Kellogg-Hubbard Public Library

Montpelier, Vermont

From the book "Where The Books Are"

Written by Patricia W. Belding,

Potash Book Publishing

Histories of Other Libraries In & Around Central Vermont

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library, a prominent granite building on Main Street, has served the capitol city since 1895. An addition built on the rear in 1975 increased the space and provided physical accessibility. Although this popular library was born of contention and haunted off and on by controversy, it ranks second in the state in circulation and fourth in collection size.

Montpelier had several libraries in the 100 years before the Kellogg-Hubbard opened. In 1794, a circulating library that offered only novels and religious books was probably run by Parley Davis. Ezekial Walton, who started a literary debate club called the Franklin Society in 1807, claimed that all the members were upstanding, intelligent citizens, except for one who was thrown out because of profanity.

The Village library Society, founded in 1814, existed until 1850 when it turned its books over to the Young Men's library Association, a group that lasted only a brief time. Other short-lived literary attempts included the Agricultural library about 1860, and two reading rooms between 1860 and 1880 that provided newspapers and popular magazines free to the public.

In 1882, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union sponsored a fund drive to raise $5,000 in subscriptions for a public library.

In 1884, the women were successful and on March 16, 1885, the Montpelier Public library Association was established. Although only stockholders who provided the funding could use the library at first, by 1895, the 5,000-volume collection was entirely free to the public. The Young Men's Christian Association rented space for the library in the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company building.

Meanwhile, in 1889, the Kellogg-Hubbard saga began when Martin M. Kellogg, a New York City real estate magnate born in Barre, died of a heart attack; three months later his widow, the former Fanny M. Hubbard, a Montpelier native, also died and left a $300,000 estate. The couple had agreed that their money should be given to the city to construct ornate entrance gates for the Green Mount cemetery and to build a public library.

But Fanny's nephew, John E. Hubbard, contested the will. After witnesses testified at a probate court hearing that they hadn't realized they were signing a will, the judge ruled in Hubbard's favor. Town fathers filed a counter suit and after three years of dispute--with residents taking sides--Hubbard agreed to build the library; ironically, he eventually paid $30,000 more than the amount called for in the will.

Groundbreaking took place in 1894 and by the summer of 1895, the $60,000 library was open for business. Mary E. Macomber, who had resigned as head of the library association, took over at the Kellogg-Hubbard. She left volunteers to run the association until 1897 when members of the latter group placed their books in the new library for 10 years, eventually agreeing to a merger.

In the meantime, the Vermont Legislature had granted a charter stating that five trustees should manage the library in perpetuity. When the impressive building of rough, light-colored granite from Dummerston was completed, a dedication was held on January 2, 1896. The two-story entrance with its four columns, the ample windows with unusual portholes under the eaves, and the rounded bays give this Classical Revival library a distinctive look.

In 1896, after the trustees asked the city to appropriate funds, several citizens fought the proposal and won, starting another feud that was to surface from time to time for nearly a century. By 1899, the board threatened to close the library if the local funds weren't forthcoming. At the first polling, the vote was positive, but a second ballot included the condition that the board turn management over to the city. The five trustees refused to comply and closed the library for a time.

Four months later, Hubbard died, and in 1903 his $125,000 bequest went to the library. Since money woes were over, the library was open every day except Sundays and holidays for a very generous 48 hours per week (today the hours number 52). Around 1907, the library was open on a trial basis for nine Sundays when the janitor--a Mr. English who was reportedly very efficient--staffed the library with one of the trustees from 1 to 6 p.m.

The inside of the library retains the look of the original building with its large entry hall, ornate woodwork, and spacious reading room. The stairway to the upper floor, where the Thomas Waterman Wood Gallery had its home until 1985, is another feature.

Floods have figured sadly in the library's history. The collection was practically destroyed in November 1927, and 45 years later, in March 1992, Montpelier was hit with another flood caused by an ice jam. The children's room in the basement--space remodeled in 1951--was extensively damaged, but fortunately, staff and private citizens managed to save the 20,000 books. A difficult period followed before the children's room was repaired and restored to its former welcoming atmosphere.

In January 1992, a century of controversy ended when the trustees agreed to open their meetings to the public and to include a community representative on the board.


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With thanks to Jack Belding

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