Larson Attends Wickham Memorial Library Grand Re-Opening, Renovations Funded Through the American Rescue Plan

East Hartford, CT – Yesterday, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) attended the Wickham Memorial Library grand re-opening celebration, which was recently renovated with $4 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding. 

“Growing up, my siblings and I would walk from our home in Mayberry Village to the Wickham Library, and today, I am thrilled to see it continue to be a space welcoming of residents of all ages,” said Larson. “I helped pass the American Rescue Plan in Congress to deliver direct aid to communities across the country for pandemic recovery and community development. Because of this funding, the Town of East Hartford was able to dedicate resources to make long overdue renovations to ensure the Wickham Library is accessible for all residents and offer new resources to support the community through our library system, including a new Digital Navigator program to connect residents with reliable, high-speed internet. I want to commend Mayor Walsh and Library Services Director Sarah Morgan for their dedication, vision, and ongoing commitment to the people of East Hartford.” 

The Wickham Memorial Library was first opened to the public in 1940, after being gifted to the Town of East Hartford by industrialist Clarence H. Wickham, who also donated his estate, “The Pines,” to become Wickham Park. Wickham Library reopened to the public in May of 2023, following a renovation that added an elevator and ADA-accessible bathrooms. 

East Hartford was awarded a total of $45.5 million from the American Rescue Plan, which has been used to upgrade school and library infrastructure, expand high-speed internet access, help students catch up from lost instruction time during the pandemic, and purchase new firefighting equipment.