Celebrating 40th Anniversary
of Service
1952 - 1965
Solomon Wright, Jr., native son, businessman and philanthropist who had supported for many years thelibrary since its inception, realized the importance of a designated building for library use. With a bequest of $1000 in 1952, he enabled the purchase of the Main Street site for a library which could have room for growth, correct conditions for collections, a welcoming interior for the town's citizens and adequate heating, lighting work sapces and storage.
Henry W. Bassen, chairman of the library trustees, had the vision and foresignt to apply for federal funds, and with Librarian Helen Renner, led the drive to raise matching monies for library construction. The Town of Pownal, with population in 1965 of 1,756 became the first community in Vermont to build a completely new library under the Aid to Library Services and Construction Act of the 84th U.S. Congress.
