The Story of the Shutesbury Library

Once upon a time there was a tiny village on the hill called Roadtown.

This town, later named Shutesbury after the Governor's wife's uncle Samuel Shute,  was full of funny people. There were tall people, and short people, happy people and cranky people, little 

babies,  teenagers and grandparents. There were farmers, rebels, and teachers, artists, poets. It was a place where hunters and vegans were neighbors and friends.  They had their differences for sure but mostly everybody got along ok.

One day some people said “let’s start a library” so they each gave one dollar and got some books which they put in a jellyjar cupboard that travelled from home to home.

Time went by and people moved, got older and died and the little library was no longer so well cared for.

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 From the 1860-1861 Annual Report Town of Shutesbury

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Information with respect to the Town Library has been sought, through the Committee, the current year, by the Secretary of the Board of Education. The Committee are sorry to say they could not give a very favorable account thereof, it being rather too old-fashioned and very much wanting in new, interesting and important works. It is desirable that this Library should be culled over, some of the books removed therefrom, and the rest, with suitable additions, placed in a convenienct and attractive place, for the benefit of the readers.

The several School District Libraries contain good and valuable works, sutiable for our youth, and although they may have been much read heretofore, yet they may be read again, to great advantage, and especially by those who have never read them.

To think well-write well-speak well- a copious fund of ideas is cecessary. It is not enough to learn to read, write and cipher. Expansion of mind is wanted. Books furnish ideas. A good range of reading, attended with proper reflection, is very important. Give a child, or youth, a fondness for reading good books, and the grand point is secured.”

Oh happy day, a Free Public Library! William Hemenway was the first chairman of the board of trustees. His great grandmother Lurana Cady was one of Shutesbury's first residents and the daughter, mother, sister and twice wife of a man named Samuel.

APRIL 2. 1894 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

ARTICLE 10: VOTED TO ELECT A BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES AND APPROPRIATE THE MONEY NECESSARY TO SECURE THE GIFT OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS’ WORTH OF BOOKS FROM THE STATE FOR A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ARTICLE 18: VOTED TO ACCEPT THE LAW NECESSARY TO SECURE A FREE LIBRARY.

 Free books for everyone!!!!!!

Annual report from the Trustees: 

“The opportunity awaits every youth as well as individual of maturer years to enter through the medium of books, the companionship of men and women of letters, who have had at their disposal the wisdom of the ages. The unequalled privilege never possessed before by modern civilization should inspire as well as animate the masses of the people."

But then the people said “we need a new library”. 

In its report to the town in 1900 the trustees addressed the residents of Shutesbury by stating
“your Trustees have to report a steady growth and patronage of the institution, the management of which has been placed in our hands. W e are continually short of room for storing the ever accumulating volumes coming to the Library.  The voters of the town will have the opportunity at the town meeting to act upon a provision in the will of the late MN Spear of Amherst, whereby a legacy of fifteen hundred dollars is bequeathed to the town for a library building”

D.A. Sullivan
Built the MN Spear Memorial Library Building

Miss Mary Clark

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

William H Hemenway Chairman term expires 1903

Fred L Morrison, Secretary, term expires 1904

Newton D. Crossman term expires 1905

Mary L. Clark, Librarian.

To the People of the Town of Shutesbury:

The Trustees of the Shutesbury Free Public Library herewith present their annual report. First of all they desire to call attention to the M. N. Spear Memorial Library building. It is a gift to the town under the provisions of the will of Mirick N. Spear late of Amherst, deceased. He was born in this town and on arriving at manhood established himself in business in Amherst and for nearly half a century kept a book and periodical store in the college town, and was a well known and marked figure in that community.

Books were his daily associates and in his lifetime he presented to the town many of the solid works of literature in well pressed twelves as well as a large number of volumes of fiction and the lighter range of reading and also many valuable books of reference, and under his will, he supplemented these lesser gifts by the provisions of a fund for a Library Building in which to store the treasures of knowledge.

The building was erected during the autumn of the past year and it stands on the summit of his native hills as a fitting memorial, and also as a more impressive monument to his memory than costly granite’s voiceless woe which tells only of the hours which never can return, this holds the lettered wisdom of the past in a form that will recreate itself in the lives of future generations.

Time went by and Mr Hemenway died

"It is with regret that we announce the death of a member of the Board of Trustees. .Wm. H. Hemenway, who had served on the board since the Library was founded, died April 5th, 1911.

 Hemenway was deeply interested in the work of the Library and contributed freely and generously to its support.

The modern book racks that adorn our Library were a gift from him and he was also contemplating more extensive work in the near future.

Mary L. Clark, who had served as librarian without compensation since the Library was built, tendered her resignation early in the spring, and the Library was closed through the summer months."

Hemenway was replaced by another honest and tireless town servant Nathan Hunting who served as town clerk and library trustee from 1911-1961 (The exact years of Shutesbury's 150th and 200th anniversaries). Hunting was known for his love of honesty, education and quiet diplomacy

The Quabbin Resevoir was constructed, displacing the living and dead from parts of Shutesbury and flooding the towns of Dana, Enfield, Prescott and Greenwich.

Women were granted the right to vote. 

NOVEMBER 5, 1895 STATE ELECTION RESULTS:
Is it expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women? Men – yes 10, no 37, blanks 17. Women – yes 6. (6 women voted)

A rocket ship went to the moon, there were wars where many people were hurt or killed. Over the years more people moved to Shutesbury for the natural beauty, crystal waters.

 Our little library has served us well through good times and bad. 

Many librarians have taken a turn at the helm of the Spear, including Miss Mary Clark Edith Haskell, N.E. Crossman, Jenny Jantz, Linda Pryblo and now Mary Anne Antonellis. The library which once held 2500 books now offers 12,000 books, cd’s, dvd’s, science kits and kayaks! The Library offers free and equal access to knowledge and culture.

After one hundred years, the townspeople who cared for the library said “We have run out of room and it's time to build a new library.” The Library Fairygodmother AKA the Mass Board of Library Commissioners said “I will help you build a library, but you must do your share”.  Many people were happy to help but others did not want to contribute. People argued and the town was split exactly down the middle in an ugly divide. 

The library fairy went to find a town where people can work together to build a library.  Shutesbury still needs a new library. If we pool our talents in a shared vision we can build a sensible and inspiring library for us and our children and grandchildren