Library Building

Baker Free Library // 1914

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In 1912, Congressman Henry M. Baker, cousin of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, left in his will, $10,000 and the land next to his family home to the Town of Bow for the creation of a public library for his hometown. Architect, William McLean formerly of the firm, McLean and Wright, who specialized in library designs of the early 20th century, was selected to furnish plans for Bow’s new library, which employs a sort of Classical Revival/Beaux Arts design, similar to many Carnegie libraries of the time. As the town grew, the library has been expanded.

Bolton Public Library // 1903

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The Bolton Public Library was established in 1859, when the town’s library collection was housed on a few shelves in the Selectmen’s room at the Town Hall. In the following decades it became clear to the community that a purpose-built library building should be constructed in town to house the growing collections there. At the time when wealthy benefactors donated funds for public libraries in towns and cities across New England, sisters Emma and Anna Whitney gifted their hometown of Bolton, $10,000 to build a dedicated library building in memory of their father, Captain Joseph Whitney in 1901. Completed in 1903, the Bolton Public Library was designed by the architectural firm Stone, Carpenter & Willson and built of local Bolton fieldstone in the Tudor Revival style. Of particular architectural merit is the red tile roof and three gabled bays with carved stucco and woodwork within half-timbered frames. The library was added onto in 2010 from plans by Lerner Ladds & Bartels Architects, who replicated key materials and forms so the new wing feels coherent with the original yet clearly differentiated.

Thayer Memorial Library // 1868

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One of the four stately brick buildings framing the Lancaster Town Common in Lancaster, Massachusetts, is this brick and brownstone building, the historic town library. The story of the town’s first purpose-built library building began in 1866, when wealthy resident, Nathaniel Thayer offered $5,000 to the town for the erection of a new library in his hometown. Quickly, a committee of residents, led by Mr. Thayer, worked to acquire land from the First Church of Christ in Lancaster and hire architects Ryder & Harris of Boston to furnish plans for the new building, which was set to be a library and Memorial Hall dedicated to the 39 Lancaster men who died fighting in the Civil War. Nathaniel Thayer ultimately donated two-thirds of the final cost of the building, believed to be nearly $30,000, in addition to his already established $5,000 for books. The building was updated later with the addition of a children’s room in 1929, a gift of Mrs. Bayard Thayer in memory of her son, another Nathaniel Thayer. The Classical/Renaissance Revival style building stands out for its unique central brownstone pedimented bay with engaged columns and balcony over the main entrance. 

Whiting Library // 1891

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The Whiting Library in Chester, Vermont, was designed by architect George H. Guernsey, and is said to be the only building in the village designed by a regionally significant architect. For the design, Guernsey created an eclectic library blending Romanesque and Queen Anne influences that strikingly enhance the library’s relatively modest physical stature. The building was named to honor Chester physician, Laurin G. Whiting and his wife, Abigail, who donated funds for the land and building. The polychromatic brick and granite building features unique gables, corner tower, and arched openings, which were carried over to a lesser scale into an addition a few decades ago.

Frederic C. Adams Library // 1898

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Built in 1898 in the heart of Kingston’s village center, the Frederic C. Adams Library was designed by renowned architect Joseph Everett Chandler and is one of the finest Colonial Revival style libraries in New England. Chandler, famed for his dedication to historic forms, created a one-and-a-half-story masonry gem, complete with a gabled roof, dentilled cornice, and a grand four-column Corinthian portico at the entry. The building’s story began with a bequest from Frederic  C. Adams, a Kingston native whose $5,000 gift in 1874 helped break ground on a dedicated library. Its elegant Colonial Revival look recessed panel windows, stone keystones, and symbolic half-round arches, echoes America’s early architectural traditions with a refined late‑19th‑century flourish. The library was eventually outgrown, and relocated across the street, to a contemporary building. After an award‑winning restoration, the building reopened in 2012 as the Adams Center, now housing Kingston’s Local History Collections in a climate‑controlled room and hosting community events upstairs. The Contemporary addition, paired with the restoration work all by Spencer Preservation Group, blends old with new in a pleasing way. 

