In 1905, suffering from meningitis and tuberculosis, Lee Roy J. Tappan died at the age of 25. With no surviving immediate relatives, his will included funds to construct a library, to be known as "The Tappan-Spaulding Memorial Library, and an inscription to that effect is to be placed over the main entrance". Tappan also donated his collection of artifacts, including Indian relics, weapons, china, coins, jewelry, and other curios, stipulating that they be "placed in cases in the library building, and never be taken from the building except in case of fire". To this day a functioning library, this combined Arts & Crafts and Classical design building is known as "the Jewel of Newark Valley".