Stoneham Public Library facts for kids
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Stoneham Public Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main and Maple Sts., Stoneham, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Central Square Historic District (ID89002277) |
| MPS | Stoneham MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002832 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1984 |
| Designated CP | January 17, 1990 |
The Stoneham Public Library is the main public library for the town of Stoneham, Massachusetts. You can find it at the corner of Main and Maple Streets. It's a place where everyone in Stoneham can go to read, learn, and explore.
Contents
A Look Back: The Library's History
How the Library Started
The Stoneham Public Library began a long time ago, in 1859. A group of important citizens in Stoneham decided to create it. At first, the library didn't have its own building. It rented a small space near Main Street and Montvale Avenue.
Just two years later, the library had almost 1,500 books! Most of these books were gifts from older private library groups. As the years went by, the library kept getting more and more books. Because of this, it had to move several times to bigger places. By 1878, the library's collection had grown to over 5,000 books.
Building a Permanent Home
In 1903, something exciting happened! A very generous person named Andrew Carnegie gave the town $15,000. This money was meant to build a permanent library building. Andrew Carnegie was a famous businessman who helped build many libraries across the country.
Thanks to his gift, the library's main building was constructed in 1904. It was designed in a style called Classical Revival. This means it looked a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. The original building was one story tall and made of Roman brick. It had a sloped roof. The main door was set back a little, with columns on each side.
Growing Over the Years
The library building has been made bigger a few times since it was first built. In 1931, it was expanded. They also added a small tower, called a cupola, on the roof.
Then, in 1983, the building was made even larger. The new parts used similar materials and kept the one-story design. This helped the old and new parts blend together nicely.
Recognized as a Historic Place
Because of its history and special design, the Stoneham Public Library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This is a list of important places in the United States that are worth preserving. In 1990, it also became part of the Central Square Historic District.
What Can You Do at the Library?
The Stoneham Public Library offers many services beyond just borrowing books. You can also use computers to access online information. The library is part of a group called the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE). This means that if you have a library card from Stoneham, you can also use resources from other libraries in the area! It's like having access to many libraries all at once.
