Martha Canfield Library Book Lovers Auction

The Book Lovers Auction will provide funds to support the improvement of noise reduction and sound proofing within the library, as well as support to the Russell Vermontiana Collection. The Martha Canfield Library depends on community support in order to fulfill our mission.

The auction is scheduled to conclude on August 9th which is National Book Lovers Day.

The Martha Canfield Library is a non-profit free library located at 528 East Arlington Road in Arlington, Vermont. The library's mission is to be a vital hub of the community by providing a professional and welcoming environment where inquiring minds can discover and use resources for both the individual and collective pursuit of enjoyment, knowledge and enrichment.

We are excited to invite bids on auction items provided by the generous donations of local theaters, restaurants, artisans, authors, recreation venues, shops, and so many more.

A collection of vintage furnishings in this auction were donated by the grandchildren of Herbert and Helen Congdon, in memory of their parents and grandparents, to benefit the Russell Vermontiana Collection as we preserve Arlington, Sandgate, Sunderland, and Vermont History.

Herbert Wheaton and Helen W. Congdon, were prominent residents of Arlington, having moved here in 1923. Herbert W. Congdon (1876-1963) was an architect, amateur photographer, and author of several books, including Old Vermont Houses (1940), The Covered Bridge (1941), and Early American Homes for Today (1963). These books (1st Editions!), full of historical detail, vintage photographs, and of course, charming stories featuring Vermonters will all be listed in the auction.

The Congdons were active participants in the Arlington community. Herbert helped design several buildings in Arlington, including the West Arlington School on the Green and the Arlington Memorial School. He also designed and built their home on Buck Hill Road. He was involved in civic activities including serving on the Arlington School Board, as Town meeting moderator, as a member of the board of the Children’s Aid Society in Vermont, Trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, and the St. James Episcopal Church organist for many years. Helen was Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s secretary, as well as Martha Canfield Memorial Free Library librarian, and held memberships in other Arlington organizations.