Onteora Park Library // 1906

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Built in 1906, the Library at the Onteora Park summer colony in Hunter, New York, is one of the many architectural treasures in the development. Designed by George A. Reid, the Canadian artist, architect, and summer resident of Onteora Park, the Tudor-style Arts and Crafts building was constructed in 1906 and opened to a collection of over 1,500 books and a full-time librarian during the summer season. Built of wood-frame construction with stucco exterior finish and adorned by half-timbering, the building has been lovingly maintained and preserved by members of the community for over 120 years.

Westborough Public Library // 1908

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The Westborough Public Library is a handsome, two-story, masonry building with additions to showcase the growth and importance of the library to the community. This building was constructed in 1908, replacing a small space in the first floor of the old Town Hall (since demolished) as the community’s first purpose-built library. The structure was designed by architect Penn Varney, who specialized in civic buildings in New England. The Classical Revival style building is constructed of buff brick with stone trimmings. Of particular note, the quoined arched entry and pediment with central wreath motif, add much to the design. The library was eventually outgrown, and in 1980, an addition was added to the rear, in a style taking cues from the main building, but clearly of its time. The Town of Westborough about to undergo a restoration and renovation to the library, including a new roof, HVAC systems, interior renovations and the restoration of the 1908 windows.

Thurlow Building – Stonington Public Library // 1897

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This historic building on Main Street in the working harbor village of Stonington, Maine, was built in 1897 as a commercial block for Mr. Thurlow. John Leman Thurlow (1842-1928) was born on Deer Isle and was engaged in business in town. Mr. Thurlow had this commercial building constructed to house a local grocery store with residences above. Just before its completion, the Deer Isle Gazette wrote, “J. L. Thurlow’s new store is up and the side finish is being put on. It will be a fine commodious two story and a half building, an ornament to the place.” The building later was occupied as a millinery shop, a dress shop, and was purchased in 1959 by a newly established library association. The all-volunteer operation to establish a library in town began in 1955, and a collection of donated books was eventually housed in a rented space until this building was purchased as the home of the village library.

Somerville Central Library // 1914

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The Central Library of Somerville, Massachusetts, is a landmark example of the Renaissance Revival architectural style for civic purposes and showcases the prosperity and growth of the city in the early 20th century. The building was the second library constructed on Central Hill,  with the city’s first library built on west side of Central Hill, near City Hill, and was designed by local architect George F. Loring in the Romanesque style. By the early 20th century, the old library was becoming outgrown and planning began for a new, larger library. A site at the eastern edge of Central Hill Park was selected, and following a $123,000 gift from the Andrew Carnegie foundation for funding a new library, the new library became a reality. Architect Edward L. Tilton, was hired to furnish designs for the building. Tilton was likely selected as his experience with modern libraries was a highlight in his works. The two-story Italian Renaissance Revival style building is built of blonde brick with limestone and terra cotta trim. The building is capped by a shallow hipped roof of green tiles. A character-defining feature of the building is the large, second-story round arched windows along with the string course between floors, decorated by alternating wreath, book, and animal skull medallions. 

Rockland Memorial Library // 1903

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The Rockland Memorial Library in Rockland, Massachusetts is one of the most architecturally and historically significant buildings in the town. The Classical Revival style library was built in 1903 and is the Town of Rockland’s first purpose-built library structure. When Rockland separated from adjacent Abington in 1874, much of the collection became housed in a commercial building, which was consumed by fire in 1890, taking much of the collections with it. Although funds were raised soon after the fire for a permanent home for the library, its construction was made possible by a grant of $12,500 from Andrew Carnegie in 1902, as part of his nationwide gift to cities and towns for libraries. The handsome structure is constructed of brick, granite, and terra cotta, and was designed by the Boston-based architectural firm of McLean & Wright. The most interesting features of the building include the rooftop dome containing skylights and capped by a finial and the projecting entrance with pediment, quoins, and engaged Ionic columns.