History of the Pillsbury Free Library
TO-DO: Update links and clean up content. Add milestones to bottom or as separate page.
See also: History, Milestones
Prior to the Pillsbury Free Library, Warner had no tax-supported library for people of all ages and classes. In 1841 there was a fee-supported “Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Library”, and later, there was a small library of about 450 volumes at the Simonds’ Free High School. For a detailed history of early libraries in Warner, see “19th Century Libraries of Warner New Hampshire”, by Larry Sullivan.
In 1890, George Alfred Pillsbury, having accumulated enough money at the age of 75 to “meet all forseeable needs” for the rest of his wife’s and his own lives, decided to do something beneficial for the Town of Warner, where he had lived from 1840 to 1852.
So at Town Meeting on March 11, 1890, Mr. Pillsbury “offered to erect and present to the town of Warner a library building to cost about ten thousand dollars, for the free use of the citizens of Warner, forever, UPON CONDITION THAT said town accepts of said library building and library therein AND provide for its care and support therefore.”
Funding
The town voted unanimously by voice vote to accept the building and to appropriate annually, forever, one fifteenth of one percent of the assessed valuation of the town, for the care of the library and its building.
The site
The slate-roofed, brick and granite building was built on a site donated by Nehemiah George Ordway, a native of Warner who had gone west and become Governor of the Dakota Territory. The site was the location of the Kearsarge Hotel which had burned and was considered not worth rebuilding because all the shade trees had burned also.
At the dedication ceremonies on October 2, 1891, George Pillsbury said in his speech it was his wish that “All the people of Warner, young and old, rich and poor alike, may realize therefrom all the benefits that a free public library can give.”
Changes in Services
The Library opened in 1892 with about 4500 volumes, for the use of adults (those over 12 yrs old) only.
An addition was completed in 1994, tripling the area of the building. The Library now contains over 25,000 books, music, videos, newspapers and magazines. Online services include downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines; streaming movies; language lessons; and genealogy resources. There is a very active children’s room, a meeting room, book search service, and wifi, computers, printers and scanners for public use. Privacy booths are also available for calls or online meetings.
Pillsbury Free Library’s Opening Day, Feb. 6, 1892
In 2012 the Pillsbury Free Library celebrated its 120th year of service to the Town of Warner. The dedication of the historic Library building took place on Friday, October 2nd 1891 at the Warner Town Hall. However, it was not until February 1892 that the library was ready to open for business.
On Saturday, Feb. 25th, 2012 there was a skit at 11 am by local students re-enacting the first library card issued, comparing 1892 with 2012.
The following section is extracted and adapted from the wonderfully detailed book, “19th Century Libraries of Warner, N.H.” by Larry Sullivan. The book is available for $16 from the Warner Historical Society or at the Library.
The Opening Day of the Pillsbury Free Library:
February 6, 1892 was a very exciting day in Warner. The long-awaited opening of the Pillsbury Free Library was scheduled for 2:00 in the afternoon. Miss Mary Harris, the Librarian had all of the 4,142 new books neatly arranged on the shelves, and every family in town had received a catalogue listing the books by book-number and shelf-number. To receive library privileges, patrons had to be at least 12 years old and acknowledge that they would abide by the rules. To take out a book, patrons would simply provide the book and shelf number of their preferred book to the Librarian and she would retrieve the book for them. Browsing in the stacks was not permitted.
One of those special Saturdays when the bright winter sun glistened on the snow that fell overnight, villagers walked and rural residents rode their sleighs into town for the opening of the new Pillsbury Free Library, the “munificent gift” of Mr. George A. Pillsbury and his wife Margaret and their sons. It was a “red-letter day” for Warner. Citizens came to see the beautiful new “gem” on Main Street, carrying their family catalogues listing over four thousand brand new books that were on the shelves. The new Library was beautiful. The selection of books was astounding, especially for a small town like Warner. And, best of all, citizens could borrow these books, in a formalized program of sharing them with their neighbors, at no cost.
Librarian at the time, Miss Mary Harris, described the day as follows:
The Pillsbury Free Library and Reading Room were opened for the first time on Saturday, February 6. Although the hour named was two o’clock, people began to assemble soon after one; and there was no time until the hour of closing at five o’clock, when there was not a large amount present. There was an equally large attendance in the evening. The day was fine and the sleighing was good, and many from distant parts of the town availed themselves of the opportunity for seeing the Library, although all did not take cards. 131 cards were made out. 126 books were delivered.
The Reading Room was well patronized; all the seats were occupied both in the afternoon and evening, by men, women, and children who seemed to find much enjoyment in looking over books, periodicals and newspapers. In addition to the books taken home, fourteen were used in the Reading Room.
The first person to apply for a book was Lloyd H. Cogswell, who has just attained his twelfth year. He made a good selection – “Drake’s Indian History for Young Folks.”
The First Pillsbury Free Library Patron:
Perhaps the most excited visitor was Lloyd H. Cogswell, who had turned 12 years old in December. His father, Dr. John R. Cogswell was a new Library Trustee and the Cogswell family arrived carrying the family’s Library catalogue. Lloyd signed his name acknowledging that he was at least twelve years old and would abide by the rules and Miss Mary Harris issued card “number one” to him. He then showed her in the catalogue that he would like to take out book-number 31 on shelf-number 815 as shown on page 91. Miss Harris brought his book and marked his card, and Lloyd Cogswell, patron “number one”, left the Library with his prize – Indian History For Young Folks by Francis S. Drake. Like all of the books in the Library, it was brand new. He would be the first person in town to read it.
Later in his life, Lloyd Hildreth Cogswell graduated from Simonds High School and Bellevue Medical College and became a doctor, just like his father. Doctor Lloyd and his wife Annie lived their lives in Warner and they both served their community in many ways, including several terms each as Trustees of the Pillsbury Free Library. Through the years, their descendants have been among the most ardent supporters of the Library and the Warner Historical Society. For the remainder of his life, Doctor Lloyd Cogswell was “patron number one” at the Pillsbury Free Library, an honor that he richly deserved.
Library Director’s note:
Lloyd and Annie Cogswell remain connected to the Library through a fund established in their names that is a part of the Library’s funding today. A photograph of Dr. Cogswell’s car (one of the first in Warner) and a print of a McDowell painting that included it, are part of the Library’s collection.
More about the History of the library
Buy the book by Larry Sullivan, “19th Century Libraries of Warner, New Hampshire” (link to be added soon)
A brochure detailing the special features of the Library building is also available.