The third floor of the museum is where the beautiful Dunham Hall Library is located. It has two fireplaces and vaulted timbered ceilings. The Library houses a unique collection of resources, children’s titles, craft books and much more in a reading room setting. There are materials on mills, immigration, textiles, and local and Connecticut history.
Named after Austin Dunham – Mill Founder & Owner
Willimantic’s First Library
Opened March 2nd, 1878
It was uncommon to have a library and to educate the masses
Built with Civil War profits
Built to benefit the workers
Benevolent project for the whole community
Used as a night school to teach English lessions, singing classes, reading & writing
Used for research
Reflects wealth & influence after Civil War
An important part of Americanization of immigrant mill workers
Also used as an Episcopalian Chapel to try to shake the Irish from their Catholic habits