Library addition overcomes every obstacle

By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor 
POMFRET — The physical foundation work paused as the symbolic foundation of the Pomfret Public Library’s future soared.
More than 10 years, a monkey wrench called COVID-19, revamping the plans, reapplying for a state grant, and more speedbumps were no match for a determined community.
The back deck at the groundbreaking June 5 was full of representatives of all who made that foundation happen. Building committee, fund-raising committee, two top donors, architects, a construction company and more.
Library Director Laurie Bell called COVID-19  an “unexpected guest” but they persevered. 
Emerging from COVID -19, the project found itself nearly at square one. The costs had risen 35 percent, according to Bell. The Connecticut State Library grant they had won was no longer going to be enough. The architects tackled the plans to adjust for the new higher construction numbers. The full second floor in the original plans shrank substantially. The state grant was forfeited with the intent to apply again for a larger one. After another arduous year-long grant writing process, Pomfret won the state’s grant again. It totals $1,011,297. Meanwhile the fund-raising committee redoubled its efforts to raise more money and pulled in “somewhere north of $2 million.”
Pomfret School helped when it transferred some of its land to enlarge the parking lot. The school also transferred some of its land on the opposite side of the building for the addition. Bell said the library building was 7 inches from the Pomfret School property line.
Bell said in the beginning they talked about what the future needs were, how it would fit with the buildings and with the neighborhood.
Maureen Nicholson, first selectman and building committee member, said the original institution, The United English Library for the Propagation of Christian and Useful Knowledge, was founded in 1740 as the first public library in eastern Connecticut.
She said in 1911 the current building was constructed on land donated by Ben Grosvenor and in 1928 it officially became a public library. The children’s room, office, plus the Aicher Memorial garden and deck were added.
“This library has always been built by the community, for the community. It’s more than a place to borrow books — it’s a space to connect, learn, and grow together. Today’s groundbreaking represents not just construction, but community and continue commitment. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose.”
In his remarks, Fund-raising vice chair Marc Archambault thanked all who helped, especially donors including Spirol International Charitable Foundation and The Newell Hale Foundation, John Frank, Pat Morgan and the Beagary Charitable Trust. He said: “Today’s groundbreaking is more than the start of a building project. It is a celebration of community spirit, shared vision and the commitment to creating a welcoming space for generations to come.” 
Jeff Koehl, president and CEO of Spirol International, spoke from the heart about the family, learning, education and community being the heart, the foundation of his family and later the Spirol International Charitable Foundation. He recalled talking about this project with his father “around a table here” just before he passed. 
He said he hopes that the project will inspire love of learning at an early age — “creating a love of learning and creating community.”

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Library Director Laurie Bell addresses the crowd at the groundbreaking of the Pomfret Public Library's addition. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array on Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.

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The Board of Trustees, the Building Committee and the Fund-raising and big donors group all took turns "breaking ground." 

Foundation forms going up.

The groundbreaking ceremony is in the background, near the blue wall. The footings were in. 

New market master joins farmers market
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The Putnam Saturday Farmers Market kicked off a new season June 7 — complete with a new co-market master.
Taylor Lynn Copeland jumped right in behind the market table, joining veteran co-market master Cassie Ball.
She took the part-time job because she “wanted to be involved in local agriculture and the local community.”
She worked last year at Assawaga Farm in East Putnam and enjoyed it. She also works at The Last Green Valley, part time. The market master position seemed like a natural fit. 
She said she likes working on a farm, working with plants and being outside.
“I really like the small farm movement,” she said. 
She believes that small farms are more focused on regenerative farming. In addition they are more community oriented. 
The Putnam Saturday Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October .

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Taylor Lynn Copeland, right, joins co-market master Cassie Ball. More on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.

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Top left: Pluck-a-Duck tickets for sale!. Left: Woodstock Farm. Bottom from left: Sugarz Bakery, Betsy's Stand and Maple Brook Farm..

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Aspinock Memories
Histories of Montgomery Ward and in Putnam
By Terri Pearsall, 
AHS Museum Curator
Let’s begin by learning a little history about the Montgomery Ward business.  Montgomery Ward was founded in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward as a dry goods mail order business in Chicago.  In 1875 he introduced an innovative and unprecedented company policy of “satisfaction guaranteed or your money back”.  By 1883, the company’s catalog, which became popularly known as the “Wish Book,” had grown to 240 pages and 10,000 items.  In 1926 its first retail outlet store opened in Plymouth, Ind.  In 1928 only two years later, it had opened 244 stores.  By 1929, it had more than doubled its number of outlets to 531.  In 1930, Sears made an offer to merge with Montgomery Ward, but the offer was declined.
The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas every year and it was decided that creating their own book would save money.  In 1939, as part of a Christmas promotional campaign, staff copywriter Robert L. May created the character and illustrated a poem of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.  At first Rudolph was supposed to be a moose but that was changed because a reindeer seemed friendlier.  Mr. May considered naming the reindeer “Rollo” or “Reginald” before deciding upon using the name “Rudolph”.  In its first year of publication, Montgomery Ward had distributed 2.5 million copies of Rudolph’s story.  The store distributed 6-million copies of the storybook in 1946 and actor/ singer Gene Autry popularized the song nationally.
The Putnam Montgomery Ward Building was built in 1929. It was and still is on the corner of Main Street and Pomfret Street.  The store had 4 floors of merchandise.  On the Main Street level were household goods and men’s clothing.  Upstairs the women’s apparel, the next level was the furniture department.  In the basement were automotive and toy departments.  The office was on the 2nd floor in the front part of the building.   The Putnam Jail was once housed in the basement of the building.   In 1973, the business was closed on Main Street and a catalog department was opened in a strip mall in 1974.   The building is now home to more than 12 businesses.  
At one point the Arts and Framing gallery in the building was the only gallery in the world that represented the artwork of puppeteer Caroll Spinney, better known as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. 
Special thanks to the archives of the Aspinock Historical Society.
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam's history alive.

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