Babcock Library: The Early Years
In the 1840s young Archibald Babcock from Ashford joined the California Gold Rush to seek his fortune. He must have done well because upon his death in the 1860s, Mr. Babcock bequeathed two identical $3,000 gifts to the Town of Ashford; one to establish a band and the other to start a “free” library (in those days people paid a subscription to belong to a library). Thus was born the Babcock Band and the Babcock Library, two Ashford institutions which have survived to this very day (along with both bequests which are still managed by the Town Treasurer). For the next 60 years the library was located in a variety of private homes and country stores.
Enter Knowlton Hall
In the 1920s the Knowlton family of Ashford built a town hall to commemorate the family history dating back to Colonel Thomas Knowlton, commander of Knowlton’s Rangers in the Revolutionary War. For the next 80 years Knowlton Memorial Hall housed the Ashford town government as well as the Babcock Library which occupied half the top floor.
The Babcock Library Today
Recognizing the steady growth of town government, Ashford built a new administrative building and renovated Knowlton Hall in the period 2004-2006. The Babcock Library was given use of the entire top floor which effectively doubled its size to the present 4,000 sq. ft. To showcase its new space the Library held a grand opening celebration in March 2006 featuring noted Connecticut author Wally Lamb who praised the new facility as “a victory for literacy.”