Richards Free Library
Richards Free Library | |
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43°22′0″N 72°10′34″W / 43.36667°N 72.17611°W / 43.36667; -72.17611 | |
Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
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Built | 1898 (1898) |
Built by | Hira Beckwith |
Architect | James T. Kelley |
Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 84003257[1] |
Added to NRHP | September 7, 1984 |
The Seth Mason Richards House, housing the Richards Free Library and the Library Arts Center, is a historic house, public library, and art gallery at 58 North Main Street in Newport, New Hampshire. This three-story Colonial Revival house was designed by Boston, Massachusetts architect James T. Kelley and built in 1898-99 for Captain Seth Mason Richards, a scion of one of Newport's wealthiest families. The property, including the house and carriage house, were donated by his heirs for use as the town's public library in 1962. The library is housed in the main building, while the carriage house has been converted for use as a gallery space.[2] The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (as "Richards Free Library") in 1984.[1]
History
The Richards family had a long history of prominence in local affairs. Dexter Richards, the father of Seth Mason Richards, owned the Dexter Mill, and had funded both the construction of a school and the establishment of the Richards Free Library in 1888. Seth Mason Richards was politically active, serving in the state legislature and its Governor's Council. His house is one of the finest examples of Colonial Revival architecture in the state, and was donated to the town as a home for the library by his daughter in 1963. The town took great care to maintain the architectural details of the building while adapting for its new use.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "NRHP nomination for Richards Free Library". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
External links
Media related to Richards Free Library at Wikimedia Commons
- Library web site
- Library Arts Center web site
- v
- t
- e
![Sullivan County map](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Map_of_New_Hampshire_highlighting_Sullivan_County.svg/90px-Map_of_New_Hampshire_highlighting_Sullivan_County.svg.png)
- Central Business District
- Charlestown Main Street Historic District
- Lower Village District
- Monadnock Mills
- Newport Downtown Historic District
- North Charlestown Historic District
- Washington Common Historic District
- Acworth Silsby Library
- Backside Inn
- Blow-Me-Down Grange
- Charlestown Town Hall
- Claremont City Hall
- Claremont Warehouse No. 34
- Farwell School
- Little Red School House 1835 District No. 7
- Meriden Town Hall
- Mothers' and Daughters' Club House
- Plainfield Town Hall
- Protectworth Tavern
- Richards Free Library
- Richards, Dexter, & Sons Woolen Mill
- Sullivan County Courthouse
- Town Hall and Courthouse
- Unity Town Hall
- Burford House
- Capt. John Gunnison House
- Cote House
- Covit House
- David Dexter House
- Durham House
- Garber House
- Giffin House
- Isaac Reed House
- Janicke House
- Knights-Morey House
- Lear House
- Louis St. Gaudens House and Studio
- Nettleton House
- Pike House
- Purnell House
- Scranton House
- Seavey House
- Stelljes House
- Welcome Acres
- William Rossiter House
- Williamson House
- Windswept Acres-Powers House
worship
- Acworth Congregational Church
- English Church
- First Baptist Church of Cornish
- First Universalist Chapel
- Langdon Meeting House
- Lempster Meetinghouse
- South Congregational Church
- Springfield Town Hall and Howard Memorial Methodist Church
- Trinity Church
Entries in italics have been removed from the register.