Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of Massachusetts
Cities T-Z
Whew! Almost done with this state, unless you want to go to Boston.
Tyringham
(L) An attractive linen-finish card of a single storey stone library.
(R) E.L. Tinker monochrome card, mailed 1908.
Little Internet presence. Appears to share the pictured building with the town hall.
Uxbridge (Thayer Memorial Library)
Someone was channeling Jolly Olde England, I think.
Donated in 1893. Still in use.
​
(L) RPPC mailed 1906.
(R) Octochrome brand card by The American News Company.
Vineyard Haven
No longer in use as a library.
​
Vineyard Haven is a village on Martha's Vineyard. The Library building is the shingle-style building on the left side of the postcard.
​
1905 postcard by Rotograph.
Wakefield (Beebe Memorial Library)
Founded in 1856, although this 1922 Ralph Adams Cram building was dedicated in 1923. It was expanded in 1969 and 1997. The latter Childs, Burtman, & Tsecakres renovation essentially gutted the 1969 James F. Clapp addition. The library's history pages leaves one with the impression that the 1969 wing was not in character with the neoclassical architecture of Cram.
​
The postcard is likely contemporaneous with the original building.
Waltham
As a preservationist, I am torn about this library.
An 1679 house and tavern was torn down in 1913, and the Library built in 1914. Additions followed in 1933 and 1994.
Curt Teich 'C.T. American Art' card was mailed in 1916.
Ware (Young Men's Library Association)
The Library began as the eminently practical Mechanics and Manufacturers Library in 1828. The collection wended its way through several organizations, but the Young Men's Debating Society took the initiative to build a permanent home in 1879.
In 1881, the E.C. Gardner-designed building opened as a library.
Its website emphasizes that this was never a church.
This might be a Curt Teich product, judged only by its plate number.
Warren
Built in 1890. During much of this time, the second floor was never used. They had that extra space, albeit leaky, and now they still occupy this beautiful building.
A.E. Shumway/N.E. Paper & Stationery post card.
Watertown
Built of beautiful red stone and brick in 1884, and still in use.
(L) 1905 Rotograph postcard, never mailed.
(R) American Art Post Card, with less vegetation.
Wayland
1900 Samuel W. Mead building, of red brick. In 1988, the most recent addition was made.
Published by S.I. Russell; printed by the N.E. Paper & Stationery Company.
Webster
Built 1918-1921 from a Titan & Githens design, on a land donation from Augusta E. Corbin. However, the library is now known as the Gladys E. Kelly Library.
​
Although it's a difficult call, I believe this was printed in the 1960s by Merrimack Post Card.
Wellesley
Shaw & Hunnewell building, purportedly Romanesque with French Chateau features. Replaced in 2003. Still in use as the town hall.
Printed in Germany.
Westborough
This attractive building is still in use.
The sharp photo postcard was mailed in late 1907.
Westfield
Believed to be the Westfield Athenæum.
Proceeding on the assumption that this was the Athenaeum, this was the 1899 version: the second library building. Among the sources of its funding were monies from the president of the American Whip Company, and proceeds from the dog tax.
In 1927, this building became the 'Fowler-Gillett Homestead for the Boys and Girls Library.' It was expanded in 1966.
German postcard with an entire back.
Westminster (Forbush Memorial Library)
Westminster's library history is rich and complex. Frost, Briggs, & Chamberlain of Worcester designed this 1902 building, which the Library states is similar to the Carnegie buildings of the time.
Problems began with the 1997 expansion, which likely had FB&C rolling in their graves. Floods and mold in this new section occurred in 2006-2009, causing the collection (what survived, I surmise) to be displaced.
Today it is only open 42 hours a week, which could be a legacy of these disasters.
Geo. L. Minott 1907 postcard
Whitinsville Social Library, Town of Northbridge
Whitinsville is part of the Town of Northbridge, MA. This library seems to serve most of the purposes of a public library, and the building is still in use.
​
Kolorvue brand postcard by Artvue Post Card Co.
Williamsburg (Meekins Library)
Still in use, with a 2003 addition.
Eastern Illustrating Co. card. There are some spiffy photo postcards from this firm.
Winchendon (Beals Memorial Library)
Still in use.
This is an American Art postcard, not to be confused with Curt Teich's 'C.T. American Art' line.
Winchester
Still in use. Built in 1931 with English Norman architecture by Kilham, Hopkins & Greeley. The same firm, plus Brodie, designed a 1966 addition. Reconstructed in 1996.
1968 Yankee Colour Card.
Woburn
This is the definitive H.H. Richardson Romanesque library, designed by the master architect himself. To do it justice, I would have to crib the entire library history page, and that's not happening.
German card, never mailed.
Worcester
The building is either demolished or remodeled into oblivion. In addition, there are three Carnegie buildings in Worcester. I have cards of none.
​
This card was published by J. I. Williams, but I believe it was printed by Curt Teich. It's the only postcard I have for Worcester which clearly delineates the library building.
Salem Square
Built in 1964. Enlarged in 2001: still in use.
Card by Sommerfeld Photo Film: photo by Win Sommerfeld.
