For many years, the Albany Gazette was the only newspaper received in the town of Charlotte. The copy belonged to Major Samuel Sinclear, the founder of Sinclairville. However, this newspaper was regarded as the common property of the settlers of the region. The arrival of the newspaper at the Fredonia Post Office was a greatly anticipated event. When the paper did arrive, a young man was chosen to read the paper aloud in the village of Sinclairville. This single newspaper brought the news of the world to the settlers. From this paper came the news of the War of 1812 and the campaigns of Napoleon.
Around 1824, book agents started appearing in the country. Library societies, like the Sinclairville Library Association were established. In 1832 a circulating library was founded called the Charlotte Center Private Library Association. The library contained seventy-five to one hundred volumes. However, the library was closed ten years later and the books were distributed among the members. Around 1856, the Farmers' Club of Sinclairville founded a small library of Agriculture works, but like the Private Library Association, it lasted only a few years.
The Sinclairville Library Association was founded on February 4, 1870 by Rev. E. P McElroy. He donated his private library of one-hundred eighty-five volumes and twenty-five dollars. W. W. Henderson added his private library to the collection a few years later. When the library was founded no law existed tat allow libraries to be incorporated outside of large cities. This predicament persisted as the Barker Library at Fredonia was being founded. In 1875, Obed Edson, a member of the Chautauqua County Legislature and a distinguished resident of Sinclairville, wrote and presented a bill to remedy the problem. Under this act many libraries were created throughout the State of New York.
The Sinclairville Library was located in a variety of locations. Originally the library was located in the law office of Obed Edson on Main Street, then in William Scott's home on Park Street. The library was also operated out of the Mitchell Building and the Grange Building. On December 12, 1894, a Free Library was charted under the name of "Sinclairville Free Library" by the Board of Regents, University of the State of New York. This accomplishment was made possible largely by Mrs. John Crofoot.
The Sinclairville Free Library is currently the oldest library in Chautauqua County. It was located at 8 Lester Street in the basement of the Earl Minckler Village Building. Mrs. Patricia Web served as the librarian from 1982-2002 and was instrumental in the library's relocation to its current site in a state of the art facility at 15 Main Street.
In January 2003, the Sinclairville Free Library Board of Trustees named Lynn Ann Faber as Head Librarian. She was the 18th librarian to serve since 1870 and was the first non-Sinclairville resident to hold this position.
| Lisa Greeley assumed the position of Library Manager in July 2006. A resident of Gerry which is part of the Library's service district, Lisa becomes the 19th Librarian. |
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| rev. 2006 org. 1/5/99 amh |