"The Trustees of the Northborough Free Library meet today (April 4) with a feeling of regret which is akin to sadness; for we miss from our ranks a familiar face. Miss Ellen Williams has been a member of our Board for more than thirty years, during which time she has been a faithful servant of the Northborough Free Library, and through the Library, a faithful servant of the Town of Northborough. Her comprehensive knowledge of the best literature, her rare literary judgment, and her whole-souled devotion to the welfare of the Library have made her the most commanding influence in the building up of an institution which we believe to be one of the most important assets of our Town. Her term of service has extended over so many years, and the quantity of that service has been so great and its quality so rare, that the Board of Trustees desire to put on record at this time its appreciation of that service. Be it therefore

"Resolved: That the Board of Trustees of the Northborough Free Library express to Miss Ellen Williams their keen appreciation of the valuable services which she has so faithfully and so generously given to the Library during a period of thirty years. They realize, as perhaps none others do, or can, the magnitude and value of that service, not only to the Library but to the entire intellectual interests of the Town of Northborough. Be it

"Resolved: "That in Miss Williams's retirement from the Board, the Board of Trustees lose a wise counselor and devoted friend."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE NORTHBOROUGH NATIONAL BANK

Banking institutions are never numerous in a rural neighborhood, but in this immediate vicinity at the present time there are several banks; so many in fact, that it is almost impossible to realize that until one was established in Northborough there were none in this entire region. Marlborough had none; Westborough had none; Hudson had none; Shrewsbury had none, Berlin had none; Southborough had none. The Northborough bank, therefore, was the pioneer bank of this neighborhood.

The Northborough bank was organized as a state bank under the following Act of the Massachusetts Legislature, in 1854: "An Act to incorporate the Northborough Bank in the Town of Northborough.

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:

"SECTION I. George C. Davis, Cyrus Gale, Wilder Bush, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation by the name of the President, Directors and Company, of the Northborough Bank, to be established in the town of Northborough, and shall so continue until the first day of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five; and shall be entitled to all the powers and privileges, and be subjected to all duties, liabilities and restrictions, set forth in the public statutes of this Commonwealth relative to banks and banking.

"SECTION II. The capital stock of said bank shall consist of one hundred thousand dollars to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each to be paid in such installments, and at such times as the stockholders may direct, provided that the whole be paid in before the first day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.

"SECTION III. The stock of said bank shall be transferable, only at its banking-house and on its books.

"SECTION IV. The said corporation shall be subject to all the liabilities, requirements and restrictions contained in such acts as may be hereafter passed by the General Court in relation to banks and banking.'