Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of New Hampshire
Cities D-J
Divided from A-C in December, 2021.
Danbury (George Gamble Library)
Built 1911. Very simple building of cement block. Still in use, except that a very long ramp has been added to the front.
I use 'in use' very loosely, as it seems to be open only 10 hours per week, perhaps fewer.
Frank W. Swallow card mailed in either 1918 or 1919, using a 3 cent stamp for no apparent reason.
Dublin
Another Tudor/stonework building, this time with Prairie overtones.
This is a photograph I dearly wish was in color. It's really not much of a card, all in all.
This building still stands, looks fabulous, and is in use. With a fax machine.
East Jaffrey (Clay Library)
(L) American Art Post Card.
(R) C.T. Johnson photo postcard, mailed in 1910.
Municipality now known as just Jaffrey. The Library's dedication booklet, Dedication of the Clay Library building at East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Saturday, July 4, 1896, is available through Google Books. Mine is a perfunctory treatment.
Chrome postcard.
The Library has an impressive Romanesque design: this building is still in use. Its architect was H.M. Francis.
Enfield
The Whitney Hall building is still in use, but as of 2021, since 2008, the town actively sought to replace this inefficient facility. Donors are being solicited.
This card is part of the OMCCO Series, published by W.A. Abbott. It was printed in Germany.
Exeter
1894 building, said to have celebrated the many local Civil War veterans. It was replaced in 1987; building fate unknown.
Entire back card, printed in Germany and never mailed.
Farmington (The Goodwin Library)
Franconia (Abbie Greenleaf Library)
1912 building, originally built without electricity or even piped gas. Its architect was W.H. McLean.
Although the library lacked the features thought necessary by then, it had stained windows, mahogany woodwork, and a mosaic marble floor.
(L) RPPC dated between 1907-1918.
(R) This card needed a lot of tinkering to make it clearer. It was published by the Eastern Illuminating Co. of Belfast, Maine.
Grantham (Dunbar Library)
Still in use, with a large addition.
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Mailed in 1908, the postcard is significantly older.
Hampstead
The legible date (1897) on the clapboard building (with decidedly non-Puritanical stained glass windows) tells us that this was the Ordway building. It was in use until 1994. I don't know if it still stands.
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Another N.E. Paper & Stationery postcard. Unlike Raymond's ink flaws, this was printed a trifle askew. The scan is corrected.
Hampton (Lane Memorial Library)
Founded in 1881. It almost became a Carnegie library, but local citizen Howard Garland Lane stepped in to produce a memorial to his father. I think Joshua Lane would have approved!
As it stands today, the building appears to be in imminent need of replacement.
Colt News Agency 'linen' postcard, printed by the Tichnor Brothers.
Hancock
I'm perplexed. This image looks nothing like that shown on the Town Library page. Instead, it resembles this building.
The early postcard was mailed in 1905.
Henniker (Tucker Free Library)
Linen finish card mailed sometime after 1954.
The library was built in 1903, and is still in use. The Library has amazing images of the building on its site.
Hollis (Hollis Social Library)
This library was founded in 1799. Anyone still doubting that libraries are part of our nation's very foundation?
The Greek Revival building was designed by Magee & Rowe, and opened in 1910, per the HSL web site.
Still in use.
Hudson (Hills Memorial Library)
Replaced 2009, but a new use is actively being sought. As a rental meeting place, it's not likely to be earning its keep.
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It was designed by Hubert G. Ripley, and built in 1908-9 in memory of Ida Virginia Hills by her widower and mother. Rodgers Memorial Library now provides library services to Hudson.