What was once a town controversy, the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library has become a meeting place for literary growth and community bonding.
When Stony Creek resident Willoughby Adelbert Wallace died in 1946, he left $93,000 for the construction of a library or for the Congregational Church of Christ to distribute unrestricted. After a heated meeting on the same night that funding was approved for the present-day Branford High School, the town approved to build the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library just in time before the gift from Wallace automatically went to the church.
Construction began in 1956 under the guidance of architect Douglass Orr. Also local to the area, Castellucci Brothers gifted all of the granite used in the construction of the natural-meets-modern structure. Both parties donated all time and services. Today, there is quite an homage paid to area residents by way of granite-sculpted benches commemorating the work of Stony Creek quarry men and a mural depicting Creek life inside of the library painted by local artist Robert Reynolds.
The library is a hidden gem in its secluded Thimble Island Road location and is a perfect spot for browsing, reading quietly or surfing the web. In addition to taking out books and media, library card holders can reserve museum passes, apply for a U.S. passport and use the notary service on site. It also contains the Keyes Art Gallery, which features monthly juried art exhibits.