Town of Belmont
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Town of Belmont
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
The Belmont Public Library published its first annual report in the Town Report for the year ending February 15, 1894. The Library was first located on the second floor of the Johnson Block over Stevens Store. From there it was moved to the second floor of the New Hose House. Reminiscences of a New Hampshire Town
In 1927, the New Hose House was moved to a new location on Fuller Street to make room for a new 24' x 46' Library constructed of red brick with granite trimmings. The new Library was a gift of Walter F. and the late George E. Duffy, owners of the Belmont Hosiery Hill, to the Town of Belmont. Along with the $25,000 cost of the construction, Mr.Duffy presented the Library with 5,000 volumes and estalished a fund which would produce an annual income towards the maintenance of the library. Reminiscences of a New Hampshire Town
Be sure to also visit the Belmont Public Library Page
Also See Belmont Town Buildings and Facilities Committee
Funds have been committed by the taxpayers annually towards the expansion of this important community facility.
2004 Expansion Project Report 1/29/04
2018
Belmont Library celebrates 90 years of service to the community Winni Echo 2/8/18
Belmont Library is 90 Daily Sun 2/2/18
90th anniversary open house Feb 3 kicks off busy month at Belmont Public Library Daily Sun 1/30/18
Library News
2016
Belmont Library awarded LCHIP grant 12/8/16
Belmont library brickwork to be fixed 8/6/16 Sun
Belmont Library Receives a Ramp in Eagle Project Union Leader 5/21/98
The Library has a very busy calendar; hosting many events and providing a significant service to the Village and community as a whole. Visit their website for more information.
Belmont Celebrates New Hampshire History Week - 2015
October 19-25, 2015 - Preserving Belmont history is front and center October 19-25 as citizens, Belmont Elementary School, and the Town’s Public Library lead the fifth commemoration of New Hampshire History Week. Stories of landmarks and legacy will be shared community-wide, at indoor and outdoor locations, as special places and people are recognized in classrooms, public meetings, and historic buildings.
The community partnership launches free programs Monday, and all Belmont residents, neighbors, and friends are welcome. Week-long activities start with morning announcements at Belmont Elementary. Students from Mrs. Vicki Donovan’s fourth grade classes will read and report "Historical Belmont Minutes” offering a few facts about important Village buildings and places.
Also on Monday, the 1928 Main Street Library building, distinguished by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, opens an exhibit of archives treasures, not usually displayed due to limited space. For many residents, local research starts at the library and has been fostered by director Eileen Gilbert and her staff, with updated resources including genealogical software.
The 1908 Village Bandstand will be honored on Monday, October 19 at 4:30 p.m. by a visit and brief program with State Senator Jeanie Forrester, who serves on the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) board of directors as a Legislative member, and Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance (NHPA). The NHPA recognized the restoration effort, begun in October 2013, with the prestigious Elizabeth Durfee Hengen Preservation Achievement Award this May.
More recognition follows in the Corner Meeting House at 5:30 p.m. when the Board of Selectmen announce 2015 Community Heritage Award recipients. The award cites exemplary residents and quality of life improvements, and has been presented with the Heritage Commission since 2011.
The Belmont Historical Society, founded in 1969, holds its annual meeting on Tuesday evening in the Belmont Mill at 7:00 p.m. and encourages current, former, and new members to attend. The organization welcomes all to a Friday "Open House” at the 1792 Province Road Meeting House, deeded to the Society in 1981, with recently completed major stabilization and exterior restoration which were funded by members, citizens, and two LCHIP grants. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon while a fall spruce-up of the building is underway by volunteers and the Belknap County Restorative Justice Program, with further help from the Belknap County Conservation District.
A highlight of the effort is a Village Walking Tour on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. led by preservation advocate and local history author, Wallace Rhodes. The presentation starts at the Belmont Public Library, distinguished for its architecture in 1985 by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior with listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Besides its façade, now undergoing a major masonry restoration, the building has notable and original furnishings including a Grandfather clock repaired and rehabilitated by local businessman Dennis Carignan, with help from local artist Pauline Murphy.
