Jaquith Public Library - Marshfield, Vermont

From the book "Where The Books Are"
Written by Patricia W. Belding, Potash Book Publishing

When Marshfield's Jaquith Public library was moved on September 11, 1993 to its present location at the Old Schoolhouse Common off US Route 2, it kept the original name acquired in 1899. The first Jaquith building, still standing at the junction of the same route and the cabot Road, is an interesting ex-library.

The Marshfield library whose existence is noted in one of its books dated February 11, 1850 was a circulating type, probably the first in town. On March 19, 1895, after voters agreed to elect trustees and appropriate $25 under the law of 1894, the first board meeting of the Marshfield Public library was held. The following November, the state sent $100-worth of books and the library opened to the public.

Andrew Jaquith, a Peacham native who earned his money in Massachusetts--first as a peddlar in Templeton, then as a successful businessman in Gardner--had a fondness for Marshfield. He and his wife died in 1895 and were buried there. Since they were childless, they willed this town $7,000, with all but $1,000 to be used to build and support a library in the village. The gift stipulated that the town must provide a suitable site, take care of all running expenses, and buy no immoral books.

Advocates from "down town" and from "up on the common" wrangled about the location until Ira Bemis donated a lot. builder C.J. Wood was paid $900, Ozias C. Pitkin earned $60 for laying the foundation, and F.C. Merrill did the paint work for $35. After $96.28 was spent on furniture and $30 on a woodshed, the library was dedicated on November 16, 1899.

A modest example of Queen Anne architecture popular from about 1880 to 1900, the former library has a bay window, simple gingerbread trim over the door, and fish-scale shingling. Located on a considerable slope, it requires 20 cement steps to reach the entrance.

This lack of physical accessibility, added to limited parking and the hazards of crossing the busy highway were the main concerns facing the trustees in the late 1980s. In addition, there was no feasible way to expand the space. The board spent five years seeking to keep the old building open, but finally decided that a new location was the only option.

In September 1993, over 30 volunteers helped move the library to the old school where it shares the multi-roomed building with the town clerk and a youth center. Built in 1929 as an elementary school, the white Colonial Revival building with two additions housed the high school and the Twinfield Elementary School. Closed in 1983, it was condemned and slated to be sold or demolished. A community effort drew on federal, state, and local funds and saved the town landmark which was renovated and reopened in the spring of 1992.

The library occupies the righthand room of the front addition built in the late 1950s. The 900-foot area in the new location is smaller than in the old building, but there is more shelf space.

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