Westerly Sun Column | Library’s History Parallels Memorial Day

Memorial Day is associated with many things: picnics and barbecues, parades, and grand mattress sales. Similarly, there are a multitude of things one may associate with Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, including good books, beautiful flora, and (ahem) dazzlingly creative and intelligent staff. One thing that we have in common, though, is that both the library and the holiday trace their roots to the American Civil War.

In 1868, several years after the end of the war, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed May 30 to be “Decoration Day” — a day to honor Union soldiers who died in the war by adorning their graves with flowers. Following the world wars in the 20th century, the holiday shifted to include all members of the U.S. military who lost their lives in service. Finally, in 1971, it became known as the “Memorial Day” we now celebrate on the last Monday in May.

Today is always a meaningful day for us at the library, as we were also created to commemorate soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War. According to Sally Coy, who led the library from 1930 to 1960, there had been significant “agitation” in Westerly for years over the need for a Civil War memorial, but little was done until 1891. A local industrialist named Stephen Wilcox donated the property and initial funds for a “living war memorial,” with the stipulation that the community would raise $25,000 to match his donation — a proposition that was met with an immediate and enthusiastic response from the public. The building opened in August of 1894, and, in addition to the books and services provided to residents, the library included dedicated meeting spaces for the Grant Army of the Republic, the same group who established Decoration Day all those years ago.

The town of Westerly has also played an important part in innumerable other memorials, in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and far beyond. Many Civil War monuments — including the Soldiers and Sailors Monuments in both New London and Providence — were cut from Westerly granite. In a Providence Journal article from 2013, John Hill asserts that Westerly quarries “produced nearly 300 monuments in 27 states” for the Civil War alone, not to mention the many other statues, busts, and buildings made from the granite. It’s pretty amazing to think about, and I recommend checking out Linda Smith Chaffee’s book “Built from Stone” for a more detailed history of the granite industry.

The library is closed today in observance of the holiday, but we remain faithful to our role as a living memorial to Civil War soldiers by preserving our beautiful building and maintaining a wonderful collection of books and materials related to the war, all of which will be available when we reopen tomorrow. I hope everyone enjoys their festivities today, while also remembering to take a moment for those who sacrificed their lives in the United States Armed Forces.

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian