Nomination for Millicent Library

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received date entered APR |8 1986 MAY | 5 1986 historic Millicent Library and or common 2. Location Millicent Library street & number 45 Center Street N/A -not for publication city, town Fairhaven, state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Owynership district public X building(s) private structure both - site Public Acquisition - object N/A in process being considered code N/A vicinity of 025 county Bristol code 005 Status X occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible yes: restricted x yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture x commercial - educational - entertainment - government industrial - military museum park - private residence - religious - scientific transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Town of Fairhaven street & number Fairhaven Town Hall, Center Street city, town Fairhaven, N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Bristol County Registry of Deeds street & number Sixth Street city, town New Bedford State 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of Historic Assets of the title Commonwealth, # 32 has this property been determined eligible? date 1978-1979 federal state Massachusetts yes X no - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Condition excellent x good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Millicent. Library, Fairhaven, MA Check one X unaltered - altered Check one X. original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Millicent Library, Fairhaven, is a highly successtul ama_gam ot Richardsonian Romanesque form and massing with delicate Renaissance Revival-style detailing. The building is irregular in shape, picturesque in plan and profile. Financed by local philanthropist Henry H. Rogers, the building was designed by architect Charles Brigham of Boston. It was constructed in 1891-1892. The library is situated in the center of Fairhaven, a small town on the eastern shore of the Acushnet River, just above Buzzard's Bay in southeastern Massachusetts. Its lot is flanked by William, Centre, and Walnut Streets. Opposite the library, on Centre Street, stands the fairhaven Town Hall (1892-1894, NR 1981), also the gift of Henry Rogers and the work of Charles Brigham. Other buildings in the immediate area include residential structures and several churches of modern construction.

The land on which the library is sited is flat, landscaped with low, carefully trimmed shrubs and a large Lawn edged with high quarter-round granite curbing. Paths leading to the street are lit by two ornate lampposts of cast iron. Entrance to the building is through a one-story porch near the base of the tower. The library is comprised of projecting towers, wings, and apses that together create a complex and multiplaned structure. height and is an amalgamation of several distinct parts of various shapes and sizes. It is anchored on its main, northern side by a hipped-roof, three-story tower with a round, conical-capped corner turret. Entry to the building is through an open, one-story corner porch, with spiral-carved porch supports culminating in rounded arches, which is tucked between the tower and apsidal wing. Iwo broad, shallow flights of granite steps lead to the porch.

East ofthe toweris a one-story conical-roofed apsidal bay that elaborates the massing of the building. Three panelled chimneys with frieze detailing and flat caps project above the roofiine on the structure's northern and western sides. The structure is built of light brown Dedham stone ashlar, with a foundation of Stoney Creek granite. The window ornamentation, cornices, floral-mot11 courses, and a frieze elaborated with precisely detailed fruited garlands and wreathes are all of terra cotta. All roofs are of red Fremont slate. Flashing and roof ridge rolls, as well as finials atop the large tower, stairtower, and apses are of plain copper. Ornamentation, executed throughout in terra cotta, is for the most part subtle and small-scale, an assemblage of a number of delicate parts.

A single more imposing element is a large, ornate terra cotta name placque displayed on the main tower on the northern, main elevation. Elaborately carved in deep relief Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) OMB NO.1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Far NPS uea onhi National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form recBivec date entered Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA Continuation sheet Item number 7 1 Page with a Greek key frieze band, acanthus leaves, rosettes, and scrolls, the placque is dominated at its center by a rather fierce-expressioned male head. Flanking the placque, pairs of Corinthian pilasters are adorned with carvings of globes, lyres, urns, compasses and triangles, and lanterns. A tiny cherub rests atop each pilaster.

Fenestration includes a mix of standard 1/1 sash flanked by carved pilasters similar to those found beside the tower placque, and narrower 1/1 sash, both square and round-headed, without elaborated surrounds. There are also two Palladian windows, both ornamented with terra cotta panels of garlands and accented with consoles. One is located at the southern rear side of the building, and lights the library stacks. The other, at the base of the stairtower, is one of three tiers of varying window types, including a trio of elongated, rounded slit windows at the middle story and three 1/1 sash framed by rope molding, heavy lintels, and sills resting on the heads of terra-cotta cherubs lighting the third story. The one-story east wing is a 1968 addition designed by the New Bedford architectural firm of Tallman, Drake and Guay.

