The first library in Milford was established in 1745 and belonged to the First Church. The city’s first secular library began with the chartering of the Milford Lyceum in 1858. The Milford Lyceum Library was eventually dissolved in 1894, when the Taylor Memorial Library was founded. Dedicated in 1895, the Taylor Library was the gift of Henry Augustus Taylor, a financier and philanthropist. It is constructed of local fieldstone, red sandstone and yellow brick. The design of the Richardsonian Romanesque building was based on that of H.H. Richardson’s Crane Memorial Library in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1976, the new Milford Public Library was opened at the corner of New Haven Avenue and Shipyard Lane, officially replacing the Taylor Library. The old library building was converted to office space and is now home to the Milford Chamber of Commerce.
I believe that Henry Augustus Taylor is my great grandfather. My grandmother was Elenor Van Vredenburg Taylor who came from Milford Ct and came to England to marry my grandfather Capt Arthur Avison Scott RN DSO bar. I was wondering if you could give me some more information on H A Taylor. We have very little about my mother’s side of the family bar names such as Washington E Connor Taylor – whose christening mug I have inherited
Dinah Greek
How cool is that!! What a beautiful building!!! So this original building is now office space…? and reputed to be haunted…? Pretty awesome.
Dinah
I don’t know how long this question has been on line, but I could send you some info on Henry A Taylor.
If you want to send me your address, I could mail an article to you.
Marilyn May
Milford Historical Society