USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
4. The Library shall be kept together, in a convenient Place to be under the Care of such Librarian, as shall be appointed by the Company.
5. Every Proprietor shall have Right to take out of the Library one or two Volumes only at a Time and to keep the same untill the first Tuesday of the next succeeding month save one, and no longer.
6. Every Proprietor shall have Right to return his books to the Librarian. any Time before the time set for the return of books, in the preceeding article and take out other books and shall return the same, at the Time affixed for taking out Books in the preceeding article.
7. Every Book taken out of the Library shall be used only by the Proprietor himself, who shall take it out, or by some of his family, and never shall be lent to any other Person, or conveyed to any other House than his own.
8. Every Person taking out a Book shall be responsible for the same, and pay the full Damages to the Librarian, in case it shall be defaced, abused, lost or distroyed.
9. Every one, who shall not return his Book on or before the first Tuesday of every second Month after the taking the same out, shall pay to the Librarian one shilling ; or who shall lend any book or suffer any Book to be conveyed to any other house than his own. shall not take from the Library any Book for the Term of twelve months-or who shall deform any Book by folding down a Leaf. shall pay one shilling, or who shall drop or leave thereon any Grease or Ink shall pay for each Drop or Spot six Pence or who shall tear out any Leaf shall pay two shillings-or who shall any other way or Means deface or abuse any Book shall pay such other sum as the Damage may be in the Judgment of the Librarian or the Committee.
10. Every Proprietor, who shall have lost hurt.destroyed, defaced abused or neg- lected to return any Book as mentioned in the foregoing articles, shall be incapable of taking out any book from the Library, untill he has paid the Forfiture or For- fitures for the Breach of the same. to the Librarian or excused therefrom by the Major Part of the Company or their Committee.
II. The Librarian shall account with the Committee or the Proprietors for all Monies that may be paid to him in Pursuance of these articles.
12. Every new Member who shall be admitted into the Company, who is not a purchaser of a former Right. shall pay as much Money. as the other Proprietors individually have paid, and subscribe his Name to the above association and articles, and every such Purchaser shall be admitted on signing as aforesaid.
13. The Proprietors shall meet in the South East School House in Amherst untill some other Place be agreed on : on the first Tuesday of June annually at four of the Clock in the afternoon, to choose a Librarian, Clerk and Committee for directing the purchasing Book and other prudential Matters of the Company.
14. Every Proprietor, who shall neglect or refuse to pay as provided in the :second article agreeable to the true Intent and meaning thereof : shall after such Negligence or Refusal be incapable of taking out any Book from the Library 'untill he shall pay as therein expressed.
AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY.
349
15. The Librarian shall attend the service of Delivering out and taking in the Books the first Tuesday of every other Month between the Hours of five and seven in the afternoon, and in Case of necessary absence he may substitute a proper Person in his steed.
16. The Librarian for the Time being shall inspect the Books, when Returned and be the Judge of the Forfitures, which may accrue by the Virtue of the fore- going Articles.
17. The Company do hereby elect and appoint Daniel Cooley Clerk and Librarian and Thomas Hastings, Med Dickinson, John Thayer, Jona Dickinson,. Llijah Hastings,
Committee for purchasing Books and other prudential Matters of the: Company.
Amherst, June 4th, 1793.
Jonathan C. Warner
Judah Clark
Elisha Smith Jun"
Giles Church
Thos Hastings Jun
Joel Moody
Moses Hastings
Jona Dickinson
John Church
Enos Cowls
Wm. Cowls
Justus Williams Jur
David Moody
Timothy Allen
Aaron Russell
William Rice
Jon,a Bridgman
Aaron Merick
Seth Coleman Jr
Elijah Clark
Daniel Cooley
Lemuel Moody Jn
Elijah Hastings
Seth Smith
Medad Dickinson
Benjamin Smith
John Thayer
John Lee
Ebenezer Bliss
Elijah Yale
Judah Dickinson
Thomas Hastings
Josiah Ayres
.
One volume supposed to have belonged to this library is still in existence, in possession of the Amherst College library. It is labeled " Amherst Library, No. 23." This library was contained in a case some six feet high and four or five feet wide, and was kept most of the time at the house of Dea. David Moody in South Amherst.
