Page 21 - North Haven Magazine Issue 14 Summer 2020

The North Haven

Memorial Library

A Brief History By Susan A. Iverson

ever underestimate what one person can ac-
Ncomplish.

We can thank a single individual – Silas Bradley
– for planting the seed that was to become our
library as we know it today. Certainly he was not
the only individual to foster our town’s dream of
a free lending library, but he provided the push
needed to set in play a series of efforts resulting
in the excellent library we all benefit from today.
the first library building in North Ha-
In his will Silas Bradley left $1000 to the town for ven was completed in 1938. I believe
the building of a library, with the stipulation that it is the handsomest public building
a library association must be established within in our town – inside and out.
one year. I am sure that as a shrewd and success-
ful businessman Mr. Bradley understood that In 1966 it was determined that the
such sums of money could be “frittered away” town should oversee the functions of
over time if hard deadlines were not established. the library. The library association
The funds were also overseen by an entity inde- would continue to manage endow-
pendent of town hall, protecting it from govern- ments and provide seed money for
mental spending. And so it was that the North special collections. Unfortunately,
Haven Library Association and a building fund the library’s services outgrew the
came into being. The association established its building at 27 Broadway and so a
first library in the home of Dr. Lord at 23 Broad- new library was planned, to be built
way (you may remember the building; it housed in the ball field behind the existing
the Knights of Columbus for many years) before library. Construction began in 1971
relocating to the town hall for over forty years. and the new library located at 17 Elm
The members of the association and many of the townspeople Street was dedicated in 1972. This was the library my children
knew that the library would eventually need its own building, and grew up enjoying – it served us well. But it too, would outgrow its
donations and bequests continued to be made. In fact, when Silas usefulness, and so its stacks were moved back to the Lord House,
Bradley’s widow Jane died, she too left $1000 for the cause, as well where they remained for almost two years while an extensive ren-
as her collection of valuable books. The association was well on its ovation took place. It is somehow touching that such a big “circle”
way to establishing a building fund. was completed when the library’s holdings returned to rest in the
first physical location of our public library system. The renovated
library was reopened in late 2001 and dedicated in January 2002. It
is now a true 21st century library, offering not just reading materi-
al but also online resources, classes, research assistance, and even
entertainment. In 2003 the library association opened a beautiful
reading garden on the south side of the library for all to enjoy, once
more enriching our library experience.
Today the library offers a tremendous lifeline to our residents.
Even though it had to physically close due to the present pandemic,
it has continued to offer as many services as possible online. Books
and other reading matter can still be borrowed, research materials
are still available, and programs can still be attended online. The
library is also cosponsoring a project with the North Haven Histor-
ical Society collecting our personal experiences during this time.
There will be plenty of governmental records, newspaper articles
and medical documentation of the pandemic, but stories of every-
day life are particularly hard to collect. Please log on to the library’s
website and share your experiences, helping to record this slice of
history for future generations. After all, isn’t that what a library
does – allows all of us to share each other’s experiences vicariously
Other civic-minded individuals contributed to the cause. Annie across space and time? We can each, individually, contribute to
Reynolds was keenly interested in a building dedicated solely to the this!
library – she therefore deeded property on Broadway and $2000
to the library association with the understanding that if a better Many thanks to the North Haven Historical Society Archives and
location was found the lot could be sold and the proceeds used for the North Haven Memorial Library website for the information
building. Frank Stiles left two bequests - $10,000 for a building and included in this article.
$10,000 to be held in trust for maintenance of the building. Finally,
a lot, also on Broadway, was donated by Mrs. Delia Linsley Viles
and Mrs. Olivia Linsley Heaton in memory of their parents Alfred
and Polly Linsley. It was on this parcel of land, 27 Broadway, that

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