Ivoryton Library Association

106 Main Street
Ivoryton CT 06442

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Description:
"The library [was] formed with small beginnings...with an earnest desire to supply a lack of reading matter in out midst, and to promote moral and menial culture." (The New Era 1939)

Before there was a building, there was a library. It all began in l871 when fifteen Ivoryton residents each placed one book on a shelf in the Boarding House (later the Ivoryton Inn). One hundred and twenty-five years ago it was called the Centerbrook Circulating Library. After one year the library was moved to the home of Mrs. Sarah L. Cheney were it stayed for l8 years. Mrs. Cheney acted as librarian. Besides caring for her family, Mrs. Cheney gave piano lessons to the children and adults of Ivoryton.

A l939 article in The New Era reads: "The library, formed with small beginnings, was formed with an earnest desire to supply a lack of reading matter in our midst, and to promote moral and menial culture."

The village of Ivoryton was named April 21, l880 and the Ivoryton Library Association was organized in l888. It's first president was Harriet Comstock who donated the land on which the building was erected.

Harriet S.Comstock's term of office was from l889 until her death two years later in l891. The secretary at this time was Mrs. Sarah L. Cheney, who, in recording the president's death, wrote: "The existence and success of this institution was largely due to her earnest efforts." Her sister, Elizabeth A. Northrop, followed her in office as the next president.

As a memorial to her, Mrs. Northrop gave a set of Century dictionaries and later a gift of $1000, the interest from which was to be used towards insurance, repairs on the building, and free books.

Later the library was opened three evenings a week for the exchange of books, and during the summer of l890 only on Wednesday evening. The trustees had charge, taking turns in alphabetical order, and the rules were: "Any trustee who fails to act or provide a substitute will be fined $l.00."