So, like, there’s this super old library in Johnson, built back in 1909 in that Carnegie-style brick look. It’s smack dab between Railroad Street and the Gihon River in this former mill town. And let me tell you, this place has seen some serious floods over the years, especially in 1927, 1996, and 2023. The latest flood wiped out 1,500 books, leaving the library to set up shop in the basement of the Masonic Temple nearby.
But guess what? When the library staff and town big shots caught wind of a grant opportunity, they decided to team up and go for it. They wanted to give the library and the town a fresh start, you know? So, fast forward to April 25 and 26, and the library is being hauled away from its century-old spot to higher ground over at Legion Field on School Street. It was quite the spectacle, with a whole bunch of volunteers, workers, and trucks pitching in to make it happen. Route 15 even had to shut down for a bit, and power lines were taken out so they could roll that massive 40-by-45-foot library through.
New England Building Movers came in clutch with their diesel-powered hydraulics and dollies, inching the library along on 48 wheels. It wasn’t a smooth ride, though. They had to chop down some trees and trim the eaves just to squeeze through tight spots. But hey, the whole town showed up to watch the library inching along, glowing in the night with all those lights.
Now, the library’s got a new home that’s safe from flooding. They’re even planning to jazz it up with more space for community events. And get this, the whole shebang is being funded by a fat $1.68 million grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries. The locals banded together to apply for the grant, pull off the overnight move, and throw a bash to celebrate the library’s new digs.
Oh, and there’s a cool video of the library crossing the Pearl Street bridge and the community shindig on April 26. It rained buckets that day, but at least nobody had to stress about water seeping into the basement anymore. The library staff are crossing their fingers to reopen the spiffed-up library by the end of the year.
So, yeah, it’s a wild ride for the Johnson Public Library, but thanks to that grant and some serious teamwork, it’s getting a fresh start in a new flood-free spot. And that’s a wrap, folks!