About the year IS40, small libraries were sustained by many of the school districts in town. They numbered less than 100 volumes each, the latter being duodecimo in size, uniform in binding, and published by Harper &. Bros. of New York. There was a system of exchange practiced, by which these libraries made the rounds of the several districts. A library was instituted about 1840 by the Anti-slavery society at South Amherst.
At a meeting of persons interested in establishing an agricultural library, held in Agricultural hall, Jan. 19, 1858. R. T. Wheelock was chosen chairman and M. N. Spear secretary pro tem. An association was tormed and a constitution adopted. The name selected was the Amherst Agricultural Library association. Its object was to procure and maintain:
4
.350
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
a library of agricultural books, papers and such other works as might te! to the improvement of agriculture. Its president, vice-president a :. secretary were to form, ex-officiis, an executive committee with power : purchase such books as the association might order. Any person mig! become a meniber on payment of $3, and any member who failed to pay an: fines, dues or assessments ordered by the association within 30 days after receipt of a written notice should be debarred from all rights and privilege; of the association. This constitution was signed by So names. Officer, were elected as follows : President, Luke Sweetser ; vice-president, M. F. Dickinson ; secretary, Simeon Clark ; treasurer, A. R. Henderson ; libra- rian, Henry Holland. The by-laws provided that any member might receive from the library any book that should be therein at the time of his applica- tion, and retain the same for three weeks. No person should remove from the library any book or paper without the express permission of the librarian. No member could draw any book until he had paid all sum- due from him to the association. Any member who should mutilate or in any way injure a book. should pay to the librarian such sum as should be assessed by the executive committee, and if the book so lost or injured was one of a set, he should pay the full value of the set and receive the remaining volumes as his property. The fine incurred by retaining a book longer than three weeks was two cents per day. At a meeting of the association held Feb. 15, 1859, it was voted, that an assessment of twenty cents be laid on each shareholder of the association, for the purpose of paying any debts that might be due : voted, to pass over the election of officers ; voted, that the president and secretary be authorized to make arrangements with the librarian for the care of the library. The associa- tion existed but a short time. The library was kept at the store of S. Holland & Son. Two books that belonged to it are now in possession of Mrs. Henry Holland ; their catalog numbers are 148 and 149, and they are the first and second volumes of " Dr. Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Man- ufactures and Mines."
A library association was organized at North Amherst, March 17. 1869. Its first president was Dr. D. B. N. Fish. It was composed of active and associate members ; the former, 45 in number, paid each $5 as an initiation fee and had full control of the library, while the latter, paying $I as an initiation fee, had the same right as the active members in the use of books. Each member was to pay Si per year to sustain the library. The fund first raised for the purchase of books amounted to . $236. Additions to this fund were made from the proceeds of a lecture course and other entertainments. In November, 1873, a meeting of the associa- tion was held to listen to arguments submitted by a committee of citizens from the center village, who desired to found a free public library and
351
LIBRARY AT NORTH AMHERST.
-
wished the North Amherst association to donate its books as the nucleus for such a library. It was voted to defer definite action until the citizens at the center had raised as much money for the library as the citizens at North Amherst had already expended. Dec. 1, 1873, the association voted to make the library free to all responsible citizens for one year, "as an experiment." As a similar vote was passed the next year, it would seem that the experiment was deemed a success. In 1875, the town appropriated Sioo for the support of the library, and in order that it might accept the gift the association secured a charter and made of the library a free public institution. The first report of its managers is incorporated in the town reports for the year ending March 1, 1877. During the year 100 books had been added to the library by purchase and 10 by donation, making the total number 595. The average number of persons drawing books during the year was ISo, the total number of books drawn 2820. The officers of the association were : President, Harrison Ingram ; vice-president, Almon E. Cowles : clerk, treasurer and librarian, F. P. Ainsworth. In 1883, the association received a gift of $500 from Rufus B. Kellogg of Green Bay. Wis., a former resident at North Amherst. The library was first located in the post-office building. In October, 1883, it was removed to an unoc- cupied room in the brick school-house. During the same year the books were renumbered and a new catalog was issued. The library was open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and books were delivered by the card system. The burning of the grammar school-house in 1891 rendered it necessary that a new home for the library should be provided. In this emergency Mrs. Ellen E. Fisher proposed to subscribe $500 to a building fund, if the town would appropriate a like amount. The town was prompt to act on this suggestion, and at its annual meeting in 1892 appropriated the sum requested. From the unexpended balance of the Kellogg fund a building site was purchased at a cost of $150, a little to the northwest of the Congregational church building. Mrs. Fisher increased her original subscription to the building fund to $700 : W. D. Cowls contributed $150 and others smaller amounts. A furnace to heat the building was donated by Mrs. Fisher and William W. Hunt. The entire cost of the land, building and furniture was about $2,500. The new building, a neat and ornamental structure, was dedicated Sept. 20, 1893. At that time the association was in debt to the amount of about $Soo.
