Richards Free Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Richards Free Library
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 58 N. Main St., Newport, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Hira Beckwith |
| Architect | James T. Kelley |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003257 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 1984 |
The Richards Free Library is a special place in Newport, New Hampshire. It's not just a library; it's also an art gallery called the Library Arts Center. This important building is located at 58 North Main Street.
The building itself is a historic house, known as the Seth Mason Richards House. It was designed by an architect from Boston, Massachusetts, named James T. Kelley. The house was built a long time ago, between 1898 and 1899. It was made for Captain Seth Mason Richards, whose family was one of the wealthiest in Newport.
Today, the main building holds the public library. A smaller building, which used to be a carriage house, is now used for the art gallery. The property became a protected historic site in 1984.
A Gift to the Town
The Richards family had a long history of helping the community in Newport. Seth Mason Richards' father, Dexter Richards, owned a large mill called the Dexter Mill. Dexter Richards was very generous. He paid for a school to be built and also helped start the Richards Free Library in 1888.
Seth Mason Richards followed in his father's footsteps. He was active in politics, serving in the state government. His house is a beautiful example of a style called Colonial Revival architecture. This style looks back to the design of old colonial homes.
From Home to Library
In 1962, Seth Mason Richards' family decided to give the house and the carriage house to the town. They wanted it to be used as the public library. This was a wonderful gift that helped the library find a permanent home.
When the town took over the building in 1963, they were very careful. They wanted to keep all the special architectural details of the house. They made sure to adapt the building for its new use as a library while keeping its original beauty.