Great care was taken in design and construction to successfully blend the addition into the site and building using similar materials and style. In addition to office, work, and garage space, the addition holds the Rogers Room, which houses the Rogers tamily's papers and memorabilia. The building's interior is equally well-preserved. In the small vestibule the walls are of glazed tile, brown and beige in color with a yellow- and green-glazed tile border pressed in foliate patterns. The floor is mosaic tile, in a medieval-inspired design. A tier of arched, stained glass windows glazed with crackle glass is framed by a carved oak arcade above a slab of Sienna marble.

The vestibule opens onto a spacious main hall with a twenty-foot-high loft The walls in the main hall are stencilled pale pink over a pale salmon base color, a replica of the pattern of the original decorative treatment which had been redone in different colors in 1951. Suspended from the ceiling are massive bronze chandeliers; though not original to the bullding, they are sympathetic ln character and scale. The floors are of and together with the door and fanlights, represent the building's only woodwork. Within the main hall of the library is a spectacular interior stained glass window, crafted in London. It is sixteen feet in height, and depicts Shakespeare surrounded by the names of American poets. Immediately below Shakespeare is Millicent Rogers' likeness as the Muse of Poetry.

Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA Continuation sheet Item number 7 OMBNo. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 Por NPS uea dale entered Page Off the main hall are the reading and original reference rooms, both with quartered oak floors. To the west, the large reading room is ornamented with a boldly projecting cornice. The painted walls are relieved by a fireplace of Pompeiian brick with Sienna marble facing, a tiled hearth, and an oak mantle. reference room, now the children's room. surround from the main hall is of painted cast plaster patterned in Adamesque moss and flowers, with heavier baroque fruit and flower swags decorating the pilasters and entablature.

A richly molded cornice surrounds the room, ornamented with swags and cartouches and at intervals supported on fluted composite pilasters. Ihe stacks are visible beyond the main hall, at the rear of the building. They are lit by the two-storied Palladian window mentioned above. second floor level, there 1s a metal ralling with tan-patterned center panels, keyed frame, and wooden rail. Wall brackets at rail level are located in front of each tier of stacks. Beneath the bracket on the stack side are brass electric light sconces with glass shades. The stacks were extended to a third tier in 1976. To the north is the music room, originally the trustees room. It is dominated by the five-light apsidal bay that extends toward Centre Street. are pink-painted brick stencilled lightly in white. There is a rich, rococco laster cornice and picture molding.

The central feature of this room is the handsome fireplace with a large and ornate mantelpiece of oak, with engagec columns carrying swagged and panelled entablature. Suspended from the ceiling is a Waterford chandelier. The oak entrance door still retains the original hardware and there are several pieces of original casework and furniture in 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 1900- Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric - community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics architecture education art engineering commerce communications exploration/settlement industry invention Builder/Architect landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics/government Charles Brigham religion science sculpture * social/ humanitarian theater transportation ther (specity ommunity developmen Specific dates 1891-1893 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Millicent Library, Fairhaven, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and feeling, as well as associations as a significant public building financed by a local philanthropist. Built in 1891-1892, the well-preserved library, an outstanding amalgamation of Richardsonian Romanesque form and massing and Renaissance Revival-inspired detailing, was designed by Charles Brigham, a distinguished and influential Massachusetts architect of national renown. The building was commissioned by oil magnate and Fairhaven native Henry Huttleston Rogers as a memorial to his daughter, Millicent. It was once of several important civic buildings designed by Brigham and donated to the town by Rogers.

Millicent Library thus fulfills Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local Fairhaven is a small coastal town, originally a part of Dartmouth, settled in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Early in its history, Fairhaven was, with New Bedford across the Acushnet River, one of the key American ports involved in the lucrative whaling industry. Whaling voyages originated on Fairhaven docks; boats were built and fitted in the town's shipyards. The oldest sections of town, near the waterfront, were built up in the late 18th century with residential structures, while to the east, near the site of the nominated property, blocks of handsome gable-fronted houses were erected during the first half of the 19th century. The whaling industry peaked in the early 1850s; its death in the 1860s brought Fairhaven's growth and expansion to a halt.

