Offered By: Representatives Trombley of Grand Isle and Johnson of South Hero

NO. R-493 Page 2

NO. R-493. House concurrent resolution congratulating the Isle La Motte Free Public Library as it marks a century of serving readers on the westernmost Champlain island.

(H.C.R.325)

Offered by: Representatives Trombley of Grand Isle and Johnson of South Hero.

Offered by: Senator Mazza of Grand Isle County.

Whereas, for the past century, the Isle La Motte Free Public Library has provided a wonderful place to pursue the printed word in its many literary variations, and

Whereas, the institutional origins of the library date back to 1868 when the Isle La Motte Library Association was formed, and

Whereas, the foundation of the library’s bibliographic collection is the 120 books acquired from the state of Vermont in 1898 which resulted from the efforts of Elisha R. Goodsell, and

Whereas, the Ritchie family has played a prominent role in the library’s history as 12yearold Cynthia Ritchie volunteered to become the librarian upon receipt of the state donation, and she continued faithfully in that role for the next 64 years, and

Whereas, in 1904, the Isle La Motte Public Library was incorporated, and the incorporators included Mrs. Nelson Fiske, Mrs. Edgar S. Fleury, Mrs.MattS. Thomas, Mrs. Dan T. Trombley, Mrs. Jon Rorback, Miss Mary Montgomery, and Mrs. Henry Holcomb, and

Whereas, that same year, through the incorporators’ diligent efforts, a stone building then owned by former Lt. Governor Nelson W. Fiske and built in 1830 by librarian Cynthia Ritchie’s grandfather, James Ritchie, was purchased, and remains the library’s home to this day, and

Whereas, after a century of bringing great bibliographic pleasure and opening new paths to knowledge, the Isle La Motte Free Public Library remains a venerable community institution, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly congratulates the Isle La Motte Free Public Library as it marks a century of serving readers on the westernmost Champlain island, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send copy of this resolution to the Isle La Motte Free Public Library.