About the year 1870, the young people at East Amherst gave a fair and entertainment at Hampshire park, under the management of Charles O. Parmenter. The proceeds, a considerable sum, were entrusted to Herbert B. Adams, who visited New York and invested the money in a number of second-hand but standard books, which he purchased at low rates : they included works of history, biography and fiction. The number
-
&
.
352
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
of volumes was about 300, the average price paid about 25 cents. This library, which filled a large case, was kept in the office of the grocery-store: at East Amherst. It was placed in charge of the store-keeper, and th .. books were freely circulated in the neighborhood. When the free public library was established at the center, the custodians of the library at East Amherst -were persuaded to allow its incorporation in the larger town. collection. A collection of several hundred volumes has recently been established at East Amherst, which, under the name of the " East Amhers: Library," is kept in the ladies' parlor adjoining the vestry of the Second Congregational church.
In the latter part of March, 1873, a movement for a free public library at Amherst center was inaugurated by the Amherst Book club. Committees were appointed representing the different parts of the town, to take such measures as they deemed expedient to awaken public interest in the project. A meeting of these committees was held Sept. 12, 1873. Rev. W. D. Herrick served as chairman of the meeting and H. M. McCloud as secre- tary. It was decided to hold a fair in the month of October to procure funds, and also to appoint a committee to solicit subscriptions. The proposition was made and adopted to hold public meetings in the different parts of the town that greater interest might be aroused. The only argu- ment offered in opposition to the establishment of a public library was the fact that Amherst College supported an excellent library, and that citizens of the town, by paying $3 a year and securing permission from the proper authorities, could avail themselves of its privileges. To this the promoters of a public library replied that only a limited number of persons either had or would draw books from the college library, and that the books contained therein, while well suited to their specific purpose, did not meet the demands of the general reading public. The fair was held Oct. 29 and 30 ; it was generously patronized, the net receipts being nearly $600. At a meeting held Nov. 14, a committee of five was selected, to appoint sub-committees in all parts of the town to circulate papers to be signed by persons who should agree to become members of a library association. The following were chosen members of this committee: Dr. H. J. Cate, Rev. H. F. Allen, Rev. C. A. Conant, Asa Adams, Dea. Samuel Smith. The member- ship fee was placed at $5. At a meeting held Nov. 24, a committee was appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws. A regular organization was formed at a meeting held Dec. 15. The constitution and by-laws reported by the committee were adopted. Officers were elected as follows : President, E. A. Thomas : vice-president, Levi Stockbridge : secretary. (). G. Couch ; treasurer, J. A. Rawson ; auditors, S. C. Carter, J. L. Lovell ; board of managers, Rev. H. F. Allen, Rev. J. L. Jenkins, Rev. W. D. Herrick, Rev. T. S. Potwin, Prof. W. S. Tyler, Dr. H. J. Cate, Dr. P. E.
-
353
THE CENTER LIBRARY.
Irish, O. G. Couch, H. D. Fearing, Dr. D. B. N. Fish. The name adopted was the " Amherst Library Association." Any person might become a · member by paying $5, either in money or its equivalent in books. The annual dues were placed at $1. It is the general testimony of those now living who were active in promoting this organization that its success, its very existence in fact, were due in large measure to the personal efforts of Dr. H. J. Cate.