While New Bedford was quickly transformed from a whaling port to a cotton textile manufacturing giant and, later, a major center for commercial fishing, Fairhaven's recovery was slower and less spectacular, marked by the development of light industry (such as nail and tack manufacturing) and small-scale commercial marine activity. Perhaps ironically, Fairhaven's greatest benefactor, Henry Huddleston Rogers, made his fortune in the industry that effected the end of whaling in New England as elsewhere, oil.

Rogers (1840-1909) was born in Fairhaven on A graduate of Fairhaven schools, Rogers held jobs variously a baggage master on the local (Old Colony) In 1860, he left Fairhaven and journeyed to the newly discovered There, in partnership with Charles Ellis, he founded the Wamsutta Oil Refinery near Titusville and Oil City in western Pennsylvania, and soon became a leader among the independent oil refiners. By Rogers was an executive with Pratt Oil. When in 1872, Pratt was acquired by Standard Oil, Rogers became a corporate director. In that year, Rogers was said to be worth $100,000. During his career with Standard, Rogers gained a reputation for his sharp business acumen and ruthlessness. (He was known an Wall Street as "Hell Hound Rogers.") Continued 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References (See Continuation Sheet) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property less than one acre Quadrangle name - New BedfordNorth UT M References Lug13/401/41310 L416/111/81610 Zone Easting Northing E B Zone F Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 LiLLL Easting LULL LIILLL Northing LILILLL AULLL Verbal boundary description and justification (See Contination Sheet) List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code State code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title organization Betsy Friedberg, Preservation Planner, Massachusetts Historical Commission, with Carol Ann Nelson and Peter Jacobson, Preservation Consultants. Massachusetts Historical Commision date February 1986 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone 617/727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national -- state X local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Ofticer signature Valuie A dlmace State Historic Preservation Officer title Executive Director date April 10, 1986 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Ulares Inteced in bia 7 Roapor or tho Mational Registe Wationel Begiatez date 5-15-86 Attest: date Chief of Registration GPO 911-399 (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 FOr NPS Uea Only date entered 8 Page Throughout his career, Rogers continued to remember Fairhaven. In 1862, he had returned to the town to marry his childhood sweetheart, Abbie Palmer Gifford. Together they had five children, four daughters and one son.

The family wintered in New York City and spent summers in Fairhaven. In the 1880s, Rogers began the philanthropic program for his hometow continue for the rest of his life. Despite a reputation in the business world as an arrogant, wily, and callous oil magnate, Rogers' generous contributions to Fairhaven made him a popular part-time resident. Entirely at his own expense, he sponsored the design and construction of several buildings for the the Town Hall 120 2a hr in or lar taya (90r- 1905) mes he eatetaven sahot NR 1981). All handsome structures, they were built in a variety of lavishly detailed Victorian and Revival styles. All but one were designed by American architect Charles Brigham. (The other, Rogers Elementary School, was the work of Connecticut architect Warren R.

Briggs.) During the summer of 1890, while the family was vacationing in Fairhaven, one of Rogers' children, Millicent, became critically ill with heart disease. She died on August 31, 1890, at the age of seventeen. searched for a fitting memorial. especially of poetry, and had once commented on Fairhaven's lack of a good library. So it was decided to create a library building for the Town in her memory - Rogers acquired a lot in the center of Fairhaven, bounded by William, Walnut, and Centre Streets. It was directly opposite the future site of the Fairhaven Town Hall, another Rogers gift to the town already being planned. No expense was to be spared in the design and construction of this memorial for his daughter. The architect chosen was one of the finest in the country, the man who had designed Rogers' New York townhouse--Charles Brigham.

Charles Brigham (1841-1925) was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, on June 21, 1841. After attending local schools, he apprenticed for three years in the Boston architectural office of Calvin Ryder, and thence, in 1860 firm of Gridley Bryant and Arthur Gilman. War, Brigham returned to Boston and joined British-trained architect John Under Sturgis' influence, the firm--and righam--became known for their Ruskinian Gothic designs. 1876-1878 Boston Museum of Fine Arts on Copley Square (no longer standing), Sturgis and Brigham created an influential design, using extensive terra-cott exterior ornamentation in a manner unprecedented in American architecture. Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) OMB No.

