BRIGGS LIBRARY – Did you know? Memorial Hall was one of the old sites of the library.
I.R. Oct. 6, 1881 – BRIGGS LIBRARY INSTITUTE – Interesting Letter from Judge Johnson.
We take the liberty of publishing the following letter from Judge Johnson, touching on the recent munificent gift Dr. Briggs has made. The letter embraces many points which our citizens will read with pleasure regarding the grand enterprise in view:
E. S. Wilson, Esq., Secretary, “Briggs Library Institute.”
DEAR SIR. – I will undertake to comply with your request to note down such facts connected with the donation recently made by Dr. Briggs for a public library in Ironton, as may be of interest and as are not mentioned in your article in the REGISTER, of September 29th.
Dr. Briggs was one of the original proprietors of the town of Ironton and made the place his residence until about the year 1867, since which time he has resided near North Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass. As one of the founders of the place, he has always had faith in its future, and notwithstanding his removal from among us, he has retained a deep interest in the welfare and happiness of the people.
Before 1852, when I first became acquainted with the Doctor, I had helped organize a Library Society, which was then in operation, with a small but well-selected lot of books for circulation among its members.
In 1853-4, a new association was formed, modeled after the Young Men’s Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, into which the existing society was merged and to which its books were transferred.
The membership embraced nearly all the heads of families in Ironton. Among the most active, whose names I recall, were Dr. Briggs, John Campbell, Rev. Joseph Chester, J. O. Willard, Edward Jordan, H. S. Neal, C. G. Hawley, Ralph Leete, and Dr. Sloan.
The plan was to keep in funds with an annual membership fee of $3 per year. This Association opened a public reading room and library in the 3d story of Rodger’s Block. Besides supplying the room with all the best papers, reviews, and magazines, there were added to the Library 300 new volumes.
Owing to the financial depression, which began in 1857 and continued for some six years, and to the war of the rebellion, the membership all expired, and the Library suspended operations. The books were safely boxed to await more favorable times, but unfortunately, those books were all destroyed by the great fire in 1865.
I first became aware of Dr. Brigg’s deep interest in a public library while organizing and carrying on this Association. He frequently urged upon me the importance of laying a foundation for such an institution as would be permanent and such as would invite liberal donations.
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