The John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library in East Craftsbury has received the 2026 Preservation Excellence Award from the Vermont State Historic Preservation Office, and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The award honors the library’s director and board for preservation stewardship, historical documentation, and community education, including a multi-year effort that resulted in the National Register listing.
The nomination, prepared by architectural historian Polly Allen, shows the library's history, including a period when it had the highest per capita book circulation rates in Vermont.
The designation also recognizes founder Jean Walker Simpson, known as “Miss Jean,” who converted her family’s former general store into a library in 1921. She served as head librarian for nearly 60 years, curating boxes of books for weekly circulation to rural families, and was a key organizer of the East Hill Players Theatre and local Girl Scout troops.
“Every month is a symphony of events and activities that are emphasizing the human connections that Miss Jean Simpson engrained in the fabric and life of the library,” Allen said.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: LXS Photography via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
Log in as a subscriber to comment, or become a member.