Prior to this establishment becoming the Deep River Public Library in 1933, it was built in 1881 as home to Richard Pratt Spencer (above) and his family. Richard was the President of the Deep River Savings Bank, just across the street from his home.

On December 13, 1899, four men attempted to break into the Deep River Savings Bank, just across the street from the Spencer’s home. A bank guard named Capt. Harry Tyler, on night duty at the bank, fired his shotgun, striking one of the four men in the left eye, killing him instantly. With no identification, the man was given the name “XYZ Robber”, a name which appears on his tombstone in Deep River, ironically not far from Harry Tyler’s tombstone.