The Whipple Free Library was established by one of New Boston's more prominent citizens, J.R. Whipple. After recovering from a failed Boston grocery venture, he went on to become one of the country's leading hotelmen and a millionaire. Remnants of the J.R. Whipple Company, which supplied his hotels with farm products, still exist in New Boston, including the Creamery (next to the Apple Barn) and the cement barns, currently being considered for the future site of the library.
The fire in 1887 led Whipple to construct Valley Hall, the business block now occupied by Dodge's Store. A section of the first floor, most recently occupied by the post office, was reserved for the Whipple Free Library and held a collection of about 1800 books, with chairs and a table for those who wished to read and relax. The library was donated to the town of New Boston in 1913 by Whipple's widow and daughter. In 1918, the Rogers Memorial Library was given to the town and its collection of 162 books was merged with the Whipple Free Library collection.
By 1923 the library was reported to be "a bit crowded for room". It found its current home, the Wason Memorial Building, a memorial to George A. And Clara L. Wason, in 1927. By 1963, the library's collection had grown to over 6,000 volumes. The Hayes-Warren addition was constructed in 1982 and was dedicated to ardent library supports Reg and Beulah Hayes, who started the Friends of the Library, and to Elsie Warren, the library's second librarian, who served for 41 years.
Whipple Free Library is not affiliated with AmericanTowns Media
