Timeline of the Hanover Town/Etna Library
From Homes, To Hall, to Library
I. Private Book Collections
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1801 - The story of the Hanover Town Library began in 1801. The community at that time was called "Mill Village" because of its location along a half-mile of the the original "two mile road" on the banks of the Mink Brook, whose falls powered a grist mill, a sawmill, and a filling and cloth-drying mill. A state charter incorporated the First Social Library of Hanover, whose collection moved from house-to-house as different members took charge
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1819 - Town members chartered the Second Library Association of Hanover, gathering over 700 volumes. At first, it was kept in a member's house but later resided in the hall over the store in Etna, where town meetings were held.
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1835 - The "Hanover, Lebanon, and Canaan Philosophical Library" was chartered with a collection that migrated among the three towns.
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1883 - The Etna Library and Debating Society was organized; one of its members was paid $5 a year for housing the 300 books in the collection.
II. The New Hampshire Library Act
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1891 - The NH legislature passed the Library Act, allocating a sum not exceeding $100 to towns that provided for the "care, custody and distribution of books furnished" by such a gift.
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1898 - The Town of Hanover voted to accept the gift of $100 of books for the state and established a public library according to the provisions of the library law with the name of Hanover Town Library.
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1899 - The Hanover Town Library opened in Hayes' Hall with a collection of about 400 books donated by the state, the Etna Debating Club's donation of their collection, and a donation of books by Edward Payton Storrs, owner of the Dartmouth bookstore.
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III. Building a Library
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1903 and 1905 - The Town voted an appropriation of $2,600, of which $2,100 was to be used for building a library, and a $500 permanent fund, the income to be used for the support of the library.
1905 - The Town of Hanover approved plans for a new one-room library, 25-by-33 feet, with ceiling, vestibule and door of varnished hazelwood and a vault. Robert Fletcher, Dartmouth Thayer professor and library trustee, drew up the blueprint. A fireproof vault was added by special town vote. Fine-cut granite steps and a portico were donated by Mr. Henry C. Whipple in memory of the late John W. Dodge. Total cost of the building was a little over $2,800.
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March 10, 1906 - Library books were moved from Hayes Hall to the new building. E.H. Wright donated a solid oak desk, office chair, eight-foot table, six chairs and an umbrella stand.
IV. A Growing Library
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1932 - Electric lighting was installed.
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1953 - An oil burning furnace replaced the wood stove.
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1965 - The death of Kathrina (Aunt Pat) Spencer, former librarian and teacher, brought $82 as a fund for children's books. Also, a $1,000 bequest received from Adelaide Hardy began an endowment fund. From this same estate, gifts of a sampler, worsted flowers, a small print picture and a flax wheel enhanced the library interior.
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1978-83 - Indoor plumbing was installed and a bathroom built in the vault.
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1996 - The library's collection was added to the Howe Library catalog when the two joined as the Libraries of Hanover partnership.
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1997 - The library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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2010 - The Town of Hanover purchased Hayes Farm Park from the heirs of Morris and Ethel Hayes.
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2014 - A sunny post-and-beam entrance was added and a lilac garden was planted at the base of the path to the Nan and Allen King bird sanctuary.
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Thank you to all of our donors for the Hayes land purchase and library addition!
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[Resources: Lord's History of Hanover; Town of Hanover Annual Reports.]
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Library Postcard
Thomas Praddex, First Librarian
Library Blueprints
Sawmill Across from Library
Library Addition Construction
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Old Photograph of the Library Interior