Who Was Mary E. Clark?

One of the more frequently asked questions at the library, given its street address of 9 Mary E. Clark Drive, is this: Who was Mary E. Clark and why does she have a street named after her?

Mary E. Clark was both a Library Trustee and an important member of the Friends of the Library. She was instrumental in organizing and running the Hollyhock Thrift Shop for many years. She also was in charge of the flowers in the window boxes at the "old" library, a logical outgrowth of her love for gardening. And she helped out at the library in many other ways including running it for a period between Directors. But her single most significant contribution was the bequest of the proceeds from the sale of her home on Main Street for use by the library. Interest from the Mary E. Clark Fund has provided the library with many special items that it would not have been able to afford otherwise.

The first library software system was purchased with Mary Clark Fund money. The most recent benefit of Mrs. Clark's generous donation is the new DVD collection that is now available for borrowing. Funds from her bequest were used for many furnishings on the recently opened second floor as well. Her many contributions to the library, including the fund, keep on giving and giving and giving.

When the town finally purchased and renovated the current library building, the Planning Board asked the Trustees and Library Director Becky Rooney to suggest a name for the former private drive that was being converted to a public road to access the building. Becky had long wanted to honor Mary in some meaningful way so she suggested "Clark Drive". But there were so many Clarks and that didn't distinguish it enough. Then she added �Mary� but there were still too many so, as a last resort to be sure that the right person was honored, the street name became Mary E. Clark Drive.