1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA Continuation sheet Item number Far NPS uea onh ye date entered 8 Page 2 In 1886, Sturgis returned to England; two years later, Brigham formed a new partnership with John Spofford, who had been the firm's draftsman from 1881-1886. The new firm received contracts throughout the country, particularly in Spofford's native Maine and in Massachusetts. In 1889, Brigham and Spofford received the commission for a major addition and renovation to the Massachusetts State House. From this point onward, Brigham concentrated on single, large commissions (including those in Fairhaven for Henry H. Rogers), culminating in the mammoth Second Church of Christ Scientist in Boston (1909).

The Fairhaven buildings of Charles Brigham are individually noteworthy; together they represent an unrivalled collection detailing the skill and mastery of varied form and style of one of the great American architects. For Millicent's memorial, Brigham designed a magnificent, well-proportioned library, executed in granite with lavish use of delicate applied terra-cotta exterior decoration. The building's form and massing, with high hipped roof, towers, apsidal bay, and round-arched inset porch, is reminiscent of the Richardsonian Romanesque, while the richly articulated, classically inspired ornamentation reflects the Renaissance Revival. To build the library, Norcross Bros of Worcester were selected. Ground was broken on June 6, 1891; the cornerstone was laid in September 1891, and construction continued . through the year and into 1892.

When the building was completed in December 1892, Rogers' four surviving children formally presented title of the library to the town of Fairhaven. The library was dedicated and officially opened January 30, 1893, the anniversary of Millicent Rogers' birth. The ded, atlars and feredgsas gi Ct, ens Toa ll, i) cistdd reira afos the street from the Millicent Library. Clemens already knew of the library and had sent some of his personally autographed works for the collection. After visiting the building, and favorably impressed, he sent a letter of praise to the trustees, saying, "I am glad to have seen it. It is the ideal Iibrary, I think. Books are the liberated spirits of men, and should be bestowed in a heaven of light and grace and harmonious color and sumptuous comfort, like this." Henry Rogers provided for the building's maintenance with two endowments.

The first was a fund of $100,000, established at the time of the building's completion. The second, initiated several years later, transferred Fairhaven Water Company stock from Rogers to the library trustees. In 1968, the towi of Fairhaven was forced to assume direction and ownership of the Fairhaven Water Company, thus assuming major responsibility for the library's financing and upkeep. Until this time, both had been the responsibility . of the trustees. In that same year, after several years of planning, a major addition to the building was undertaken. The addition carefully duplicates the original in materials, design, and ornamentation. Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Millicent Library, FairhavitemMumber 8 OMB No.

1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uea only received date antered Page Located at the southeastern, rear corner of the building, it is unobtrusive, successfully echoing the mass and style of the original building. Since its dedication in 1893, the library has been a valuable resource, architecturally and culturally, to the towi of Fairhaven. The care and upkeer of the building, the extensive planning and careful execution of the sensitive 1968 addition, the gifts and stacks of circulated books within, all emphasize the significance of the Millicent Library. NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Mitlicent Library, Fairhavitem Mumber Bxpiro: 20--1-29 Expires Far NPS uea only received date entered 9 Page 1 9.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Adams, Oscar Fay, "A New England Architect and His Work." Undated article from New England Magazine, Millicent Library Collection. Dias, Earl J., "Mark Iwain and Fairhaven." Fairhaven, Massachusetts, revised edition, 1976. Early, J. Richard, The History of Iwo Eras of the New Bedford Institution for Savings, Part IT: A Savings Institution. NBIS, 1983. Evening Standard, DEDICATED/THE BEAUTIFUL MILLICENT LIBRARY/FORMALLY OPENED/CROWDS ATTEND EXERCISES AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH/REMARKS BY HENRY H. ROGERS, ESQ. OF NEW YORK/DEDICATORY ADDRESS BY REV. DR. ROBERT COLLYFR/GEORGE H. TRIPP SPEAKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF FAIRHAVEN. New Bedford, Massachusetts, January 30, 1893. Fairhaven Star, A SPLENDID STRUCTURE/SKETCH OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING WHICH IS FAIRHAVEN'S LATEST PRIDE. Fairhaven, Massachusetts, February 4, 1893.

