Please join us on July 12 for an open house and light refreshments as we celebrate 100 years of the Seelye House! Also, there will be a display honoring the Seelye Family throughout the month of July to commemorate this special anniversary.
On June 14, 1914, the Directors of the Bethel Free Public Library resolved to accept the Seelye homestead from the Seelye Family under the will of the late Hannah H. Seelye, including all of the land, under the conditions that the house or any building erected in its place shall be held in perpetuity for library purposes. On July 14, 1914, the deed was read and accepted by the Town.
At the time, the Reverend L. Clark Seelye D.D. offered a cash gift to make improvements to repair the front stone steps, install a steam heating system, remodel and change the fireplaces to brick, fix the chimneys, cut arches through the downstairs rooms, repair the ceilings and paper and paint the walls, paint the outside of the house, and remove the outbuildings. Also installed were proper sewage and electric light systems.