About The Melrose Library Association

Our Story: The Heart of the Melrose Public Library

Nothing defines Melrose better as a community than the story of how the Melrose Public Library came to be. As Putnam County’s very first full-service branch library, its existence isn't the result of a corporate mandate or a government decree—it is a living monument to local initiative, grassroots grit, and neighbors rolling up their sleeves to build something extraordinary together.

Humble Beginnings: From Church Lofts to Scout Huts (1890–1950s)

The history of the library is deeply intertwined with the history of the town itself. Longtime rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Fred Yerkes, meticulously kept track of the library's early roots.

The dream first surfaced in 1890, appearing in the minutes of the local Lady’s Literature and Debating Society. A decade later, in 1900, a subsequent rector at Trinity, the Rev. George Gilmore—a former English schoolmaster—wrote to the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge in England to highlight the town’s urgent need for books. The society answered the call by shipping two cases of books across the Atlantic.

Because a public library building did not yet exist, Reverend Gilmore stored the books right at the church. Soon, other community members began donating books, and the church opened its doors to lend them to the public. Emma Brinson, daughter of Trinity’s senior warden, passionately championed the project, keeping the fledgling library alive during those early years.

As the collection grew, so did its travels:

• The Scout Hut Era (1939): Under the guidance of Reverend Yerkes, Trinity’s Boy Scouts built a Scout Hut on church grounds for their troop meetings. The hut quickly doubled as a depository for the lending library.
• The WPA Federal Shift: For a brief period, the library temporarily moved off church grounds to the Melrose Homemakers Club to qualify for federal WPA (Works Progress Administration) library assistance, staying there for about five years.
• The Return to Trinity: When the federal funding ended, the books moved back to Trinity Church, finding a home in the loft of the newly acquired Parish House. However, the steep loft stairs proved difficult for many patrons. To solve this, the books moved back to the Scout Hut, while the thoughtful Boy Scouts generously agreed to relocate their meetings to the Parish House.

Laying Down Roots with the Women’s Club

In 1956, the Melrose Woman’s Club—the direct successor to the original Lady’s Literature and Debating Society—stepped in to formalize operations. They successfully persuaded Putnam County to fund a small monthly stipend for a local librarian.

Mrs. Mildred Spires, a member of Trinity Church, stepped up as the community’s very first paid librarian. She was later followed by dedicated local librarians Jean Allen and Olive Hulett, both also members of Trinity, keeping the spirit of the lending library thriving out of the Scout Hut.

A Proper Library: The 1984 Milestone

By 1979, Maud Watkins, a former principal of Melrose Elementary School, recognized that the growing community deserved more than a temporary space. She spearheaded a campaign to build a "proper" library.

Watkins traveled to the state legislature, securing a vital state grant with the help of the local delegation that successfully matched funds raised by the community. This historic milestone paved the way for Putnam County's first full-service branch library.

The transition was a true neighborhood affair:

• In December 1983, local Boy Scouts pitched in to move a staggering 7,000 books out of the old Trinity Scout Hut.
• On January 22, 1984, the brand-new Melrose Public Library officially opened its doors.
• The building featured a modern concrete-block, brick-veneer structure spanning 3,100 square feet, with generous shelving space for up to 10,000 books.

Virginia Bird took the helm as the building's first librarian, eventually passing the torch to successors Stella Brown and Sheree Sims.

Growing for the Future: The 2000 Expansion

Within just a few years, the library's vibrant adult and children's programs outgrew the space. True to form, the Melrose Library Association (MLA) stepped up to lead a new charge: raising roughly $75,000 to unlock another state construction grant for a 1,300-square-foot wing.
Once again, the project was a massive community-wide collaboration:

• Design & Architecture: Local architect Dore Rotundo, who designed the original main building, returned to plan the new wing.
• Property & Land: The original site had been generously donated by local landowner Edna Williams, and the property for the new addition was acquired from Williams at a nominal price.
• Community Backing: A major financial contribution from retired banker Charles Norton propelled the fundraising drive to success, while locals like Stella Brown contributed crucial time and expertise.

Reflecting on the collective effort behind the new wing, Kathi Warren, president of the MLA and campaign shepherd, summed it up best:

"The effort was Melrose at its community best. Almost everyone helped in some way."

Today, the Melrose Public Library stands proudly as a testament to what a tight-knit community can achieve when it rallies around a shared vision for education, culture, and connection.