Stratham Historical Society facts for kids
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Wiggin Memorial Library
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The historical library building, now housing the Stratham Historical Society
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 158 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1912 |
| Built by | Sidney S. Truman |
| Architect | Charles Howard Walker |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001381 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 10, 1993 |
The Stratham Historical Society is a group that helps keep the history of Stratham, New Hampshire alive. They collect and save old items, stories, and information about the town. Their main office is located at 158 Portsmouth Avenue. This building used to be the Wiggin Memorial Library.
The old library building was built in 1912. It's so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history. It was also added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Contents
What Does the Building Look Like?
The old Wiggin Memorial Library building is in the center of Stratham. You can find it where Portsmouth Road and Winnicutt Road meet. It's a one-story building made of stone, called rubblestone, with parts made of granite and wood.
Special Features of the Building
The roof of the building slopes down on two sides, which is called a side gable roof. There are chimneys on the ends of the building. The front of the building has two parts that stick out, with a main entrance in the middle. This entrance has a special porch, called a portico.
The portico is held up by four large granite columns. Inside, the librarian's desk used to be in the middle. There were reading rooms on either side, with fireplaces to keep people warm. One cool thing about the building is its roof supports. They are made from huge, curved wooden beams.
A Look Back: The Library's History
Stratham has had libraries for a very long time, even before this building was made. The town started helping to pay for private libraries way back in 1793. By 1896, they were giving money to the last of these private libraries.
Building the Wiggin Memorial Library
In 1912, the town got its very own library building at 158 Portsmouth Avenue. A famous architect named Charles Howard Walker designed it. The money to build it came from a gift left by a woman named Emma Blodgett Wiggin. The library was named in memory of her and her husband, George Wiggin.
The building served as Stratham's public library for many years, until 1989. That's when the library moved to a newer, more modern building, which is also called the Wiggin Memorial Library.
Today: Home of History
Now, the 1912 building is used by the Stratham Historical Society. It's a place where people can do research about the town's past. It's also a meeting spot for the society, where they can share stories and information about Stratham's rich history.
