Library Hours
| Monday |
10am-7:30pm |
| Tues. - Fri.* |
10am-5pm |
|
*1st Wed. each month 12pm-5pm* |
| Saturday |
10am-1pm |
| Closed Sundays and Holidays |
Weather
is always a factor in Vermont. There will be times that the library is
closed due to inclement weather.
Holidays Observed
|
New Year's Day
|
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Martin Luther King Day
|
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Presidents Day
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Memorial Day
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July 4th
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Labor Day
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Columbus Day
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Veterans Day
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Thanksgiving and day after
|
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Christmas Day
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When a holiday falls on a Friday or a
Monday, the library will be closed for a long weekend.
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History
In 1894, Allen M. Fletcher,
the youngest son of Stoughton Fletcher, purchased the property
that would become the future site of the Fletcher Memorial
Library. Mr. Fletcher announced the plans to build a library as a
memorial to his father,
Stoughton
, on July 7, 1899. S. F. Page of
Boston
was commissioned to draw up the architectural plans and J. H.
Rogers of Middlebury was named General Contractor. The actual
construction of the library began on September 14, 1899.
The Library, scheduled to
open in October of 1900, purchased 6,000 books from G. P. Putnam
of
New York
in July of that year. However, the opening was delayed until
November 1, 1901 due to the replacement of marble that did not
meet the specifications.
The building has long been
recognized as an architectural gem, "the style being that of
later English Renaissance". The main Library entrance is a
free adaptation of the
Winchester
School
in
Winchester
,
England
. The exterior is red brick, trimmed with
accents of
Bedford
limestone on a base of
Medford
granite. Italian marble,
Vermont
marble and
Caen
stone, (quarried only in
France
) all complemented by gracefully paneled Michigan Oak appoint the
interior.
A
Children's Wing was added to the Library in 1964 to serve the
growing needs of that age group and support school needs. The
addition was funded through the generosity of Fanny Fletcher,
Allen's sister.
In
2004 our Renovation Project was completed.
Improvements included a new rear entrance with ramp and an interior
lift. Renovated space includes a Community Room, a Historical
Room, and a Kitchen. The Renovation Project was in celebration of
our first century of service to our community. As quoted by
Governor Stickney on the occasion of the library's dedication,
"Fletcher Memorial Library is truly a jewel within
our community".
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