Miss Ludington
Succumbs at 51

Miss Emma Jane Ludington of South St., Patterson, veteran newspaper correspondent and Patterson town historian, died Monday in Putnam Community Hospital after a three weeks illness.

Miss Ludington was born June 12, 1920, in Patterson, daughter of me late Daniel G. and Frances Judd Ludington. She was (Continued on Page 3)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1972

Carmel NY Putnam Country Courier 1972 Grayscale - 0834.pdf

Note: could not find Page 3.

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Historic desk displayed at Patterson

Restoration of the Desk given by the late Emma Jane Ludington to the Patterson Library has been completed and the desk is now on display in the Heritage Room in the Library.

This desk, which is considered to be hand-made by a local artisan, was used to store the books of the original Franklin Union Library established in the late 1700's, when Patterson was known as the Town of Franklin.

William Pelletreau's History of Putnam County makes the following statement regarding this Library, "In the latter part of the last century, a library bearing the above name (Franklin Union Library) was established and owned by a company consisting of prominent men of the town. A little pamphlet, of which we have seen but one copy, contains the following:

'Rules of admission into the Franklin Union Library Society for the promotion of Agriculture and Morality. Any person of lawful age and a respectable moral character, after the examination and approbation of the Society, may be admitted as a Member. But any person addicted to drunkeness, profane or obscene language, and showing a bad example in his family or neighborhood shall ever be deemed unworthy of admission.' Than follows a list of books, beginning with "Rollin's Ancient History" in 10 volumes, the whole number of volumes being 148, and of very substantial nature. A certificate of membership of Matthew Patterson's dated February 4th, 1794, and signed by Roswell Wilcox, president and Silas Marsh, secretary. The seal attached has the representation of a house in the center, an ox head on the left, above a sheaf of wheat and a plow, and on the right a man reading. This library existed for many years but was finally sold and scattered. The old Book Case, which held the library, which was considered a great institution in its day, is now in the possession of Richard Hayt."

A member of the Ludington family recalls that this "Library" was evidently removed at some time from the Richard Hayt home and stored in the cellar of the Birch house, now occupied by Mrs. Frank Lloyd on Mooney Hill Rd. in West Patterson. Miss Ludington's father discovered it in the cellar of his mother-in-law's house where it was used to store canned fruits and vegetables, realized its worth from the Secretary's minute book which was still in the desk and removed it to his own home where it occupied a place of honor for many years. His daughter, the late Emma Jane Ludington, became the possessor of the desk and upon her death, it was placed in the Patterson Library where she had desired it would be given proper exhibition and use.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1972 THE PUTNAM COUNTY COURIER, CARMEL, N.Y.