Ames Free Library Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Ames Free Library
U.S. National Historic Landmark District Contributing Property
U.S. Historic district Contributing property


Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	North Easton, Massachusetts
Built	1883
Architect	Henry Hobson Richardson
Architectural style	Richardsonian Romanesque
Part of	H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton (ID87002598)
Designated NHLDCP	December 23, 1987
Designated CP	November 3, 1972

Ames Free Library
Established	1883
Other information
Director	Donna P. Richman
Website	AmesFreeLibrary.org

The Ames Free Library is a special public library located in Easton, Massachusetts. A famous American architect named Henry Hobson Richardson designed it. You can find it at 53 Main Street, right next to another building he designed, the Oakes Ames Memorial Hall.

In 2016, the Ames Free Library won a big award. It was named the "Best Small Library in America" by the Library Journal. This award started in 2005. It was created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to celebrate amazing libraries. These libraries serve towns with fewer than 25,000 people. This was actually the second time the Ames Free Library won this important award!

History of the Ames Free Library
- Building the Library
- Library Design and Features
Images for kids
See also

History of the Ames Free Library

The story of the Ames Free Library began with a generous gift. When Oliver Ames, Jr. passed away, he left $50,000 in his will. This money was specifically for building a new library.

Building the Library

Oliver Ames, Jr. wanted the library to be a private place. It would not be owned by the town, but it would be run for everyone to use. His children, Frederick Lothrop Ames and Helen Angier Ames, made sure his wish came true. They hired the well-known architect Henry Hobson Richardson to design the building. The library ended up costing at least $80,000 to build.

The construction of the library took place from 1877 to 1879. Even though it was built then, the library didn't open its doors until March 10, 1883.

Library Design and Features

The library building has a mostly rectangular shape. It has a wide, pointed roof section, called a gable, sticking out from its north side. A rectangular tower rises where this gable meets the main part of the building.

The front of the gable has a large, curved entrance on the first floor. Above that, there are five arched windows. These windows are separated by pairs of short columns. The building is made from light-brown Milford granite stones. These stones are laid in a natural, uneven pattern. It also has reddish-brown Longmeadow brownstone for decoration. The roof is made of red-orange tiles.

In 1931, a new section was added for children. This part was built with red bricks. When this new wing was added, the original restrooms and a room for documents were removed.

Inside the library, the main areas are set up in a long line. These include the book stacks, a main hall, and the reading room. The fireplace in the reading room was mostly designed by Stanford White. You can also see stone and bronze medallions of Oliver Ames, Jr. These were created by the famous artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens.