Nomination for Rockland Memorial Library

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

22/ NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 8-86) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form FEB 2 1 1989 NATIONAL REGISTER This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1.

Name of Property historic name Rockland Memorial Library other names/site number 2. Location street & number city, town Mass state 382 Union Street Rockland code 025 county Plymouth code N/Anot for publication N/Avicinity 023 zip code 02370 3. Classification Ownership of Property private public-local public-State public-Federal Category of Property [X building(s) district site structure object Name of related multiple property listing: Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing _1 buildings sites structures objects Total Number of contributing resources previousiy listed in the National Register 4.

State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination Jrequest for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register ofHistoricPlaces and meets the procedural and professional requirementsset forth in 36 CFR Part 60. in my opinion, the propertymeets -does not meet the National Register criteria. L See continuation sheet. Valne A Taemage Signature of certifying official 2/8/89 Date Executive Director of Mass. Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Officer State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5.

National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: entered in the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined eligible for the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the National Register. Entered in tbe Natlonal Reststor 3/23/82 removed from the National Register. other, (explain:) Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) EDUCATION: LIBRARY Rockland Memorial Library, Rockland MA Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) EDUCATION: LIBRARY 7. Description Architectural Classification (enter categories from instructions) Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/ Classical Revival Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation granite walls brick, terra cotta, granite roof other slate, copper, terra cotta Describe present and historic physical appearance.

The Rockland Memorial Library stands on the west side of Union Street, Rockland's main commercial thoroughfare, south of Belmont Street. The stretch of Union Street which constitutes the town's commercial center (between Water Street and North Street) isa scattered collection of commercial buildings, many of which are convertednineteenthcentury residential buildings or mid-twentieth century construction. Although there are other historic properties in the immediate vicinity, a cohesive district does not survive. The secondary streets surrounding the commercial center are residential in character, comprised primarily of late-nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings of moderate style. Occupying approximately one quarter of its westward sloping lot, the building rises one story above a raised basement (fully exposed at the rear).

Constructed of red brick laid in stretch bond and trimmed with buff-color terra cotta, the building was designed in a cross-shaped plan composed around a central rotunda, which is flanked by the library's two main reading rooms on the interior. Above the basement a wide terra cotta water table circumscribes the building. Terra cotta was also used for the building's heavy quoins, pilasters, and window and door surrounds. The library rises one full story to a Classical cornice of metal which includes an architrave, frieze, and modillions. The building is enclosed by a modified hipped roof interrupted by the central rotunda which is topped by a copper roof. The facade (east elevation) is symmetrically organized and comprises a central projecting pavilion flanked by two short wings. At the first story, the pavilion possesses a large center entry reached by broad granite steps.

Surrounding the entry is a Classical enframement consisting of Ionic columns and pilasters supporting a wide entablature, all materials are terra cotta. The pavilion is crowned by a wide pediment, also trimmed with the Classical cornice, above which a brick parapet is decorated with anthemion motifs. terra cotta medállion containing the town seal is set within the pediment. Flanking the pavilion, two three-pane windows light the basement, while the first story is lit by two tripartite double-hung windows, each with a three-pane transom and 1/1 sash. x See continuation sheet NPS Form 10-000- (8-03) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page. OM8 Approval No.

1024-0018 Rockland Memorial Library Rockland, MA The north and south elevations are identical, each being divided into three bays by terra cotta quoins. At the basement, a central tripartite window is flanked by two smaller window openings. The first story is symmetrically arranged with a tripartite window, matching those at the facade, between two narrow windows. The rear (west elevation) comprises a central projecting pavilion flanked by short wings. The central pavilion possesses a central recessed niche containing three narrow windows which light the book stacks. The flanking wings were originally identical, each consisting of one set of paired windows at the basement and a three-sided bay window at the first story. At the southern wing the northernmost window in the basement has been converted to a doorway - The library's impressive interior remains intact was well.

The entry vestibule (11' x 8') has marble plagues with the names of 328 Rockland residents who served as soldiers and sailors in the Civil War: The rotunda is 24' in diameter and contains eight marble columns of light-colored Sienna marble. Flanking the rotunda are reading rooms with classical mantelpieces of oak. To the rear of the building a pair of service rooms are linked by a fireproof stack area. Continued NFS Form 10-900- (8-35) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number_7 Page 2 CMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Rockland Memorial Library Rockland, MA Archeological Statement No prehistoric sites are currently recorded on the library parcel or in the town of Rockland. The lack or sites likely results from underreporting, more sites probably exist.

