05/17/2026
The old Library…
Last week, there was a post on the “You Know You’re From Jefferson When…” page, which aimed to start a discussion within the community on what could or should be done with the old library/school building. It has garnered 70+ comments so far, making it fairly apparent there is interest in this building’s future, and most seem supportive of its continuing existence, though in another location.
Since that post, and while doing research for an exhibit we are working on, we came across the answer to a nagging question about the old library building which profoundly adds to its history, and opens the door for more discussion. So we are going to take a bit of a deep dive here, and share some other interesting tidbits along the way. A discussion can go further with the more information you have.
The way the Society understands it, this building was one of two built in 1814 as Jefferson’s first schoolhouses. The town’s people had spent the past 10 years arguing about where they should build a school, and ultimately, probably because the town was growing, but maybe to stop the bickering, they built two; one was located in the vicinity of the Hicks’ Logging’s office, the former Coleman and Hilda Kenison place, and the other in the Starr King district part of town. That building is the subject of another discussion. Prior to all this, children were educated primarily in private homes.
The building we are discussing in the center of town (known as the #2 School) was utilized as a school building until 1894, when, after a much larger school was constructed just up hill from the Old Corner Store, the town agreed to let Abner Davis use the recently vacated #2 School as a library. It was moved across the street to its current location, where it still sits today, 132 years later. We are not sure about the ell on the right side (children’s room), but I would wager two IPA drafts at Fenn’s Way that it is not original to the building, and was added after the move. More research.
The question we’ve had on the building, which after asking many people, we still had no answer, was about a date on the weatherworn sign above the door. It says: “1814-1856 . 1894” What does the 1856 represent? Is it when its run as a school ended, or something else? Turns out it’s something else. In a line in “Historical Memories of Jefferson, New Hampshire 1796-1971,” a small commemorative book issued for the Town’s 175th birthday, it mentions while the #2 School was built in 1814 for educating the town’s children, it also served as the Jefferson Town House, or town hall, until 1856. This dual purpose probably continued until more room was needed, as the town’s population grew from 197 in the 1810 U.S. Census, to 629 in 1850.
In 1852, the Town voted to build a new Town House, but it wasn’t completed until 1856. Its location was around one of today’s Waumbek cottages, the closest one to the road behind the pond. 4 years later, in 1860, the town voted to move the Town House to an adjoining lot, so Benjamin H. Plaisted could build his Waumbek Hotel on that property. In 1870, the town sold the Town House and the land to Plaisted for $1000, and voted to build another Town House in a completely different location, which was completed in 1872. This building was our town hall which burned a few years ago in 2021.
This brings us back to the old library building. With the understanding of its utilization as a Town House, a building where the town met and conducted business in for 42 years, a whole new element is added to its resume, so to speak. It’s safe to say this building which has stood for 212 years, is probably the most important structure standing in town today from a community historical perspective. It has much potential to be included on various historical registers. More corroborating research will be done with primary source documents, but at least we understand the significance of the 1856 date.
Let’s discuss the lot it is presently located on. In a one-word summation for, its current use: awful. Remember, when it was moved to today’s location, the fastest thing on the road was a horse. There is no parking, and no handicap access. There is a sewer stub at the road for the lot, connected to the town’s septic leach field, but without a well, no water to flush.
The lot is quite small, no room for expansion, and this has been a key issue plaguing the library over the years, as well as the ledge supposedly underneath it. It has been known for quite some time the building’s future existence is not sustainable on that lot.
Regarding the building, again, no toilet or water. Originally, it had a wood stove for heat, and an outhouse out back, we believe. Before it closed, a propane heater, and a gas-powered destroilet toilet were its modern features. Evidently there is rot in the sills, and this could be significant, more needs to be understood in that regard.
That’s it in a rather large nutshell. What is important here is our learning more about the building and better understanding its history within the community. Town House for 42 years, school house for 80 years, and town library for 128 years when it closed in 2022, with the library’s move to the JCC. And, it was in constant public use until 4 years ago. Many decisions were made, children educated, and minds nurtured within its walls for 208 years.
This building’s future is something the town and its people need to discuss and make some decisions on, relatively soon. It’s important to us at the Society to share this information with everyone. It’s so easy to lose track of what knowledge we have, and the more people that know it, the longer and better we all understand and appreciate it.