The library was first opened to the public Feb. 25, 1874. It was located in the second story of the Adams block, adjoining the post-office block. The first report of the association was incorporated in the town reports for the year ending March 1, 1875. The treasurer's report showed the following receipts : Cash from fair, $598.78 ; from membership dona- tions, $419 ; from the town, $200 ; from catalogs, dues, fines, etc., $83.63. The principal items of expenditure were : Books, $612.42 ; book-binding, printing and stationery, $171.30 ; magazines and newspapers, $79.85 ; furniture and fixtures, $218.24 : rent and care of rooms, $156.46. During the year 886 books had been purchased, 327 donated, and 204 received from the library at East Amherst. The report covered a period of eleven months ; during that time 780 persons had received cards and had taken out 14,619 books. Connected with the library was a comfortable reading- room. The librarian was Miss M. D. Beaman. During the following year 190 books were added to the library, 129 by purchase and 61 by donation. The number of new cards issued was 215, making 995 in all, on which 12.219 books had been delivered. In addition to its regular sources of income the library received during the year $250 as the proceeds of a " May breakfast." In January, 1879, the books in the library were slightly damaged by a fire in the post-office block. During the same year the reading-room which had been connected with the library was given up, and the papers and periodicals were presented to the Reform club. In July, 1879, the library quarters were burned out, but nearly all the books were saved. The library found a temporary home in W. W. Hunt's wooden block, where it remained until Williams' block was erected, when it found new and commodious quarters in the second story of that building. The expenses caused by the fire, including re-binding and re-covering books. new fixtures and appliances, were very heavy, but a part was provided for by $300 secured as the proceeds. of a performance of the comic opera " Pinafore," by local talent.
During the year 1884, the library quarters were enlarged, and it was found possible to utilize the book-cases and shelves that had been presented to the association by the literary societies of Amherst College. During the year 1889, the association received two legacies, one of $250 by the
23
L
.
-
354
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
will of Miss Esther Cutler, and one of $1,000 bequeathed by Samuel C. Carter. The provisions of the Carter bequest were that only the income of the fund should be expended annually for the purchase of books of travel. history or biography. The wearing out of books from constant use had become a source of heavy expense, which had to be met by special effort- to raise funds. During the year 1890, the library was moved into its new. and commodious quarters in the town hall building. In 1891, the library received $275 as its share of the proceeds of the Union lecture course, and $185 from the fees of new members secured through the personal exertions of Prof. John M. Tyler.
In the fall of 1891, a number of public-spirited citizens organized. with the purpose of providing for the citizens of the town a " Union Lecture Course," a series of entertainments to be given in the town hall at popular prices, the net proceeds, if any. to go towards the support of the public libraries. The course was very generally patronized by citizens, and at the end of the season the management was enabled to pay $345 into the library fund, the sum being divided between the libraries at the center and North Amherst in about the same proportion as the annual appropriation by the town. The Union course proved so popular it was decided to give another series of entertainments the succeeding year, and the custom thus established has been continued down to the present time, but the increas- ing expense of entertainments and a falling off in public patronage has considerably lessened the sums realized for library support.
During the year books were purchased at an expense of $819.18. In 1892, the card catalog system was introduced, and arrangements were made for the delivery of books to the patrons of the library at South Amherst. In 1894, the " two card " system was adopted. by which a person could draw from the library two books at one time, provided one is not .a work of fiction. The report of the year ending Feb. 15, 1895. shows a total of 6,607 books in the library, while 18,476 were drawn out during the year. Sketches of the libraries at Amherst College and the Agricultu- ral College are given in chapters relating to these institutions. The work of the public libraries has been ably supplemented by many book and mag- azine clubs conducted by private enterprise.
AMHERST LYCEUMS.
.
During a period extending from 1835 to 1850, the lyceum or debating school flourished in New England. Few towns were so small but they could boast their lyceums, and many an orator and statesman destined in after years to hold vast audiences spellbound by his eloquence gained his first lessons in public speaking at the village debating society. Amherst supported, from time to time, many organizations of this character ; the
-
355
NORTH AMHERST LYCEUM.
records of some of these are yet in existence, and as they resembled each other closely in plan and work it seems hardly necessary to give any detailed statement of the doings of each one. From the following para- graphs a good general idea may be gained of the character of the lyceums that existed in Amherst and the work which they accomplished.
