Letter: Help Solve a Hillsborough Mystery

As finishing touches are being added to The History of Hillsborough Public Library, a last call is being made for a few missing bits. A previous request for information in Connecting Albert County brought in three valuable pieces of history: a date of interest, a lovely picture of the group which founded the library and biographical information on one of the founders. ​

Still remaining a mystery is the first location(s) of Hillsborough Library from late 1896 to the move to Peck Hall in the 1960s. We are also missing the names of early librarians. There is mention in 1906 of a library building and of “the efficient librarian,” and mentions of the library ‘trustees’ (the Ladies Village Club) meeting in their “Club rooms.” Nothing else in the many newspaper reports of the group’s weekly meetings suggests where the library or club rooms were located. Any leads would be much appreciated. 

Anyone who has diaries kept by family members covering 1896 to 1960s, community history write-ups by family members or students, a scrapbook of newspaper articles from the area, etc. is asked to look through these for details about the early years of Hillsborough Public Library. Maybe a family member was a member of the Club or a librarian from that period. 

Any leads or information you may find on these mysteries can be directed to Library Manager Victoria (734- 3722) or library trustee Roland Hutchinson (734-8989) as soon as possible. Thank you for whatever you can do to help complete and preserve our library’s history.

Roland Hutchinson, Trustee, Hillsborough Public Library