The Libraries of Sullivan County Part 3
The Libraries of Sullivan County Part 3
Libraries are not just repositories for books; they are treasures of history, culture, and community spirit. In the third installment of this blog series, The Libraries of Sullivan County (Make sure to read Parts One and Two), we will explore three remarkable institutions: the George H. Stowell Free Library in Cornish, the Shedd Free Library in Washington, and the Miner Memorial Library in Lempster. Each of these libraries in Sullivan County carries a legacy of generosity, education, and architectural charm, reflecting the dedication of individuals who believed in the transformative power of knowledge.
Mary Ferland
George H Stowell Free Library – Cornish
Address: 24 School Street
Phone: 603-543-3644
Hours: Mon 4pm – 6pm
Tues & Weds 3pm – 6pm
Thurs 10am – 1pm
Sat 9am – 1pm
George Stowell was born in Cornish in 1835. When he was twenty five, he came to Claremont to work in the gravestone and marble manufacturing business. Four years later, at age twenty nine, he bought hardware stock from Levi Brown and by adding the sale of iron and coal, his business expanded and flourished. He began buying real estate in downtown Claremont and built several first-class tenement houses. He also became part owner of the Union Block on Pleasant Street.
In his mid-thirties, he became active in town affairs and at age forty nine he represented New Hampshire as a delegate to the Republican National Convention to nominate candidates for president and vice-president in 1884.
In 1909, he made it known to Cornish town officials that he wanted to erect a library building in Cornish Flat to be named “Stowell Free Public Library.” He proposed to spend a total of six thousand dollars for a building and the furniture. The town voted in March of 1910 to accept the legacy and the library’s construction was nearly completed by the end of that year.
Fun Fact: The building took only nine months to build.
George H Stowell Free Library in Cornish. Image Credit: Mary Ferland.
The Shedd Free Library – Washington
Address: 46 North Main Street
Phone: 603-495-3661
Hours: Tues 10am – 5pm
Thurs 10am – 4pm
Sat 10am – 1pm
Sarah Shedd was born in 1813 to a well-to-do family that allowed Sarah the opportunity to attend Mount Holyoke Seminary in Massachusetts. At the age of fifteen, Sarah’s education ended after the sudden death of her father. Sarah sacrificed her own education so that her younger brother could attend college to become a minister. She left school to work in the mills in Lowell and Salem MA and one in Biddeford, Maine. While in Lowell, Sarah used her education to write articles for the Lowell Offering, a publication written and edited entirely by the “mill girls.” After her brother completed his studies, Sarah returned to Washington where she taught school for the rest of her life.
She never married and when she died in 1857, at age fifty three, she left her life savings of $2,500.00 to establish a free public library in Washington. The town voted to accept the request and named the library in her honor. Indeed the library was housed in the unused rooms of several buildings for many years. As a result, the library we see today was built in 1881 with funds from Lumen Jefts, who grew up in Washington and made his fortune in the shoe manufacturing industry in Massachusetts.
Fun Fact: The library is in the high Victorian style; the only building like it in Washington which is known for its beautiful colonial architecture.
Shedd Free Library in Washington. Image Credit: Mary Ferland.
The Miner Memorial Library – Lempster
Address: 3 Second New Hampshire Turnpike
Phone: 603-863-0051
Hours: Mon 2pm – 6pm
Thurs 2pm – 6pm
Sun 9am – 1pm
The current library building was originally a church called The First Universalist Chapel built in 1845. The congregation dedicated the building to the memory of Alonzo Ames Miner, born in Lempster in 1814. He was a Universalist minister who later became president of Tufts College (now Tufts University) and was also an overseer of Harvard College.
Over time, the congregation dwindled to the point where they only met during the summer. In 1964, the trustees gave the building to the town to house the library.
Fun Fact: The building is in the vernacular style; meaning a modest style using local materials and usually done without a professional architect.
Miner Memorial Library in Lempster. Image Credit: Mary Ferland.
All in all, the libraries of Sullivan County are more than places to borrow books. They are living monuments to the aspirations and commitments of the people who built and sustained them. After all, each library tells a story of resilience, generosity, and the enduring value of community. As we celebrate these institutions, we also honor the legacy of those who dedicated their resources and vision to ensuring access to knowledge for future generations. Be sure to stop by your local library and explore all the amazing resources!