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LIBRARY HISTORY

Shedd-Porter Memorial Library, located in Alstead, New Hampshire, was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Boston architects William H. McLean and Albert H. Wright. It was built in 1910 as a gift from John Graves Shedd and Mary Roenna Porter in memory of their parents.

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John G. Shedd grew up on a farm in Langdon, New Hampshire before leaving for work in Chicago, Illinois in 1871. He began work for Marshall Field and Company, starting as a stock clerk. He rose to become the second President and chairman of the board of Marshall Field & Company upon Field’s death in 1906. A major philanthropist in Chicago, he also provided the funds for the Shedd Aquarium.

JohnGravesShedd.jpg

John G. Shedd

Source: Wikipedia

In addition to the funds to build the library, John G. Shedd contributed 2,000 books. The library now has over 18,000 holdings.

 

The Shedd-Porter Memorial Library is listed in the National Register of Historic

Places as well as in the New Hampshire Register of Historic Places. 

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Clip from NH Chronicle

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