East Greenwich Free Library

East Greenwich Free Library

Library

Website: http://eastgreenwichlibrary.org

 (401) 884-9510

 (401) 884-3790

 82 Peirce Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818

It was fortunate for us that in almost every small village in New England there were a few men who, realizing the value of culture and education, sponsored the establishment of local libraries. In East Greenwich on March 16, 1869, a group of such men met at the office of Dr. James H. Eldredge to discuss the problem of organizing a free library. The meeting was adjourned to March 23rd, at which time it was held at Greene Farm at the corner of Love Lane and Division Street, the home of William Greene and here was signed and sealed the constitution of the East Greenwich Free Library Association.

 

William Greene, the grandson of one Governor of Rhode Island, the great grandson of another, had himself served as Lieutenant-Governor of this state from 1866 to 1868. He was born at Greene Farm in 1797, the son of Ray Greene, who served as U.S. Senator from Rhode Island from 1797 to 1801. The Greene family is one of the oldest in the state and William Greene was seventh in line of descent from Surgeon John Greene, one of the original settlers in this area. William Greene was a man much interested in letters and in education and felt strongly the need of a library in this community. Through his efforts the East Greenwich Free Library Association was formed and he served as its first president. A bust of the Honorable William Greene stands in prominence on the main floor of the library. Other founding members of the Association, all men of fine repute were: Dr. James H. Eldredge, scholar and physician; Rev. James T. Edwards, principal of the East Greenwich Academy; William N. Sherman, owner and crusading editor of the Rhode Island Pendulum; Professor George Washington Greene, literary man and former U.S. Consul to Italy; Richard Howland prominent manufacturer; Samuel Knowles, scholar and banker; Dr. Daniel Greene, historian and physician; Rev. Silas Crane, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Joseph Congdon, local attorney.

 

The first building to house the library was on the west side of Main Street opposite the head of Queen Street. This building was used for a few months and Joseph Congdon served as the first librarian, so from 1869 to 1884 members of the Association served as librarians. Dr. Eldredge took over from Mr. Congdon in 1872 ad served for a year. Professor Joseph Eastman of the Academy took the next three years and Professor George W. Greene was librarian from 1876 to 1884. At this latter day, Rev. F.A. Loomis was appointed librarian and served until 1903 when Miss Emma Knight succeeded him, serving until 1912. Mrs. Ella D. Chapman was then appointed. Mrs. Chapman will be remembered by many, as she was a tremendously efficient librarian for over thirty years. Her successor in 1942 was Miss Helen A. Potter, who in turn was succeeded in 1951 by librarian Miss Martha McPartland. Mrs. Mary E. Rice was appointed assistant librarian in 1955.

 

In February, 1870, the Honorable William Greene advocated building a library on land purchased by the Association at the corner of Peirce and Montrose Streets. He pledged himself to pay one-half the cost of the structure and, when donations were slow coming in, he assumed the entire cost of the building. This building which stood where the Baptist Church House is now, served as the town library until 1915.

 

These years between 1870 and 1915 were precarious ones for the library, as it was very difficult to maintain a building and to staff it, without receiving financial help from either town or state. In 1893, Dr. Charles J. Thurston, a dentist in town, left most of his estate, amounting to over eleven thousand dollars, to the Library Association. This amount, when added to other smaller gifts and careful management of funds by the trustees, enabled the library to continue and to grow.
 

Location Info

East Greenwich Free Library

82 Peirce Street

East Greenwich, RI 02818