The NorthEast-Millerton Library was incorporated on March 31, 1927 by the Board of Regents as the Millerton Free Library. At that time it was situated on the second floor of what is currently used as the screening room of The Moviehouse. Unfortunately, no images remain from that time.
The next stop was the second floor of Delsons Department Store, now the Millerton Antiques Center. A fire on March 23, 1955 put an end to this incarnation. June Davis risked her life by going into the building to save the Library’s copy of The History of Dutchess County by Frank Hasbrouck. As crowds gathered to watch the flames, a Library trustee noted “Well, at least this gets us down from the second floor.”
Caption is incomplete due to clipping error.
The Library Emergency Fund immediately began to raise funds to replace the items they lost, ultimately raising $1,288. The Library re-opened a mere ten days later on April 2, 1955 in the tiny triangular building on John Street, directly behind the Millerton Antiques Center. By May 3, 1955 the Library resumed full functions.
Due to the extremely limited quarters of the John Street location, some books were housed in the Millerton Branch Library, located in the First National Store (a grocery store, which later became Saperstein’s).
In 1962 the fire department vacated its former location on Dutchess Avenue (formerly Village Hall) and the Library moved in.
In 1975 the Christian Science Church moved from 75 Main Street to their new building on Century Boulevard and sold their former home to the Library for $27,000. Prior to its acquisition by the Christian Science Church, the structure was owned by the Presbyterian Church and used as a manse. It had previously been divided into two apartments.
Two sections were added to the Library’s main building. Plans for the east wing extension and the vestibule were completed in 1976. They were finished some time after.
As the number of congregants dwindled, the Century Boulevard church was put up for sale. The Library Board, led by Myron Rindsberg, lobbied successfully for its acquisition as a venue for Library programs. The Annex was acquired in 2009.
Compiled and Written by Sarah Ellen Rindsberg, 2018
Updated by Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, 2025
Photographs are from the collections of the Northeast Historical Society and the NorthEast-Millerton Library
