
hours, said town may appropriate and pay annually for the expense of maintenance
a sum not exceeding one dollar for each of its ratable polls." (This
provision subsequently was modified.)
The first meeting after the act was approved,
was held in May, 1870, at which time these officers were elected:
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President - William WHITING
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Vice-Presidents - John E. CASE, Edwin CHASE, George C. EWING
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Treasure and clerk of the corporation - Henry A. CHASE
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Directors - William B. C. PEARSONS, J. S. WEBBER, J. S. McELWAIN, William
GROVER, and William S. LOOMIS
The organization of the association having been
completed, and the finance committee, previously mentioned, having secured
a considerable sum of money in addition to the $1,000 appropriated by the
town, the library began its career with every assurance of future prosperity,
occupying upper rooms in the school building on Appleton Street for several
years. in the interior arrangement of the city hall certain apartments
were designed to library occupancy, and at the annual meeting in 1875 it
was voted to remove the books and fixtures to the new location, although
some times passed before the removal was actually accomplished.
During the first few years of its history,
the library was maintained by the annual contributions of the members,
the receipts from honary and life memberships, and the somewhat meagre
appropriatins by the town. At first the appropriations were $1,000 annually,
but after a tme the amount dropped to $500. In 1883 the amount was
increased to $1,000, and about that time it was suggested that the library
be made absolutely free. This was done in 1886, and for the next
year the city voted $2,000 for maintenance. Later on the amount was
gradually increased, first to $2,500, then to $2,750, and eventually (1893)
to $3,000, which sum has been appropriated annually. For the year
of 1902 the appropriation was $6,000. In 1888 the mayor and the president
of the common council were made ex-officio members of the board
of directors, and thus the library became a quasi municipal institution.
Soon after 1895 the friends of the library
began to discuss the project of an independent building, and on frequent
occasions the directors did effective work in that direction. The
subject, however, was one of discussion only until the spring of 1899,
when the Holyoke Water Power company gave to the associaton the entire
square bounded by Maple, Chestnut, Cabel, and
Exxes streets for the purpose of having erected thereon a library building
- a structure suited to the requirements of the constantly growing city.
In the same year the associaton voted to apply to the general court for
permission to hold real estate to the amount of $500,000 insted of $100,000
as prescribed in the original act of incorporation. This was accomplished
and in the same year the number of directors was increased to thirteen
members. By diligent effort the directors secured pledges to the
amount of $75,000 for a building fund, and this was afterward increased
by further contributions. The building committee under wose immediate
and constant supervision the work of construction was done comprised
-
William WHITING
-
James H. NEWTON
-
Joseph A. SKINNER
-
Charles W. RIDER
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N. H. WITTON
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J. S. WEBBER
-
Joseph METCALF
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E. P. BRAGG
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J. S. McELWAIN
-
James A. CLOUGH, architect
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F. H. DIBBLE, contractor
The library building is one of the most complete
and ornamental structures in the city, and all persons who were identifed
with its constructon, in whatever capacity, are entitled to the lasting
gratitude of the people. A large share of the credit for the splendid
work accomplished is due to the board of directors, who from first to last
labored earnestly in its behalf. Indeed, from the tme te institution
ws founded, more than 30 years ago, the directors in office had been its
most faithful friends and earnest advocates. They have been chosen
from amoung the best businesses and professional men of the city, and have
given unselfishly both of their tgime and means for the public good.
The library building is of light pressed brick
with Indiana sandstone trimmings. Its entire cost was nerly $100,000.
In 1902, the catalogue showed more than 20,000 volumes of books on the
shelves. The building was finished and ready for occupancy February
1, 1902.
The officers and directors of the associaton
from 1870 to 1902 were:
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PRESIDENTS
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VICE-PRESIDENTS
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1870-71
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John E. CHASE
-
Edwin CHASE
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George C. EWING, 1870-71
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1872
-
Edwin CHASE
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James H. NEWTON
-
William B. C. PEARSONS
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1873-1877
-
Edwin CHASE
-
William B. C. PEARSONS
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Anderson ALLYN
-
1878-1882
-
William B. C. PEARSONS
-
Rev. J. L. R. TRASK
-
Edwin CHASE
-
1883-1892
-
William B. C. PEARSONS
-
Edward W. CHAPIN
-
William S. LOOMIS
-
1893-1902
-
Edward W. CHAPIN
-
William S. LOOMIS
-
J. S. McELWAIN
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TREASURERS
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SECRETARIES
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DIRECTORS
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1870-1871
-
William B. C. PEARSONS
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J. S. WEBBER
-
J. S. McELWAIN
-
William GROVER
-
William S. LOOMIS
-
1872
-
William GROVER
-
Joseph P. BUCKLAND
-
J. S. McELWAIN
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J. S. WEBBER
-
William S. LOOMIS
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1873-1879
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William GROVER
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Joseph P. BUCKLAND
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James H. NEWSTON
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J. S. McELWAIN
-
William S. LOOMIS
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1880-1882
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William S. LOOMIS
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J. S. McELWAIN
-
James H. NEWTON
-
William GROVER
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Edwad W. CHAPIN
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1883-1884
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J. S. McELWAIN
-
William GROVER
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James H. NEWTON
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A. L. SHUMWAY
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H. L. SHERMAN
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1885
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J. S. McELWAIN
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James H. NEWTON
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H. L. SHERMAN
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E. C. TAFT
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James E. DELANEY
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1886-1892
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J. S. McELWAI
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James H. NEWTON
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E. C. TAFT
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H. L. SHERMAN
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Oscar ELY
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1893-1897
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H. L. SHERMAN
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E. C. TAFT
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J. H. NEWTON
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Oscar ELY
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William H. HEYWOOD
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1898
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H. L. SHERMAN
-
James H. NEWTON
-
Oscar ELY
-
William H. HEYWOOD
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THomas W. MANN
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1899
-
James H. NEWTON
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Oscar ELY
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William H. HEYWOOD
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J. S. WEBBER
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E. P. BAGG
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N. H. WHITTEN
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C. A. CORSER
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H. B. LAWRENCE
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J. A. SULIVAN
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Joseph METCALF
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William SKINNER
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C. W. RIDER
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James RAMAGE
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1900
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James H. NEWTON
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William H. HEYWOOD
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E. P. BAGG
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C. A. CORSER
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J. A. SULLIVAN
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Willaim SKINNER
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J. S. WEBBER
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N. H. WHITTEN
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H. B. LAWRENCE
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Joseph METCALF
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C. W. RIDER
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James RAMAGE
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A. W. ESLEECK
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1901-1902
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E. P. BAGG
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WILLIAM H. HEYWOOD
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C. A. CORSER
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J. A. SULLIVAN
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J. S. WEBBER
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N. H. WHITTEN
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H. B. LAWRENCE
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Joseph METCALF
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C. W. RIDER
-
James RAMAGE
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A. W. ESLEECK
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George W. PRENTISS
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LIBRARIANS
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1870-Aug 6, 1900
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Aug 6, 1900 to at least 1902
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Ellen Pack / Indianapolis, IN
epack@indy.net