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| Drawing from Lenox Library Association |
So what happened to the abandoned Lenox Courthouse in 1868 when the Courthouse and the judges moved to Pittsfield (see yesterday’s entry)? Mrs. Adeline Schermerhorn snapped it up, long distance, to be used as the town’s library, which was a lovely gesture, except that Lenox already had a library with its own building.
The Lenox Library Association began in 1855 under the urging of Mr. John Hotchkin, the longtime Principal of Lenox Academy, a private prep school located on Main Street. Hotchkin combined $300 in private donations and $300 from the town to order books and set up shop in the corner of the Town Hall.
The Lenox Library Association began in 1855 under the urging of Mr. John Hotchkin, the longtime Principal of Lenox Academy, a private prep school located on Main Street. Hotchkin combined $300 in private donations and $300 from the town to order books and set up shop in the corner of the Town Hall.
Within a few years the library created an association and constructed a building. The group tried to gift the building to the town, to be forever used as a library, but the town declined (money was a little tight that year) and the LLA regained ownership. The library kept its door open but as a private institution..
After a year without ‘public books’, the town reconsidered and agreed to a new deal. They agreed to pay $100 a year for 12 years - at the end of the term the library would become town property and again be a free public space.
But after 8 years the town reconsidered and wanted the Association to keep responsibility for the operation of the library. A new, new deal was made. The LLA would continue to pay to support library, using the town’s “dog tax”, and the library would be open to all Lenox taxpayers.
Funnily enough, after working through so many deals and agreements, Mrs. Schermerhorn bought the old Courthouse and decided it should be the town’s library. From what I read in the “Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts, Volumes 1-8, by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners”, from 1891, Mrs. Schermerhorn gave the building to the town of Lenox, seemingly unaware of the existence of the LLA.
After a year without ‘public books’, the town reconsidered and agreed to a new deal. They agreed to pay $100 a year for 12 years - at the end of the term the library would become town property and again be a free public space.
But after 8 years the town reconsidered and wanted the Association to keep responsibility for the operation of the library. A new, new deal was made. The LLA would continue to pay to support library, using the town’s “dog tax”, and the library would be open to all Lenox taxpayers.
Funnily enough, after working through so many deals and agreements, Mrs. Schermerhorn bought the old Courthouse and decided it should be the town’s library. From what I read in the “Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts, Volumes 1-8, by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners”, from 1891, Mrs. Schermerhorn gave the building to the town of Lenox, seemingly unaware of the existence of the LLA.
Although she had fond memories of Lenox, it seems as if she hadn’t been doing a lot a reading on her vacation. Before the transaction was completed Mrs. Schermerhorn died and her son finished up the paperwork so its possible that she was never even aware of original library.
So just when the LLA and the town had finally come to an agreement, they had to start from scratch. The town leased two Courthouse rooms “in perpetuity” to the Library, about half the space, and agreed to pay rent for the other two rooms. Lenox’s two most famous residents, Edith Wharton and Andrew Carnegie contributed as well. Wharton served on the libraries board of managers in 1902 while she was living at her famous residence, The Mount in Lenox.
So just when the LLA and the town had finally come to an agreement, they had to start from scratch. The town leased two Courthouse rooms “in perpetuity” to the Library, about half the space, and agreed to pay rent for the other two rooms. Lenox’s two most famous residents, Edith Wharton and Andrew Carnegie contributed as well. Wharton served on the libraries board of managers in 1902 while she was living at her famous residence, The Mount in Lenox.
And Andrew Carnegie, who was summering in Lenox in 1917 at Shadowbrook, picked up the tab for installing electricity and lights in the library. Lights being one of those new fangled inventions recently incorporated in public buildings.
The library eventually grew into the entire Courthouse space and was exquisitely restored in 2002. But the stories of the library’s roommates over the decades that are worth telling in another entry.
In case you were curious, Lenox Academy, where the library’s founder once presided, was an exclusive prep school that operated in Lenox until 1866. It was saved from demolition in 1947 and now is the home of the Lenox Historical Society.
The library eventually grew into the entire Courthouse space and was exquisitely restored in 2002. But the stories of the library’s roommates over the decades that are worth telling in another entry.
In case you were curious, Lenox Academy, where the library’s founder once presided, was an exclusive prep school that operated in Lenox until 1866. It was saved from demolition in 1947 and now is the home of the Lenox Historical Society.
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