In 1883 Silas L. Bradley of Albany, NY left a bequest of $1,000 to his "native town of North Haven" to be used to establish a library. The sum was to be available if an association could be formed within one year. A town meeting was held on September 5th to act upon the provisions of the bequest. At that meeting seven residents were chosen to become the incorporators of the library. In 1884 a charter was granted to the Bradley Library Association.

The newly organized library was located on Broadway in the home of Dr. Austin Lord. It opened on October 2, 1884. Its first librarian was Miss Alice Lord, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke. The library remained in the Lord home until 1887.