I've been reflecting on comments that were made about the historical society after its members expressed an interest in obtaining the Amsden Farm. In a letter to the Selectboard, in prepared statements that were read at Town Meeting, in remarks at that meeting by a part-time resident of the town, and in the discussion that followed his remarks, there were unfavorable assessments of the organization. I was saddened by the severity of a few of the opinions. I'll not speak to the issue of the Amsden Farm, as the library stood to benefit from the transfer of that property, but I want to make mention of some of the good work the historical society is doing and to thank its members for the kindness and support they've shown to me, the library, and the townspeople.

I can tell you unequivocally that without the historical society, the library would not be installing a bathroom. Having explored every option, we discovered that we would be unable to provide running water to the library without help from the neighbors. There is simply not room enough on our property for a water source and a septic system. The historical society granted us, at no cost and with no strings attached, an easement to tap into their well. The improvement in library service that will come as a result of the bathroom is possible only because of an out-and-out gift from the historical society to the library and its patrons.

As has been reported in the Standard, the Informer, and the school newsletter, the kids are working on a spring production that will include part of the history of the town. Laura Griggs and Junior Sanderson, both historical society board members, have contributed time and materials to the project. Laura spent many weeks researching different aspects of Reading history. She then wrote half a dozen reports on her findings. Laura talked with children at the school and also met four times with groups of them at the library. Both she and Junior shared items from the historical society and from their personal collections. Because of their efforts, the children of Reading have become familiar with the histories of local landmarks, buildings, industries, businesses, schools, and people.

I get calls and e-mails regularly at the library from non-Vermonters who are looking for information, or (what's more common) are looking for someone who will look for information, on long-lost relatives of theirs who lived in Reading about a thousand years ago. On many occasions historical society members have combed through photographs and letters and town records and then mailed materials that might be helpful to the callers and e-mailers. Rarely has there been an offer of compensation for time, labor, or even postage.

And members of the historical society continue to provide assistance on an oral history project that will last several months and that we all hope will be of some benefit to the town for years to come.

As far as I know, the historical society has never asked for or received any funds from the taxpayers of Reading. The members of the society do what they do because they care deeply about the town and about the people who've lived here and worked here and died here the past couple of centuries.

I don't want to disparage those people who had tough words for the organization. Their views are based on their experience; my views are based on mine. The whole truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, as it often does. Because of my position as representative of the public library and because I'm not a citizen of Reading, my saying anything on this matter may be unwise. But anyone at Town Meeting unfamiliar with the historical society, or with the people who make it up, was presented with an incomplete and in some respects inaccurate portrait. To allow the record to stand uncorrected would not be neighborly, that's all.

Cordially,
Tony

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