chronology

1808	First Union Library in the home of Charles F. Swift.  Other effort to 1866.
March 1866	Twenty men met at the home of Charles F. Swift to organize a library on a subscription plan with shares low enough ($10) so that all might become participants of its benefits.
June 9, 1866	Yarmouth Library is organized by assumption of corporate functions, adoption of a constitution, and the naming of officers.
June 29, 1866	Reverend Nathaniel Cogswell offered a building formerly occupied as a law office.  It later became the kitchen of the dwelling.
July 13, 1866	Henry C. Thacher offered the present lot of land.
August 24, 1866	The land was graded and the building moved
October 26, 1866	First installment of books purchased.
December 15, 1866	Library opened with 600 volumes, William J. Davis, Librarian
December 10, 1870	Nathan Matthews, a native of Yarmouth and one-time mayor of Boston, offered to erect a library building at a cost of $5,000, in memory of his father, James Matthews, upon the condition that the library should be enjoyed by all inhabitants of Yarmouth.
January 1871	Nathn Matthews’ offer was accepted.  Shareholders relinquished all private rights and transferred the property to the new corporation.
March 18, 1871	Yarmouth Library Association organized under the laws of the Commonwealth, with a Board of Trustees to manage the library for public use.
December 20, 1871	New building opened for inspection, following dedication exercises at the First Congregational Church.
April 1951	John Simpkins Wing is opened.  The John Simpkins wing was built with funds donated by Mrs. George Agassiz (founder of the Cape Cod Library Club) to house the books that had been bought from the income of the John Simpkins Fund.  This fund had been given on October 15, 1898 by Mrs. Agassiz and her sister, Mrs. Bayard Thayer, in memory of their nephew, Congressman John Simpkins.  NOTE: Mrs. George Agassiz (the former Mabel Simpkins) was actually the late Congressman’s sister,  not aunt.
December 1958	Mary Thacher Wing opened.  The Mary Thacher Wing was built with funds given by Miss Thacher during her lifetime for the addition of a children’s room.  At this time the living room of the Librarian’s apartment was converted into an office and workroom, and the former office was made into a kitchenette for the use of the Friends of the Yarmouth Library and the Trustees.
1966	The Mary Rousmaniere Room was added to house the library’s growing fiction collection.
1983	After 47 years, Librarian Martha White moved out of the Library.  Her apartment was converted to provide additional shelf space for non-fiction, mysteries, and large print books.
1990s	Yarmouth Port joined the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing system, better known as CLAMS.  This consortium of Cape and Island libraries gives card holders access to over 1.5 million items including books, magazines, and non-print resources.
2008	Due to serious cuts in the Town library budget, the Yarmouth Port Library faced closure.  Working with the Town Library Director, the Trustees negotiated to keep the library open on a reduced basis until the end of FY09.
2009	On July 1st, the Library once again became in independent, privately funded public library.

 

The residents of Yarmouth Port worked together to create this beautiful institution nearly 150 years ago and they continue to rally together today to ensure its preservation.