Floyd, Margaret H., "Boston and Providence Rail Road Station, Stoughton, Massachusetts--Charles Brigham, 1888." American Heritage Inc., Boston, Judd, Lewis S. Jr., Fairhaven: A Descriptive and Historical Sketch. Illustrated by Morton H. Snow. Boston: FrankIin Engraving Company, 1896. Knipe, Mabel Hoyle, "The Girl in the Window--The Story of the Millicent Library." Fairhaven, Massachusetts, 1979. Mercury, DESIGNED BUILDINGS GIVEN TO FAIRHAVEN BY H. H. ROBERT/CHARLES BRIGHAM NELL KNOWN ARCHITECT, DIES AT HIS HOME AT SHELTER ISLAND, LONG ISLAND--DESIGNED WINGS AND ADDITION TO THE STATE HOUSE AT BOSTON ANT SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN THAI CITY. New Bedford, Massachusetts, July 24, 1925, p. 16.

"The Millicent Library, Fairhaven, Massachusetts--A Brief History and A List of Contents of the Building." NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Millicent Library, Fairhavefem Mumber 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered 10 Page 1 (Boundary description from Registry of Deeds) Beginning at the intersection of Center Street and William Street, thence easterly 200 feet to the intersection of Center Street with Walnut Street, thence southerly about 152 feet to land of Julia Stoddard et al., thence westerly 45 feet 4 1/2 inches to the southwest corner of the former Engine House Lot, thence still westerly to the southeast corner of the former house lot of Levi M.

Siow, thence still westerly about 100 feet to the east line of William Street, thence northerly 150 feet to the place of beginning- MILLICENT LIBRARY 45 Centre Street Fairhaven, Mass Plot 7 Lot 43 CENTRE STREET 732 STREET 147 43 -1026.

Rod's 147 STREET 190 700 WILLIAM T2835 44 4170Rods 128.50 45 472fods 12850 WALNUT 100 100 UNION STREET Town of Fairhaven Assessor'g Plans 1 inch equals 60 feet Originally prepared Jan 1, 1915, revised 21 times, latest 12/83 by Frank Metcalf, New Bedford, Ma location & size of building is approximate 8600/057 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Millicent Library Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: -sample Reviewer's comments: -request Sntered 1m Nationel Registeri Working No. APR 1 8 1986 Fed. Reg.

Date22/3/87 Date Due: 5/15/86 - 6/2/86 Action: ( LACCEPT5-15-86 _RETURN REJECT Federal Agency: - Lappeal LNR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Date -see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7. Description Condition Jexcellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site - moved date 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other sjai 1tel 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _national state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature title date 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed- - Date Phone: .

GPO 918-450 Commentsfor any item may be continued on an attached sheet Millicent Library/Center St./Fairhaven, MA Photo: Carol Ann Nelson AIA - January 1985 24 N. Water St. / New Bedford, MA Photo 1 Of 4 - View of Library from Center Street 1ooking Southeast. MILLICENTUIBRARY Millicent Library/Center St./Fairhaven, MA Photo: Carol Ann Nelson AIA - January 1985 24 N. Water St./ New Bedford, MA Photo 2 of 4 - Detail of Terra Cotta name plaque at Tower. Millicent Library/Center St./Fairhaven, MA Photo: Carol Ann Nelson AIA - January 1985 24 N. Water St./ New Bedford, MA Photo 3 of 4 - Detail of Terra Cotta decoration at chimney. Millicent Library/Center St./Fairhaven, MA Photographer Unknown: Historical Photo from the Millicent Library Collection Photo 4 of 4 - View of Library shortly after construction.

