Ansonia Library

Ansonia Library The Ansonia Library has been
serving the residents of Ansonia, CT since 1896! There is also a long row of high windows, grouped in threes.

A direct descendent of the man who founded Ansonia wished to make a benefaction to the town. Caroline Phelps Stokes, granddaughter of Anson Greene Phelps, purchased a triangular site at the corner of South Cliff Street and Cottage Avenue. In 1891, she traveled from New York to supervise the construction of a building designed for her by architect George Keller. The Ansonia Library was an L-shaped

structure of 70 by 82 feet, built with walls of Longmeadow freestone and a roof of unglazed red Spanish tiles. The foundation walls were constructed using wall stone from the Ansonia granite quarries. A square tower with a pyramidal roof was located at one corner of the building next to a large rounded, arched entrance. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, rests in the gable end of the roof above the entrance, ensconced in the usual foil with two lions at her feet. Heavy oak doors lead to the interior entrance hall with a stone mosaic floor with the representations of Pegasus and Bellerophon. Inside, the Reference Room boasts natural quartered oak, a large fireplace with a chimney piece of rubbed red Lake Superior freestone, ribbed barrel vault ceilings and two tiers of leaded glass windows using some colored glass. The structure - a library - was dedicated on June 9, 1892. But it sat vacant for four years because the town fathers refused to provide the $1,500 per year toward the library's operating expenses. Finally, on August 13, 1896, the town administrators relented and voted the annual $1,500 appropriation. The library opened its doors under the charge of Annie Hadley. The Ansonia Library began with a collection of 1515 books. An addition was added to the Ansonia Library in 1960.

06/17/2026
"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso There really are a few spots left for tonight's amazing Children's ...
06/16/2026

"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso

There really are a few spots left for tonight's amazing Children's art workshop, perfect for ages 8 and up! Register here: https://forms.gle/ML5M11Beh4sVEoJe6

We have a few more spots for tonight's Children's Fairy Tails Art workshop- come create art with us and bring home a beautiful piece to kickoff the summer break with! Register here: https://forms.gle/hFXBpAFimHmy4bof6

06/02/2026

👻 Discover the haunted history of the Naugatuck Valley! Join award-winning journalist and paranormal investigator Michael Bielawa at the Ansonia Library on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM for an evening of local legends, ghost stories, and dark history from across the Valley. Register using this link: https://forms.gle/CgiGTgNxnN7xcC5RA

End of life planning can be a difficult topic to discuss, but Becca Allen will talk through the important steps that wil...
06/01/2026

End of life planning can be a difficult topic to discuss, but Becca Allen will talk through the important steps that will help navigate it in a manageable and thoughtful way. Please consider joining us and register here: https://forms.gle/BqnWpqtX6Vnndd2RA

Please register to join us by using this link to register: https://forms.gle/BqnWpqtX6Vnndd2RA

This event will be rescheduled once Mr. Bielawa is back on his feet- we wish him a speedy recovery!
05/27/2026

This event will be rescheduled once Mr. Bielawa is back on his feet- we wish him a speedy recovery!

Address

53 S Cliff Street
Ansonia, CT
06401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+12037346275

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ansonia Library posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Ansonia Library:

Shortcuts

Share

Category