The " Lyceum of North Amherst " was organized in December, 1837, with 49 members. The preamble to the constitution reads as follows : " Wishing to promote our own mutual improvement, and avail ourselves the most efficiently of mutual aid in the acquisition of knowledge and cultivation of our minds, we associate and subscribe to the following constitution and rules." Any person might become a member by subscrib- ing to the constitution and paying ten cents into the treasury. The meet- ings were held weekly, from the first Monday in December to the first Monday in April. The exercises included debates, literary and scientific lectures and other features. No " sectarian controversies in religion." or " party controversies in politics," or offensive personalities were allowed. Although the date of organization is given as 1837, the date of the first meeting as inscribed in the book of records is Feb. 1, 1847. The officers elected at that meeting were as follows : President, Charles Cooley ; vice-president, Charles K. Smith ; secretary, Albert W. Ball; treasurer, Ansel W. Kellogg. The lyceum was sustained through the season, but at a meeting held Jan. 24, 1848, it was voted inexpedient to continue the lyceum any longer that season, to sell the record book at auction, and to adjourn without date. Jan. 31, 1848, a new lyceum was formed on the basis of the old constitution, with 14 members. Its officers were : Presi- dent, A. C. Marshall ; vice-president, J. Cowles ; secretary, F. H. Ingram ; treasurer, A. W. Ball. There are no records of meetings between Jan. 2, 1849 and Dec. 12, 1851. On the latter date a temporary organization was effected, the following being chosen as officers : President, Charles Smith ; vice-president, C. H. Kellogg; secretary. A. W. Ball ; treasurer, Baxter Eastman. During that winter ladies took part in the exercises at the meetings, reading compositions and poetical selections. No meetings were held between Feb. 14, 1853 and Dec. 6, 1858. On the latter date the organization was revived, and the old constitution and by-laws, with some minor amendments, adopted. The officers elected were : President, Charles Smith ; vice-president, Ransom Cowles ; secretary, M. F. Dickin- son, Jr .: treasurer, Horace Cutler. The roll of membership contained 32 names. The organization was continued through the season and then, like its predecessors, passed from existence. At a meeting held Feb. 5. 1875. a new organization was formed. The officers elected were : Presi- dent, Rev. G. F. Humphreys ; vice-president, H. Ufford ; secretary, Jennie E. Holmes : treasurer W. M. Dickinson. At a meeting held Feb. 12, a
*
1
£
356
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
new constiution was adopted being signed by 57 names. The last recorded meeting was held Feb. 14, 1876.
A meeting was held Sept. 20, 1839, at the " hall of the school-house " in South Amherst, for the purpose of forming a society for mutual improve- ment. A constitution was presented and adopted. Its preamble reads as follows : "We the undersigned, in order to cultivate and improve our intellectual and moral faculties and regarding an association of individuals as a pleasant and well adapted means to secure this object, inasmuch as it tends not only to strengthen and discipline the mind, but also to elicit thought, diffuse information, and elevate the understanding, and thus to increase the happiness and promote the well-being of the community. do agree upon and associate under the following constitution." The name selected was the " South Amherst Lyceum." The object was, to promote by various literary and rhetorical exercises the mutual improvement of its members. Meetings were to be held once each week. Any person might become a member by signing the constitution. Any funds required to meet expenses were to be raised by subscription. The by-laws provided that the ordinary exercises should consist of debates and the reading of compositions. No question of a purely religious nature should be debated. Four male members should be appointed to take part in each debate, two to speak on the affirmative and two on the negative side of the question. These should begin the discusssion, speaking in order, and when they had finished, the question was to be thrown open to debate by other members. No speaker was to occupy more than ten minutes. No offensive person- alities should be allowed. The president might decide the question in debate according to the merits of the argument on either side, or refer the same to the society to be decided by their vote. The constitution was signed by 43 names. The officers elected were : President, N. S. Dickin- inson ; vice-president, J. G. Bridgman ; secretary, Thomas Reed. The minutes of succeeding meetings show that matters of weighty import were debated and that during the first season a good degree of interest was maintained. The following curious vote is recorded under date of Oct. 22, 1839 : " Voted, That the Ladies be allowed an opportunity to get home. That the gentleman spectators be politely invited either to pass quietly out and thus give them this privilege or to remain in their seats until the ladies can do so." Feb. 28, 1840, the meeting adjourned sine die. A new organ- ization was formed Nov. 13, 1840. Its object was mutual discussion and improvement. It adopted, with some amendments, the constitution and by-laws of the old society, the principal change being a provision that the necessary funds be raised by a tax upon the male members of the society. The officers chosen were : President, E. S. Bridgman : vice-president, J. F. Merrick ; secretary, J. G. Adams. The last meeting of this society of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.