New Smyrna Historic Conner Free Library was built in 1901 and was the cities oldest Municipal building. It was a gift from Washington E. Connor and Jeanette Thurber Connor a historian who also owned the near by sugar mill. More interesting the library sits next to a Timucuan Indian Mound and Turnbull's Old Fort. The building is very Victorian or perhaps colonial in its architectural structure. The library served as the local library and was donated to the city in 1924 at that time it was used as a garden club.

Today the library serves as a museum for local New Smyrna History especially focusing on the Turnbull Colony, Pre-Columbian era, Spanish Periods, British Rule, Seminole Wars, Civil War, The Railroad Era and the 20th Century. One can visit here and learn all about the Turnbull Ruins or the Native American Mound on site. Then leave the library and take a lovely stroll through the park sit on some benches read a book or just admire the history surrounding this place.

The building looks more like a house then a library but amazingly enough this is the one building that has stood and has not be touched with fire or shells from a gunboat. Although they say that this is a museum I do believe it is used for some other purpose. I mean after all we looked inside seen a case of beer and soda machines. So maybe now it serves as some kind of snack center for local events. A banner hanging up in front said Marine Center so maybe the building perhaps is used for special events. We did notice that to get to the attic there was no stairs it was more like a hole in the ceiling. 

But one can wonder how haunted this building is since it is built near an Indian Mound and the site of so many tragedies. So this place caught our interest rather quickly. With a century of history to the free library this historical landmark has a real special touch to the old fort ruins.

© By

Rick-AngelOfThyNight

 

 
     
 

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