HEH HT 1S2 BF Unun nf Hairhaurn Manzarhuartta Office af the SelectmenRECEIVED JAN 2% 1986 MASS. HIST. COMM. EVERETT J. MACOMBER, JR., Chairman ROBERT W. FOSTER WALTER SILVEIRA January 23, 1986 Ms. Valerie A. Talmage, Exec. Director State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Re: Millicent Library Dear Ms. Talmage: The Board of Selectmen unanimously and strongly endorse the nomination of the Millicent Library , to the National Register of Historic Places. The Millicent Library was given to the Town as a memorial to the daughter of the town's benefactor, MI. Henry Huttleston Rogers. The building was designed by Charles Brigham as all of the other Rogers' buildings.

At the present time, the Town Hall and the Fairhaven High School have the distinction of being on the Register and this additional Rogers' building deserves no less. we quote from the "Girl In the Window" a story of the Millicent Library written by Mabel Hoyle Knipe: -.. in the style of Italian Renaissance-rose steadily during those exciting years of 1891-1892, and the sidewalk engineers gathered in idle moments to watch incredible progress. Charles Brigham, foremost American architect of his day, from the Boston firm of Brigham and Spofford, was chosen to draw the plans. Norcross Brothers, the richest building firm in the country, was given orders to use the best of everything- no defaced or discolored materials to be tolerated; and there was to be particular emphasis on the artistic in every phase of planning.

Arthur Robinson, expert painter and finisher of fine woods, had charge of all painting, rubbing and staining. MASS. HISTORICAL COMMISSION Page 2. The basement segment of the walls was made of granite from Norcross Brothers' Branbury quarries, the remainder of the buila- ing was constructed of Dedham granite, rock faced. Ornamentation was effected by beautifully fashioned terra cotta wreaths and garlands in a luminour golden hue, while the roofs were tiled in deep red; and gutters, conductors, finials and ridge rolls were of copper. Within the building, there were sheathing, doors and door casings of heavy oak, beautifully grained. Masterly carving of some of this magnificent wood was spectacular. Much of the inside wall area was finished in fine brick stencilled to a rich and intricate pattern.

There were perth Amboy fireplaces through- out, and opposite Millicent's window, the roof flared to a domed loftiness providing height for later adjustment of book galleries as need might demand. The reading room to the right of the main entrance also swept to a dramatic dome broken by a semi-circular curve of lofty window apertures providing excellent natural lighting. glass gleamed in panels over doorways, and a spectacular oriel window in the librarian's room shimmered in muted color." We feel that this description certainly embodies the distinctive characteristics of the type of building that you are looking for to be recognized for this great honor. Your approval and endorsement would be gratefully appreciated. Very truly yours, BOARD~OF SELECTMEN Nethp. AST: s Paete Silveira FAIRHAVEN HISTORICAL COMMISSION FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS February 25, 1985 RECEIVED MAR 41905 MASS. HIST.

COMM. National Register Editor Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boyleston Street Boston, MA, 02116 RE: Millicent Library, Fairhaven, Massachusetts Dear Sir: We are enclosing the completed Nomination form for the Millicent Library in Fairhaven Massachusetts. We feel that the Library is both architecturally and historically significant and warrants inclusion in the National Register of Historical Places. We have reviewed the nomination carefully and believe it meets the criteria of the National Register Program for individual listings. We are hopeful your Commission Thank you for you consideration of this Nomination. Sincerely yours, Chairman, Fairhaven Historical Commission P 284 880 998 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A.

Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer April 9, 1986 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Department of Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Fairhaven, MILLICENT LIBRARY, 45 Center Street Lowel1, FLAGG - COBURN HOUSE, 722 E. Merrimack Street All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been st pending heafete ewtboardreserdatatnon 30-e5 days ers oreee not if1ed meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments re- ceived to date are attached to the nomination forms.

Sincerely, Sarah Zinmerman Sarah Zimmerman Director, Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission SZ/dr 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer June 24, 1986 Carol Shull, Keeper National Register of Historic Places Dept. of the Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull, I am writing to correct an error made in a recent listing to the National Register of Historic Places. The Millicent Library, listed on 05/15/86, is located at 45 Center Street in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Bristol County. The listing indicated that the library was in Bristol Massachusetts.

Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, May Kate Surpon Mary Kate Sampson Preservation Planner Massachusetts Historical Conmission MKS/dr JUN 27 1986 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470