The first Library Association in Hardwick was founded in 1802 and was a private library that subscribers could purchase access to for $2.50 a year. The collection was housed in a store in Hardwick owned by the Hammond and Mixter families (Paige, 1883).
It was not until 1880 that a proposal for a free public library in Hardwick was discussed at a Grange meeting, and the Ladies Library Association of Hardwick was founded and began fundraising to purchase a collection. Under the guidance of Mr. Green, librarian at the Worcester Public Library, the Ladies Library Association was able to develop a collection of over 800 books by 1889. The library was originally housed in the school owned by Hon. William Mixter, and the space was donated to the Ladies Library Association at no charge. Patrons of the library were able to purchase the current catalog of books for 10 cents, and after that could use the library for free for one year (Bancroft, 2003).
During the celebration of Hardwick’s 150th anniversary, Dr. Lucius R. Paige and his wife Ann M. Brigham announced that in their will they would give the town their private library of over 2,000 volumes and a permanent fund to maintain the library. His only conditions were that the library should be established within one mile of the Town House and that the library would be named Paige Memorial Library, in honor of his ancestors (Bancroft, 2003).
In 1894 the Ladies Free Library Association voted to loan all of their resources to the Hardwick Free Town Library, and in 1896 the bequest from the Paige family was received by the town. In 1903, the trustees of the library received a $3,000 donation to construct a new library building in the center of town. This building, which was completed in 1906, is still the home of the Paige Memorial Library today (Bancroft, 2003).
Works Cited:
Paige, Lucius R. (1883). History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company.
Bancroft, Emily (2003). History of Hardwick, Massachusetts. Gilbertville: Town of Hardwick.
From Emily Bancroft’s History of Hardwick:
The Hardwick High School opened for its first session in September 1888. It measured 46 feet by 48 feet with the main entrance in the southeast corner topped by a tower 50 feet high. At the top of this tower, a balcony was provided for astronomy. The school was built entirely of wood and a foundation of the native granite so abundantly found in every surrounding pasture in town. The first story of the tower was also done in native stone with granite trim. The interior was of white wood with a natural finish. The plan of the first floor included an assembly room 20 feet by 30 feet, two classrooms each 15 feet by 22 feet that could be made into one by opening the folding doors, an interior hall, 10 feet by 23 feet, and a vestibule, 11 feet by 15 feet. On the second floor a reading room was prepared and the town library with so many valuable volumes was housed there.
Miss Adelaide Mixter gave $1,000 for the building if it would be built within 1/2 mile of the townhouse in Hardwick. The following week $3000 was appropriated for the high school at the town meeting. Gilbertville people were dissatisfied. “They say it would be as convenient for them to send their children to the village of Ware as to send them to Hardwick and that the building ought to be erected on wheels.” (BG quoting SR, April 22nd)
The Town Report ending on February 1st, 1888, included information on the procurement of the site for the school. Mrs. Harriet and Miss Mary Paige sold two acres of land to Mrs. Mary Mixter at a reduced value and gave a deed for it to be used only for a high school and library. Mrs. Mixter presented the land to the town as a gift. This location is the site of the present Paige Memorial Library. Construction began and by the middle of January 1888, the foundation was ready. The architects were Richmond and Seaberry of Springfield and the building was constructed by J. N. Lincoln of Ware. The total cost was $5,114.34. With the expenses about equally divided between the years 1888 and 1889. The architects received $114.37 for their plans and specifications. Mrs. Mixter is credited in the town report as having presented $1,117.64 to the town for the building. Joel Powers, the highway Superintendent, sold grass from the grounds for $4.
The new high school was dedicated during the celebration of Hardwick’s 150th anniversary on October 16th, 1888. The Springfield Republican of October 17th wrote about the day’s festivities:
After a goodly feast, the new schoolhouse, the pride of the town, was visited. A sort of procession was formed, led by the old drummer, who beat lustily on the ancient drum on which he had taken his first lesson 50 odd years ago.
41 pupils were in attendance in 1903 to 1904, with an entering class of 23. That was larger than the whole enrollment of the high schools first year. The first floor of the building was rearranged and furnished with adjustable chairs and desks. It had been hoped that the library on the 2nd floor would move to a new building so the school could use all the building space. In 1904 to 1905 enrollment was 51 and many graduates were going to college and doing very well. On February 6th, 1905, a tragic loss occurred with the burning of the high school building, the town library, page library and all the school supplies and scientific apparatus were lost. The next morning the school committee Superintendent and principal met and decided to transfer the number one primary school to the new number one grammar school. The two-room brick schoolhouse, now the Hardwick Historical Society Museum, was cleaned, painted, papered, calcimined, and opened on Monday morning, February 13th.
It was hoped that a new building would be available for the fall term. On March 5th. The Springfield Republican talked about the question of the high school location. When the original school had been located in Hardwick, Gilbertville voters had felt it was too far for their students.
The cornerstone for the new high school was laid in Gilbertville on June 21st, 1910. Transportation by train was provided from Wheelwright and Furnace. The new high school was called one of the best in the state with an attractive exterior appearance, a modern system of heating, ventilating and lighting, a commodious assembly hall, and finely equipped labs, and recitation rooms. The building is now used as Hardwick’s municipal offices.
Artwork by Barry Koch
Before the Paige Library, there was the Hardwick High School
February 6th, 1905 – Hardwick High School building burned.
From Emily Bancroft’s History of Hardwick:
The alarm was given by Doctor Davis at 9:00 PM. It was impossible to make an attempt to save anything, and the building burned in an hour and a half. There was no means of fighting the fire except by carrying water in pails, but only 10 men and 10 pails were available. The men concentrated on saving the nearby Davis barn by keeping the side wet, the snow on the roof protected that part. A northwest wind carried burning shingles over the common. One piece lodged on the spire of the Universalist church above the bell. Men climbed up on the ladders and threw water at it to extinguish the flames. (Springfield Republican, February 7th )
The town report mentioned that F. E. Emmons was paid $1.00 for four pails used at the fire and F. L. Flagg, Walter Goddard, and Alfred Goddard received compensation for their services as Watchmen.