Francis Buttrick Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Francis Buttrick Library
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 735 Main St., Waltham, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Loring & Leland |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Waltham MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001547 |
| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1989 |
The Waltham Public Library is the main library for the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. Its main building is called the Francis Buttrick Library. This beautiful building was finished in 1915. It has a special design style called Georgian Revival. Francis Buttrick, who owned a lot of land in Waltham, left money in his will to help build it. Because of its unique design and history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Contents
The Library's Story and Design
Discovering the Buttrick Library Building
The Buttrick Library building is on the north side of Main Street. It sits between Exchange and Spring Streets. The front part of the building is the oldest and most historic. It is a tall, one-story building made of brick.
What Makes the Building Special?
The building has cool round-arch windows. It also has a special entrance that sticks out in a half-circle shape. The very top of the building has a decorative railing called a balustrade. Newer parts have been added to the back of the building. These additions hold more books and offer modern services for everyone.
How the Waltham Library Began
The Waltham Public Library started in 1865. It began with a gift of 3,700 books. These books came from the Rumford Institute for Mutual Instruction. This group was formed in 1826 by the owners of the Boston Manufacturing Company. They wanted to provide a service for their employees.
Growing Over the Years
The library grew bigger throughout the 1800s. Many other collections of books were donated. At first, the library was located in the Welch Building. This building was on Charles and Moody Streets.
Francis Buttrick's Important Gift
In 1894, Francis Buttrick made a very important gift. He was the biggest landowner in Waltham at that time. He left money in his will to build a permanent home for the library. The oldest part of the building was designed by a company from Boston called Loring & Leland.
Building the Library's Home
The construction of the library was completed in 1915. It took about twenty years to find and buy the right piece of land for the building. Later, in 1933, a gallery space was added. A modern addition was also built at the back of the library later in the 20th century.
