History
The Busti Hazeltine Memorial Library was made possible by gifts from Charles
Benjamin Reed Hazeltine and also from the estate of Albert Jones left to his
daughter Fanny Jones.
Charles Benjamin Reed Hazeltine, living in Arlington, Massachusetts was secretary
for the Mellin Food Company for many years. He desired that $5000.00 of his money
go for a library in Busti, to be located at the four corners as near as possible,
in memory of his father Pardon Hazeltine who had lived and served in Busti.
Charles Benjamin Reed Hazeltine's will obligated the Town of Busti to provide
suitable quarters for the library books and the sum of $200.00 per year for
expense of administration. It was to be set up as a Regents Library and to be
administered by the State Board of Regents. All books being purchased from the
endowment funds are to be first approved by the State Board of Regents.
The proposition was presented to the Town of Busti November 3, 1914. The Town Board
immediately voted to appropriate the $200.00 per year if and when the legacy should be received.
Records pertaining to the establishment of the library:
Certificate of Establishment of a new Library at Busti - December 29, 1922
Application for Library charter - June 30, 1923
Inspection of Busti Public Library - October 27, 1923
Inspection of Busti Public Library for Registration - June 24, 1924
Application for Library Registration - October 29, 1924
Finally in 1934 the Town Board of Supervisors supervised the construction of a new
library building and supplied the architect and some federal funds under the TERA.
Previously the library had been housed in the Busti Town Hall.
Fanny Jones taught school in two Busti District elementary schools. She also was
the first president of the Board of Trustees of the Library.
Pardon Hazeltine, born in 1801, settled first in Busti. He was Town Supervisor,
1836-1839. He was Town Clerk, 1835-1838. Then in 1840 he moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
where he died March 12, 1844. He married first Harriet Sherman and next Abigail R. Wheelock.
Abigail and Pardon had two children: Harriet Shearman Hazeltine born February 1, 1841 and
Charles Bejamin Reed Hazeltine born January 23, 1843.
In 1975, the addition was made to the building. In 2004, the renovation of the building
was completed to bring the library facility to its current state.
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