Fletcher Free Library - Burlington, Vermont
Posted by: 
Vermontish
N 44° 28.627 W 073° 12.630
18T E 642317 N 4926424
Includes one of four Carnegie Libraries in Vermont
Waymark Code: WM4ZGV
Location: Vermont, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2008
Views: 17
In 1873, Mrs. Mary L. Fletcher, with her daughter, Miss Mary M. Fletcher, gave the city of Burlington $20,000 for the establishment of the Fletcher Free Library. Half of the money was to be spent on books; the other half was used to start an endowment for the library.
By 1901 the library had outgrown its location in the old City Hall building. That same year, Andrew Carnegie made a gift of $50,000 for the construction of a new library, which was dedicated and opened for business August 17, 1904.
For almost 70 years the Carnegie building served the community well, but by the early 1970s the building had sustained structural damage due to settling of the northwest corner, where poor quality material had been used to fill a former railroad ravine. The collection was moved to temporary quarters in City Hall, then to the basement of Memorial Auditorium.
There was some pressure to demolish the Carnegie building and rebuild on the site. A Committee to Save the Fletcher Free Library Building was formed, a petition was circulated, and as a result, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1977, an E.D.A. grant of $234,000 made possible the stabilization and external repair of the building. A Library Task Force was appointed to seek further funding for restoration and an addition to the Carnegie building.
The efforts succeeded, and the old Carnegie Building remains an integral part of a very active library.
Classification of Library: Public Library (Open to all)
Internet access available: Yes - Library Terminal: Register with Library Clerk to use
Hours of Operation:
Mon 0830 — 1800
Tue 0830 — 1800
Wed 0830 — 1800
Thu 0830 — 1800
Fri 0830 — 1800
Sat 0900 — 1730
Sun 1200 — 1800
Library Website: [Web Link]
Additional Internet Connection Options: Not listed
Approximate date of opening.: Not listed
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