New Milford Public Library

The library had humble beginnings, initially housed in the homes of private citizens in the 1790s. A century later, it had its own building that featured Memorial Hall, a second-floor room initially set aside to honor the town’s Civil War veterans. It turned into a civic meeting place as well, especially for the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization that fought for numerous causes, including voting rights for African Americans and veterans pensions. Today, a major renovation is underway that will marry the library’s storied history with state-of-the-art facilities to meet 21st-century living. A connector will link the original 1890s stone Richardsonian Romanesque Revival-style building with its 1970s addition, and a new high-tech collaborative makerspace will cater to those interested in robotics, 3D printing and STEM learning. Memorial Hall, which can hold 155 people, will once again double as a community meeting place. A grand reopening is planned for January 2022.