Photo IDs: The 1792 Province Road Meeting House and 1908 Village Bandstand both completed major restoration and rehabilitation efforts supported by the community and three matching challenge grants from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Project (LCHIP). Both sites host programs during NH History Week, October 19-25. Photos: Linda Frawley
NH History Week - Belmont Schedule
Belmont Kicks Off History Week Citizen 10/20/15
Heritage Commission News - November, 2015
2014
July 10, 2014 Photo: Courtesy
After the Heritage Commission unveiled a plaque proclaiming the Belmont Library’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places (in rear of photo), local artist Polly Murphy and clock maker Denis Carignan displayed her newly painted face for a 100-year-old clock that sits inside the building and announced that Carignan will soon have the antique timepiece up and running once more.
Belmont Library named to National Register of Historic Places Winni Echo 7/17/14
Photo: Tim Camerato/Citizen
BOARD OF SELECTMEN CHAIR Ruth Mooney, left, and Library Trustees Chair Mary Charnley, right, present a plaque to commemorate the listing of the Belmont Public Library on the National Register of Historic Places.
All were welcomed to help celebrate the 86th year of historic Belmont Library on Thursday, July 10. Hosted by Library Trustees, the community event featured unveiling of a National Register of Historic Places plaque, a gift from the Heritage Commission and a welcome reception for new Library Director Rebecca Albert. Appointed last fall, she has previously served at the New Hampshire State Library and Tilton School in a distinguished professional career.
The "new” library building was a gift to Belmont by George and Walter Duffy, owners of the Belmont Hosiery Company and dedicated in 1928. That building and other locations on Main Street have provided reading and other materials to citizens for more than a century, and currently serve over 1500 patrons, according to Library Trustee Chairman Mary Charnley.
Watch for Lakes Region Public Access Channel 25 airing of the Library Heritage Celebration later this month courtesy of Patrick Sweeney, Videographer.
Photo: Belmont Heritage Commission Fourth graders from the Belmont Elementary School sent early greetings, signed by all of the students and delivered by class representatives. (Left to right) Hank Knight, BES Library and Media Specialist, Katelyn Thibeault, Brooklyn Erlick; (Back row) Library Assistant Katherine Bollenbach and Director Albert and kneeling, Andre Tilton-Smith.
Further Info
Event Program
Belmont Public Library celebrates years of service Citizen 07/11/14
Bronze plaque finally recognizes Belmont Library's Historical Status Daily Sun 07/11/14
February, 2014 Celebrating a Very Special Year
Belmont's Historic Library marks 85th Year Daily Sun 2/13/14
Belmont Public Library Anniversary Celebration Belmont Library Newsletter 7/14
LRPA-TV Presents Belmont Library Heritage Program - 2014
Library Trustees Thankful for Interest in Heritage Events Winni Echo 7/31/14
The community celebration of the 86th Library anniversary and unveiling of a plaque, honoring its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, will air on Lakes Region Public Access Television (LRPA-TV) educational channel 25 Tuesday, July 29 at 5:30 p.m. Courtesy photo: Vicki Donovan, Belmont Heritage Commission
In 1927 George and Walter Duffy, owners of the Belmont Hosiery Company offered to build and furnish a library as a gift recognizing "the good citizenship of this community in past generation and to encourage the continuation and development of good citizenship in all succeeding generations.” Dedicated the following year, many of the original furnishings remain in use today, including library tables and recently repaired chairs. Several historic artifacts are displayed in the colonial revival style building, including a clock made by Elisha Smith 3rd of Sanbornton. Library Trustee chairman Mary Charnley invites all citizens to stop by during Old Home Day, Saturday August 9, where vintage local photographs from the Belmont Historical Society collection will be featured. For further information www.belmontpubliclibrary.org The LRPA-TV feature will be repeated throughout the next weeks, with schedule information available at www.lrpa.org