The Historic Foundation of Wilder Memorial Library

August 4, 2025

by Wayne Granquist

The Wilder Memorial Library building was constructed around 1820. When our contractors dug down 6 feet or so for the foundation drains, they discovered that the original builders created a foundation for the brick building by digging a trench and filling it with large (2 to 3 feet sized) boulders.

Then, on top of the boulders, they used smaller stones to fill in the gaps and create a more level surface for the bricks. You can see that technique in the photos above and below.

These kinds of foundations were common in early 19th century rural Vermont and northern New England. They’re called Rubble Stone Foundations – economical, using easily available fieldstones, providing good drainage, and relatively easy to construct.

As we renovate and expand the library, we are very conscious of its long history. This is just one example of how we are making sure we take note and record that history for future generations.