Southington Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Southington Public Library
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The historic library building
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 239 Main St., Southington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Potter, George Wilson, Sr.; Crabtree, Walter P. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000015 |
| Added to NRHP | February 9, 1989 |
The Southington Public Library is a public library in Southington, Connecticut. It helps people find books and information. The library is located at 255 Main Street. This building was built in 1974.
The library's first building was built in 1902. It is at 239 Main Street. This older building is now home to the Southington Historical Center. It is a great example of Classical Revival architecture. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Contents
History of the Southington Library
Southington's first library started in 1797. It was a private library where people paid to borrow books. This first library closed down by 1847. Other small private libraries opened in the mid-1800s.
People really started wanting a public library in the 1890s. The town officially approved a public library in 1896. Soon, it had 1,300 books. These books were kept in the town hall's courtroom.
People soon saw the need for a permanent library home. Lucius V. Walkley, who owned a local company, offered $5,000. He said he would give the money if others could raise the same amount. People quickly met this goal. The first part of the historic library building was finished in 1902. George Wilson Potter Sr. from New York City designed it.
In 1917, Emma Bradley Yeomans Newell passed away. She was another local business person. She left money to build an addition to the library. This new part was built in 1930.
In 1974, the current library building was built. It is located across Meriden Avenue. The Southington Historical Society then took over the original library building. The old building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it is a special historic place.
Design of the Historic Building
The historic library building is at the corner of Main Street and Meriden Avenue. It is at the south end of downtown Southington. It is a single-story building made of stone. It was built in the Classical Revival style. It uses shiny terra cotta brick and granite. When it was first built, it could hold 6,000 books.
The building has two main parts. Each part has a low, sloped roof. One part faces Meriden Avenue, and the other faces Main Street. The Meriden Avenue side is more detailed. It has a front entrance that sticks out. This entrance has a triangular roof and columns on the sides. The Main Street entrance looks similar. However, it is simpler and does not stick out as much.
Southington Historical Society
The Southington Historical Society is located in the Southington Historical Center. This is the old library building. The Society works to save the history of the town. They also care for other old schoolhouses. These include the historic South End Schoolhouse and the West Street Schoolhouse.
The Society holds many events. They have exhibits, talks, and programs. They also do fundraisers to help their work. Their displays show old photos and sports items. You can also see school memories and items from local businesses. Military artifacts are also on display.
See also
