Black-and-white photo of the Whiting Library included in the library’s first catalog, produced in 1894.

After a bequest was made from the estate of Mrs. Laurin G. Whiting (Abigal Bigelow) in 1888, the Whiting Library opened its doors on October 5, 1892. The Library’s unusual brick building was designed by architect George G. Guernsey and features Queen Anne turrets combined with Romaneque-Revival arches. It was built for $8,000 and situated on land donated by Franklin P. Ball of the nearby town of Rockingham, Vt.

In 1888 at the annual town meeting, Chester passed “an act to enable the town of Chester to avail itself of the legacies named in the wills of Laurin G. Whiting and Abigal B. Whiting for a library.”

According to first librarian C. Ginevra Pollard, “The Whiting Free Library, established in 1892, is the result of bequests of Dr. Loring G. and Abigail [sic] B. Whiting. From the endowment left by them a building costing about $8000 was erected, and the trustees have in charge of $4000, the income of which is available for the support of the library. the town also appropriated $200 yearly. The library contains 2700 volumes. (Vermont Libraries: … Biennial Report of the Free Public Library Service, 1896). Librarian Pollard served as head librarian at Whiting Library from 1893 to 1942.

The Library has preserved the original catalog, a little brown volume from from 1894 with 102 pages. It includes the biographical sketches that follow.

Laurin G. Whiting was born at Chester, Vt., April 10, 1804; educated at Chester Academy; studied medicine at the Castleton Vermont Medical College, and graduated; then went to New York city, further continued his studies and then commenced the practice of his profession. He soon secured a quite large and lucrative practice but his health became impaired by too close application, and, and believing that country life was the sole hope for regaining his physical strength, he removed to Landgrove, Vt., and for a time practiced there; from Landgrove he removed to Londonderry, Vt., remaining there several years, and from there he came to Chester, remaining with us thenceforward until his death in 1887. He was first associated in practice here with A. Lowell, and later alone. He built up a very large practice, and won the entire confidence both of his patients and the community. Dr. Whiting was a man of very positive opinions, but socially on of the most genial of men, having always a ready fund of quaint humor. In August, 1833, he married Abigal Bigelow who survived him about a year.

Abigal B. Whiting was the daughter of Rueben Bigelow and Abigal Brooks Bigelow and was born at Princeton, Mass., January 11, 1797. When she was about three years of age her parents removed to Bromley, Vt., now Peru, where they continued to reside during the remainder of their lives. She had only the advantages of a common school education but was remarkably studious and at the early age of 14 years she successfully taught her first term of school in a log schoolhouse in her native town. She continued to teach in Peru for eight years and then went to Virginia where she followed the same vocation. In August, 1833, she married to Dr. Whiting and thereafter her record is only that of a dutiful and respected wife. Mrs. Whiting was a women [sic]of strong intellect and believed in the education of her fellow citizens. By her will she gave the principal part of the fund which builded [sic] and sustains this best educator of her fellow beings.

George H. Guernsey was born in Calais, Vt., in 1840. He is a self made man. He early developed a remarkable architectural taste and is to-day one of the leading architects in New England. He served in Co. H, 11th Regiment, Vt. Vols. During the war and is now a resident of Montpelier. He designed this Library. Among other building of which he was the architect are the church of St. Francis and the hospital at the Soldiers’ Home in Bennington, the Williams Library at Woodstock and the new Catholic church at Montpelier and the new Baptist church at Ludlow.

In 1995, the community added a new wing to the original building. In 2014, Whiting Library received $99,800 in USDA grants and loans for repairs and restoration. More renovations occurred in 2015, resulting in a new HVAC system, heat pump, and central air. In 2021, Whiting Library formally dedicated a reading room in memory of the late Suzy Forlie of Chester. Suzy was a longtime trustee of Whiting Library and was the driving force behind the 2014 restoration.