Uxbridge Free Public Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Uxbridge Free Public Library is a public library in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
The first library in the town of Uxbridge was the Uxbridge Social and Instructive Library (1775-1812), managed by George Southwick at his store in the Quaker City section of South Uxbridge. The sixth was the Uxbridge Agricultural Society (1859-1864). Most of these small libraries were subscription libraries that required dues and assesments.
None of these were free to the public so in 1873 voters of the town passed 4 articles and six trustees were elected in 1874. They met April 18th 1874 to organize themselves and the Uxbridge Free Public Library. It opened in the FW Barnes jewelery store on South Main Street on January 20th 1875. After five crowded years they moved into the Town Hall. Fourteen years later it again outgrew itself. On June 20th 1894 in the Town Hall came the Proceedings and Dedication of the Thayer Memorial building. Edward Carrington Thayer built it in memory of his parents and a gift to the town of Uxbridge. It became home to the Uxbridge Free Public Library.
The building was designed by Fuller and Delano of Worcester as architects and the building contract to Urgel Jacques of Worcester. He spent $28,000 for the building, $4,000 for the land and $1,500. for furnishings. It is still home to the Uxbridge Free Public Library.
[edit] References
Reflections at a Milestone by Mrs. Bernard F Sharkey
