Aldrich Public Library facts for kids
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Aldrich Public Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6 Washington St., Barre, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Penn Varney |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Barre Downtown Historic District (ID73000198) |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000961 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 5, 2015 |
| Designated CP | September 4, 1979 |
The Aldrich Public Library is a special place in Barre, Vermont. It's the main library for the city. You can find it at 6 Washington Street, right in the city center.
This library is inside a really cool building. It has a classic look, built way back in 1907-1908. A kind businessman named Leonard Frost Aldrich left money to build it. The library was made much bigger in the year 2000. Because of its unique design and history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's an important historical site!
Discovering the Library's Design and Past
The Aldrich Public Library stands out in downtown Barre. It's located at the corner of Washington and Elm Streets. You'll see it across Washington Street from Vermont City Park.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The library building is two stories tall. It has a strong steel frame. The outside is covered in brick, with cool local granite details. The front of the building has three main sections. The middle section sticks out a bit.
You'll notice tall, decorative pillars on the front. These pillars have special tops called Doric capitals. The two outer sections have big windows. These windows are made of three parts and have granite frames.
The main entrance is set back a little. It has two fancy columns on either side. Above the entrance, there's a decorative granite design. There's also a three-part window with a small balcony above it. Steps lead up to the entrance. These steps have granite walls with old-fashioned iron lights on top.
How Did Barre Get Its Library?
Barre had a small library way back in 1848. It was a "subscription library." This meant people paid a fee to borrow books. In 1873, a group called the Barre Library Association formed. They created a more formal subscription library. Books were kept in local shops and homes.
Another subscription library started in 1887. This was called the French Barre Library. When the Aldrich Library was built, these two older collections joined together.
The Aldrich Library was built thanks to Leonard Frost Aldrich. He was a local businessman who didn't have any children. He left money in his will for the library. This money paid for the building and for new books.
The city council first wanted the building to be completely made of local granite. Barre was famous for its granite business. But this idea was too expensive. So, the architect, Penn Varney, came up with a plan. He designed the building using brick with granite details. This way, it still used local materials but cost less.
