Hale High School Fund Trustees

The Trustees oversee the trust fund which is currently used for the Randall Library Hale Reference Room.

Historical Information:
The Hale High School Fund was established by Town Meeting vote in 1871 after Elijah Hale donated five thousand dollars to establish a permanent fund with the income to be expended for the support of a High School in Stow.  The Hale High School was built in 1871-1872. In 1957, Town Meeting voted to accept the Agreement for Establishment of the Nashoba Regional School District to accommodate the high school students of Stow, Bolton and Lancaster. The regional high school opened in 1971.  On July 2,1963 the Hale High School was destroyed by fire.

In 1973, Town Meeting voted to construct an addition to Randall Library. An agreement was made between the Trustees of the Fund, the Library Trustees, the Board of Selectmen, and the Stow School Committee to establish a reference room for students in the Library addition and to use the annual income from the Hale High School Fund for the purchase of equipment and research materials for use in the Hale Reference Room or as a contribution toward the salary of a reference librarian or such other related expenses as might be incurred in setting up and maintaining the room.   In September 1974 the Trustees and the Selectmen voted to petition the appropriate court to authorize the Trustees to use the income for the reference room and the court granted the request.

The Trustees continue to annually provide funding for the Hale Reference Room for the Library Director to purchase the needed reference materials or provide the necessary room maintenance. This includes purchasing online databases, reference room computer & monitor, replacing lighting and shades.