Newtown Library Company's 2nd Building

Established in 1760, the Newtown Library Company has had 3 different locations in it's long history. Up until the County Seat moved to Doylestown in 1813 the books were kept in the librarian's homes. In 1813 the books were moved to the vacant court house. Issac Hicks, father of Edward Hicks, donated a 15' by 15' square lot adjoining the sheds of the White Hall Hotel in 1824. A frame library building was built upon the site and occupied up until 1881, when Jesse Leedom purchased a small lot on the corner of Court and Centre and deeded it to the library for a new building. 

White Hall Hotel and sheds

After the donation of the land, funds were raised to erect the library. Initially, it was thought that the price of brick was too high and the building should be built of stone, which was to be donated by some of the subscribers. Eventually they settled on brick and hired prominent local craftsman Garret B. Girton to build the library. Excitement for the new building was high enough that many people showed up to help dig the cellar hole one afternoon. Additional funds were raised when Bucks County historian General W. W. H. Davis delivered a lecture without compensation at Newtown Hall for the benefit of the library. 

2nd Building of the Newtown Library Company

There was a barn on the site at the time of the sale, which H.C. Worstall bought and moved next door behind James Moore's blacksmith shop. 

Mar 18, 1882 Newtown Enterprise

We find many mentions in the paper of the building going up, surrounded by an iron fence. The full cost of the new library building and furnishings was $1,639.41. The building was of pressed brick with a slate roof and had a heater with gas pipes and fixtures. The cellar had a belting course of dressed stone.

Edward Hicks painted a sign for the first library which depicted Benjamin Franklin reading a book. The sign hung over the front door of the 2nd building and is currently on display in the 3rd building. Presumably, it was on display in the first building as well.

The Newtown Library Company occupied its 2nd building until 1911, when Joseph Barnsley bequeathed the library $15,000 for the erection of a free reading room in Newtown. The library sold it's building to prominent local attorney William R. Stuckert for $1,500, with the intention of using the proceeds to secure a lot on the corner of Centre and Congress. A colonial type building was erected on the site and continues to be the home of the library today. An addition was built to the rear in 1978.

3rd Home of the Newtown Library Company

As to the fate of the 2nd building, it's now hidden behind a squarish building appended to the front of the library by William R. Stuckert. Stuckert bought the lot off of John Kroger for $375. It's a shame that such a beautiful little building was forever hidden.

Oct 26, 1912 Newtown Enterprise