Rockland Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rockland Memorial Library
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rockland, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | McLean & Wright |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000221 |
| Added to NRHP | March 23, 1989 |
The Rockland Memorial Library is the main public library in Rockland, Massachusetts. It is located at 382 Union Street. This special building was finished in 1903. It was built with money from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman. The library is designed in a style called Classical Revival. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. The library offers many fun activities for the community, like raffles, parties for new books, and "Art in the Rotunda."
About the Library Building
The Rockland Memorial Library is right in the middle of Rockland. It sits at the corner of Union and Belmont Streets. The building has one main floor and is made of strong materials like brick. The back of the building shows its foundation because the ground slopes.
The walls are made of red bricks laid in a pattern called stretcher bond. It also has special decorations made of terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay. These decorations include a trim line between the basement and the first floor. There are also corner blocks called quoining and tall, flat columns called pilasters next to the entrance. The windows also have decorative frames.
The library building looks a bit like a cross from above. It has narrow parts that stick out at the front and back. Wider sections on each side used to be reading rooms. The front part holds the main entrance, which is set back a little. It has tall columns with swirly tops, called Ionic columns, and square pilasters. Above the entrance is a triangular roof part called a pediment, decorated with small blocks called modillions.
Library History in Rockland
Rockland's first library started in 1833. Back then, Rockland was still part of Abington, Massachusetts. This first library was a private collection of books that people could borrow.
In 1878, the town of Rockland, which had become its own town in 1874, took over this book collection. The library was then housed in a business building on Union and Church Streets. Sadly, this building was destroyed by a fire in 1890. Some of the library's books were lost in the fire.
People started raising money in the 1890s to build a permanent home for the library. However, the construction only became possible thanks to a large gift. In 1902, Andrew Carnegie gave $12,500 to the town. The current library building was finished in 1903. It was designed by a company from Boston called Maclean & Wright.
