Gaylord Memorial Library

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Gaylord Memorial Library Gaylord Memorial Library is a branch of the South Hadley Public Library. William H. A double funeral was held.

Gaylord, a much esteemed and civic-minded South Hadley citizen, would be proud to see that the library he provided for the town in 1904 still stands as a fitting memorial. The son of a farmer, Gaylord rose to wealth and prominence through hard work and enterprise. Recognizing the need for a public library in the town center, he generously offered the money to build one on the site of the former village cemetery, known as “God’s Acre”, on College Street. Across from Mount Holyoke College’s Mary Lyon Chapel, this cemetery had become overgrown and was considered an eyesore. Permission was given to move all of the graves to Evergreen Cemetery on Hadley Street, except for the grave of John Preston, the original donor of the land. The gravestone can still be found beneath a large spruce tree behind the library. The Boston architects, Putnam and Cox, drew the plans for the library, which cost $23,961 to build. On May 18, 1904, a dedication ceremony was held at the Center Congregational Church, including speeches by Mount Holyoke College President, Mary Wooley and other dignitaries. Dinner at the Woodbridge Hotel and a public reception at the library followed. The Gaylords lived to attend the library’s dedication, but in September William suffered a stroke and died one morning three months later. Betsey, who had been in ill health for some time, died later in the afternoon of the same day. Their portraits, painted by New York artist Catherine Abbott (who later married the Architect Allen Cox), still hang in the rotunda. Until 1968 Gaylord Memorial Library operated independently, when its costs became too great to be paid by the Gaylord endowment. It was run as a branch of the South Hadley Library until 1995, when the town made the decision to close the library due to fiscal constraints. There were many in South Hadley who wished the beautiful building to remain open as a library, and so the Gaylord Board of Trustees chose to operate independently once more. This enabled the library to remain open, though with limited hours. Thanks to generous donors and many volunteers, as well as continuing limited support from the town, Gaylord Library, a South Hadley treasure, is open to the public today.

Join the Friends of the Ga***rd this Friday for treats and tastes!
10/07/2026

Join the Friends of the Ga***rd this Friday for treats and tastes!

It's October... it's spooky season! Check out this program happening Monday night at the South Hadley Public Library!
10/02/2026

It's October... it's spooky season! Check out this program happening Monday night at the South Hadley Public Library!

REAL Ghost Stories of New England! This Monday Oct 5 at 6 pm! No registration necessary - come on down!

Today for Story Time we sang and read about YUMMY, CRUNCHY APPLES! For Craft we made our own apple trees. Join us every ...
10/02/2026

Today for Story Time we sang and read about YUMMY, CRUNCHY APPLES! For Craft we made our own apple trees. Join us every Friday at 10:30 for Story Time and Craft

Having fun with Q-Tips and paint during Drop-in-Craft. Our next Drop-in-Craft is Thursday, October 15 from 3-6.
10/01/2026

Having fun with Q-Tips and paint during Drop-in-Craft. Our next Drop-in-Craft is Thursday, October 15 from 3-6.

Today for Story Time we read some squirrel and acorn books. For Craft we made squirrel and acorn pictures. Join us every...
09/25/2026

Today for Story Time we read some squirrel and acorn books. For Craft we made squirrel and acorn pictures. Join us every Friday morning at 10:30 for Story Time and Craft.

Adult patrons had fun making beautiful crayon resist water paintings.
09/25/2026

Adult patrons had fun making beautiful crayon resist water paintings.

Come stroll through, We’re Going On A Nature Hunt by Steve Metzger, as you walk throughout our beautiful grounds.
09/17/2026

Come stroll through, We’re Going On A Nature Hunt by Steve Metzger, as you walk throughout our beautiful grounds.

Today Miss Mary came for story Time. She read books and sang songs. For Craft we used Bingo dabbers to color pictures of...
09/11/2026

Today Miss Mary came for story Time. She read books and sang songs. For Craft we used Bingo dabbers to color pictures of different vehicles. Join us every Friday morning at 10:39 for Story Time and Craft.

Take a gander at this stunning original chandelier that has been restored and reinstalled in the rotunda!
09/07/2026

Take a gander at this stunning original chandelier that has been restored and reinstalled in the rotunda!

School is back in session, and so are W**e Downs!Join us for our Back-to-School W**e Down, to benefit Operation Backpack...
09/07/2026

School is back in session, and so are W**e Downs!
Join us for our Back-to-School W**e Down, to benefit Operation Backpack, which gives school supplies to local children in need.

Back-to-School W**e Down at the Ga***rd Library
Friday, Sept 11, beginning at 5:30pm*
$12 (cash/credit), 21+ only

*As Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday the 11th - the drawing and guest remarks will conclude by 6:30. The event will continue until 7pm.

Address

47 College Street
South Hadley, MA
01075

Opening Hours

Thursday 1pm - 8pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 12pm

Telephone

+14135385047

Website

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