Saturday, October 11th 2008 marked the dedication of the new flag and memorial raised in the honor of William J. Carr, a long time supporter of the library. Bill’s family, friends, local supporters and the library board gathered on a beautiful autumn day to celebrate his life and remember all that he did for our library and community over the years.
Our library might not have its New York State Charter were it not for Bill’s efforts. A native son of Wilmington, he left the area as an adult, but maintained a family home here and continually worked to help the town and the library no matter where he was. All that he did for us is detailed in the History of the Library, by Dana Peck.
Bill’s family and the board of the library decided last winter that a fitting memorial would be a flag and monument set on our lawn between the library and the Ausable River. With Whiteface, Marble and Esther Mountains in the background, along with the Wilmington Range, Lake Everest, and the Ausable River, the setting will remind all who knew him of how much he valued the community and its resources.
The flag and pole were funded by all the contributions made in Bill’s memory. The stone came from the land where his family still maintains a camp here in Wilmington, the construction and raising of the pole were generously done by the Town of Wilmington Highway Department, and the stone was carved by Carnes Granite in Ausable Forks.
