Wright Memorial Library facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wright Memorial Library
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Duxbury, Massachusetts
Built	1909
Architect	Joseph Everett Chandler; John Osborne Chesley, Jr.
Architectural style	Colonial revival and Modern
NRHP reference No.	07000680
Added to NRHP	July 11, 2007

The Wright Memorial Library, also known as the "Wright Building," is a special old building in Duxbury, Massachusetts. You can find it at 147 St. George Street. It's not a public library anymore, but it holds a lot of history for the town.

A Gift to Duxbury: The Wright Building's Story

This beautiful building was a gift to the Town of Duxbury from a kind and important person named Georgianna Wright (1837–1919). She was a "philanthropist," which means she loved to help others by giving money to good causes.

How the Library Started

• Back in 1890, Georgianna Wright had already helped Duxbury get its first public library. She gave her guest house to be used as the very first Duxbury Free Library.
• But soon, that wooden building became too small for all the books and people.
• By 1906, Mrs. Wright decided to pay for a brand new, bigger library. She wanted it to be really special.

Building a Masterpiece

• Georgianna Wright hired a famous architect named Joseph Everett Chandler. An architect is someone who designs buildings.
• He designed a strong brick library in a style called "Colonial Revival." This style looks like the classic buildings from early American history.
• Joseph Chandler also worked on other important places, like the Frederic C. Adams Public Library in Kingston, Massachusetts. He even helped restore the famous Paul Revere House in Boston.
• The first stone for the Wright Building was placed in 1907, and the building was finished in 1909.
• When it first opened, people were amazed by its features. It had electric lights and a reading room with fancy wood panels and gold decorations.

Saving the Wright Building: A New Chapter

In 1997, the Duxbury Free Library moved to a new, modern building. This left the old Wright Building empty for a while.

When the Building Needed Help

• For a few years, different groups used the building sometimes.
• But by 2004, the Wright Building was empty again and starting to show its age. It needed a lot of care and repair.

Bringing it Back to Life

• The people of Duxbury decided to save this historic building. They voted at a Town Meeting to use special money called "Community Preservation Funds" for its restoration.
• "Restoration" means carefully fixing and bringing something old back to its original good condition.
• The part of the building built in 1909 was fixed up for the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society. This group uses it for their Drew Archival Library, where they keep important old documents and records safe.
• A newer part of the building, added in 1968, was also fixed up. It is now used by the Duxbury Student Union Association.
• The Wright Building was officially opened again on September 22, 2007. This was just over 100 years after its first stone was laid!
• In July 2007, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.