Thayer Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thayer Public Library
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Original library (1874-1953)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 John F. Kennedy Memorial Dr., Braintree, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Hammatt Billings & Joseph E. Billings |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000446 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1978 |
The Thayer Public Library is a busy public library in Braintree, Massachusetts. It offers many resources for the community. You can find over 100,000 books here. The library also has hundreds of magazines and thousands of videos, DVDs, music CDs, and audiobooks.
History of the Thayer Library
The library is named after General Sylvanus Thayer. He was a very important person who helped start the library. General Thayer left $20,000 in his will to help create it. This generous gift made the library possible for the town of Braintree.
The First Library Building
The very first library building opened its doors on June 4, 1874. It started serving the public in September of that same year. This original building was a library for many years. It was used until 1953, when a new, bigger building was built across the street.
The old 1874 building was later used by the Braintree Water Department. Today, it is empty. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Newer Library Buildings
In 1953, a larger library building was constructed. This building served the community for many years. However, as Braintree grew, the library needed even more space.
So, in 1997, the 1953 library building was taken down. A brand new, modern building was built in its place. This current three-story brick building opened in 1999. It is designed in a postmodern style.
