Russell Library (Middletown, Connecticut)

Russell Library is an 1876 library located at 123 Broad Street in Middletown, Connecticut.[1]

History

In 1876, Frances Ann (née Osborne) Russell established Russell Library in memory of her husband, the prominent merchant Samuel Russell of Russell & Co.[2] Frances purchased the Church of the Holy Trinity on the corner of Broad and Court Streets in Middletown and remodeled it in the Gothic Revival Style.[3]

The building opened on April 5, 1876 as the public library for the City of Middletown.[3] In 1896, David Ross of East Haddam, who served with the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War, donated his sward to the Library's war relic museum.[4]

Additions

In 1930, what is known as the "Hubbard wing" was added to the structure. In 1972, the First Federal Saving and Loan Association of Meriden was remodeled as the Children's Library and, in 1983, the main structure and the Children's Library were connected.[3]

In 1997 and 1999, the library purchased an adjacent building on Court Street and Broad Street, respectively, for offices in order to accommodate needs and future expansion, if needed.[3]

References

1. "Public Libraries in Connecticut". The New York Times. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
2. Young, Arthur P. (1988). American Library History: A Bibliography of Dissertations and Theses. Scarecrow Press. p. 70. ISBN 9780810821385. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
3. "History". russelllibrary.org. Russell Library. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
4. Courant, From The Hartford (Conn ) (8 January 1898). "Confederate Relics for a Museum" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2019.

Further reading

• Castegnetti, Nancy R. The History of Russell Library Company, Middletown, Connecticut, Master's thesis, Southern Connecticut State College, 1966. 100p.