Burning Book Passion: Library milestone ignites wisdom pursuit
Updated: 11 hours ago
• Simsbury Library Celebrates Storybook Anniversary
This article first appeared as the cover story in the December edition of Today Magazine, our monthly publication
By Bruce William Deckert — Today Magazine • Editor-in-Chief
Library history in Connecticut hearkens back multiple generations, naturally. How far back depends on the municipality — in Simsbury’s case: a century and a half. Yes, the Simsbury Public Library has been observing its 150th anniversary this year.
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Mathematically speaking, the Simsbury Library is celebrating one golden jubilee (a 50-year anniversary) times three — 150 years marked by an interwoven trio of noble goals shared by libraries worldwide: exciting a lifelong love of learning, inspiring a yearning for knowledge, and igniting a passion for education and erudition.
The Simsbury Free Library was established in 1874 in the Hop Meadow District School — the term “Free” differentiated the new institution from the paid-subscription libraries that were fashionable in those days. The seed of the library started germinating two years earlier when Simsbury’s Social and Literary Club began advocating the advent of a public library in town.
By the way, the following popular books were published in 1874, according to GoodReads.com: “The Complete Fairy Tales” by Hans Christian Andersen, “Far From the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy and “The Mysterious Island: Captain Nemo # 3 by Jules Verne.
Storybook Generosity
In 1890 a brand-new building on Hopmeadow Street was christened as the library’s home. Designed by Hartford architect Melvin H. Hapgood, the artful edifice was generously funded by Simsbury natives Amos R. Eno and Lucy Jane Phelps Eno — the couple’s multimillion-dollar fortune was connected to real-estate investing in New York City.
The structure “is a remarkable example of the Colonial Revival architectural style that was popular in New England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” according to the Free Library website.
This library served Simsbury until April 1986, when a newly constructed building was dedicated as the Simsbury Public Library, operated and funded by the town, according to the Free Library website and the Simsbury Historical Society.
The Simsbury Free Library continued in its building as a private nonprofit institution.
In 1988, the Simsbury Genealogical and Historical Research Library debuted as a key component of the Free Library, offering services to citizens not only in Simsbury but also across the state and nation. In 1991, the Free Library building attained the honor of being listed on Connecticut’s State Register of Historic Places.
SEO Keyword – Library Milestone Ignites Erudition Passion
SEO Keyword – Library Milestone Ignites Erudition Passion
In 2008 the Public Library unveiled a major renovation and expansion, and in 2019 another multi-use program space (the Tariffville Room) was added.
Today, the Free Library retains its identity as a vital research resource, not a circulating library, so the public cannot borrow books from the Simsbury Free Library — for this customary book-borrowing practice, the Public Library is the place to go.
The Simsbury Public Library serves over 1000 residents daily, per its website, and houses nearly 97,000 volumes. Yet checking out books is only the most conventional aspect of this essential institution.
If you view your local library as strictly a book repository, you are encouraged to take a second look — to revisit and reprise your vision — because libraries today offer an amazing array of events that are seemingly as countless as the stars in a clear sky on Christmas Eve.
Adventure Abounds
Indeed, a glance at the Simsbury Library calendar reveals an astonishing collection of programs, a cornucopia of offerings, and myriad educational and entertainment opportunities — often free-of-charge — for all ages and virtually every interest in the neighborhood.
The list includes:
• arts and crafts workshops
• art exhibits
• baby playgroups
• book clubs
• book discussion groups
• camera club talks
• concerts
• financial and tax seminars
• health and wellness events
• Red Cross blood drives
• Spanish and French conversation groups •
On one day alone this month — Wednesday, December 11 — the Simsbury Library offered programs with the following titles (in chronological order): Veterans Outreach Assistance, Music & Movement, Spanish Conversation Group, Digital Citizenship for Grades 6-7, Author Conversation with Laura Dave, Hot Cocoa & Polar Express, Mystery Holiday Movie, Chess Club, Mind Games 2: The Science of Curious Thinking and Homeschool Club for Parents.
Yes, these 10 diverse and vibrant programs were scheduled on a single day at the library — giving new meaning to the phrase “never a dull moment.”
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SEO Keyword – Library Milestone Ignites Erudition Passion
Further, the Simsbury Library offers an astounding assortment of services for the public — such as: a bicycle repair station, a Business and Career Center, a fax machine, homebound delivery, an Innovators’ Workshop, a Library of Things, meeting rooms, museum passes, notary public and new passport services, pollinator gardens and a seed library, and public PC workstations.
The library also provides assistive services for people with impaired hearing and vision.
Regarding the Library of Things — this is a collection of equipment, games and tools for patrons to borrow. Meanwhile, the Innovators’ Workshop supplies specialized equipment for public use: 3D printer, 3D digitizer, button maker, cricut machine, embroidery machine and sewing machines.
Libraries across the state provide similar chances to experience adventure, enlightenment and growth — and perhaps the best aspect of the library phenomenon statewide is that your local library card entitles you to borrow books and other helpful items at any library in Connecticut. Yes, you read that right — if you possess a hometown library card, you can access the constellation of resources at every library in the amazing Constitution State.
Edification Location
The Simsbury Public Library is located at 725 Hopmeadow Street aka Route 10, a stone’s throw south of the Simsbury Free Library at 749 Hopmeadow. Both facilities are on the west side of the street, so a sidewalk stroll provides access to each facility without needing to brave traffic by crossing the road.
This brings to mind the classic chicken-and-road question: Why did the chicken cross the road? And the deadpan-joke reply: To get to the other side.
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SEO Keyword – Library Milestone Ignites Erudition Passion
Let’s paraphrase, library-style: Why did the Simsbury library patrons cross Hopmeadow Street in pursuit of book wisdom? The attempted-humorous response: Because they apparently were clueless that the Free Library and Public Library are on the same side of the road.
By the way, regarding the Route 10 reference: State Route 10 runs concurrently with U.S. Route 202 in Granby and Simsbury and Avon. These time-tested highways share asphalt from the Connecticut-Massachusetts border in northernmost Granby to the heart of Avon, where they diverge at the historic Avon Congregational Church in the town center, on the corner where Main Street meets Simsbury Road (aka Route 10) and Old Farms Road.
For 150 years the Simsbury Library has been a mainstay of the community — and perhaps the best way to celebrate this momentous milestone is to visit this historic library or the one in your hometown. +
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• Home of the Free – Free Library Sustains Historic Legacy
Editor’s Note
• The Simsbury Public Library and Simsbury Free Library websites say that Simsbury’s first library traces its roots to the town’s Social and Literary Club in 1872 — only the Free Library website says the library was established in 1874, but officials at both libraries agree 1874 is when Simsbury’s first library opened.
• The Free Library website says the newly built Simsbury Public Library opened in 1986 — however, as of early December, the Public Library website says the new library building opened in 1985 — Today Magazine requested clarity by emailing officials at both libraries and the Simsbury Historical Society, and a society representative identified 1986 as the accurate grand-opening year — “The Simsbury Public Library was dedicated on April 6, 1986,” says the rep. “I have the program from that event and a copy is on display in the library.”
Today Magazine features community news that matters nationwide and aims to record Connecticut’s underreported upside — while covering the heart of the Farmington Valley: a five-town focus on Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury
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