Provincetown Public Library (old) facts for kids
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Provincetown Public Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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1891 Photo, reprinted in 1899
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 330 Commercial St., Provincetown, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1874 |
| Part of | Provincetown Historic District (ID89001148) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000248 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 21, 1975 |
| Designated CP | August 30, 1989 |
The Old Provincetown Public Library building is a special old building in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It is located at 330 Commercial Street. This building was built in 1874. For many years, it was the town's main public library. The library stayed there until 2002. Then, the library moved to a new place. That new place was the old Center Methodist Church.
This building is a great example of a style called Second Empire architecture. Today, it is home to the local tourist board. This board helps visitors find fun things to do. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
What Does the Old Library Look Like?
The old Provincetown Public Library building is on Commercial Street. This is a main street in Provincetown. It stands at the corner of Commercial Street and Freeman Street. The building has 2-1/2 stories. It is made of wood. The outside is covered with wooden clapboards.
Unique Roof and Windows
The building has a special roof called a mansard roof. This roof shape gives it a full third story. There is a small tower on the front of the roof. This tower is called a mansarded turret. The front of the building has three sections. The main door is in the middle section.
The windows are a type called sash windows. They have different fancy frames. Some frames have simple tops. Others have rounded or pointed tops. The main edge of the roof has decorative brackets. Another decorative edge marks where the roof slopes change. A part was added to the back of the building in the 1970s.
History of the Old Library Building
The old library building was built in 1874. It was a gift to the town. A man named Nathaniel Freeman gave it to Provincetown. When it first opened, only the first floor was the library. The second floor was used by the YMCA. The YMCA is a group that helps young people. The third floor was used for businesses.
Changes Over Time
In 1977, the building was updated. By then, the library used the whole building. Alice O’Grady Joseph was the librarian at that time. She worked there from 1965 to 1982. The library stayed in this building until 2002. Then, it moved to the old Center Methodist Church. Now, the building is used by the local tourist board.
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Stereoscope image, around 1865–1885.
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The same building in 2007. It was used by Seashore Point offices then.
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