the history of the tremont public library begins with a private collection of books made available by mrs. vesta mcrae, probably from her own home. this collection grew to about 1200 volumes by 1920. the 1922 portion of the present building was designed by an unknown architect, and was funded by rhoda m. watson, a tremont native who was memorializing her late husband edwin, an industrialist from leicester, massachusetts, and was formally accepted by the town the following year. it is possible that the builder, charles lawson, was also its designer; he was rhoda watson's brother. its construction took place at a time when many public libraries were underwritten by charitable gifts, and when libraries were seen as an important aspect of a community's educational offerings.