In general, however, the potential for prehistoric sites seems low as a result of the small size of the parcel, impacts from early 20th century library construction and overall development of the area. n ceantury library constrec eior and dera Rockland Memorial Library, Rockland, MA 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: nationally statewide X locally Applicable National Register Criteria B C D Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) A C D F Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Architecture Education 1903- 1938 Significant Dates Cultural Affiliation N/A Significant Person N/A Architect/Builder McLean & Wright (Boston) State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. The Rockland Memorial Library possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and association with the development of Rockland, previously part of Abington, as an independent town.

Constructed with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation, the library is one of the most significant architectural monuments in the town, retaining all of its major architectural elements on both the interior and exterior. The Rockland Memorial Library is of local significance and meets Criteria A and C for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Rockland is a town occupying about ten square miles, located approximately twenty miles southeast of Boston. Prior to 1874, Rockland formed the east Ward of the town of Abington and was commonly known as East Abington. Settled in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the area was attractive forthe shoe manufacturing industry, which first appeared in Rockland during the late eighteenth century and became the focus of the community's economy by the mid-nineteenth century.

Rockland was incorporated in 1874 as the result of a dispute over the construction of an expensive school building in Abington Center in 1871 and the belief that East Abington could develop into a more successful industrial community if separated from Abington. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the continued dominance of the shoe industry with fewer, but larger, manufacturers and an increase in related industries such as the Thompson Shoe Shine Factory and S. E. Packard & Sons paper box factory. Rockland's most prosperous period included the years leading up to and including World War I. The subsequent years of the Great Depression resul.ted in the decline of the local shoe industry. In the 1870s and 1880s, before the construction of public library buildings became common practice, most New England towns established small lending x See continuation sheet 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Directory of Boston Architects, 1846-1970. Massac husetts Committee for the Preservation of Architectual Records, Cambridge, MA: 1984. Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Plymouth County, Massachusetts. (Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co.) 1884. Rockland City Directories, Rockland, MA: various years. Rockland Independant, May 1, 1903. Rockland Independant, May 5, 1905. Rockland Standard, May 5, 1905. Withey, Henry C. Biographical Dictionary of American Architects. Los Angeles: 1970. See continuation sheet Primary location of additional data: *State historic preservation office Other State agency Federal agency Local government University Other Specify repository: Mass.

Historical Commission Previous documentation on file (NPS): preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property less than -5 Acre UTM References USGS Quad: 1:25,000 scale Weymouth, MA A19] B|415,2,0 Zone Easting 46667,60 Northing CLL D See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description Begining at a point on the southwest corner of Uniion and Belmont Streets, running westapproximately 219 feet, then south approximately 95 feet, then east approximately 219 feet to Union Street, then north approximately 92 feet to begining.

See continuation sheet Boundary Justification The boundary includes the historic and present property of the library. See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By name/title Christine Scott Beard, Pres. consultant With Betsy Friedberg, NR Director, MHG organization Mass. Historical Commission date April, 1988 street & number 80 Boylston St. telephone 617-727-8470 city or town Boston state MA _ zip code 02116 NP9 Form 10-000 (866) OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 1 - Rockland Memorial Library Rockland, MA libraries in town residences or the Town Hall. The library Association of Rockland (formely East Abington) was established in 1833; its first repository was at the house of Isaiah Jenkins Jr., 64 Union Street.

The collection was kept in a red locker-type box built by cooper Charles Lane. The library remained a cooperative organization, to which members paid dues and a nominal rental fee for the use of the books, until the town took it over in 1878 in order to create a public library. By 1884, librarian Amelia Poole had charge of 5,000 volumes; this number increased to 10,006 by 1902 at which time Angela Collins was the librarian. In the 1880s the library was located in the Underwood Building, on the corner of Union and Church Streets, which also housed the town offices. In 1890 the Underwood building was destroyed by fire, those books that could be salvaged were temporarily stored in the barn of Gideon Studley further north on Union Street. It was decided to combine a memorial for Rockland's soldiers with a public library- In 1887 the G.A.R.

and the Women's Relief Corps joined with the town representatives with the goal of constructing Rockland's first public library. For over a decade money was raised by the sale of cookbooks and a library fund of $500 was appropriated by the town to finance the collection. Funds needed to construct the library were finally obtained in 1902 after Angela Collins encouraged library trustee, T. P. Farr, to request assistance from Andrew Carnegie, who had been responsible for the construction of approximately 1,000 libraries by that time. Several years earlier Andrew Carnegie had established and funded the Carnegie Corporation for the purpose of granting funds to towns for the construction of public libraries.

As a young man Carnegie was strongly influenced by Colonel James Anderson of Allegheny, who in the 1850s opened his own library to the working boys of the town so that they might also be provided with the opporunity to learn. Carnegie later expressed his philosophy as follows: "the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to lve tnose wno desre to rise the alas by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never do all. Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving.

Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance" Any town requesting a grant from the Carnegie Corporation was carefully scrutinized, the amount given to a town was based on two factors: population which is to pay the tax to carry the library and a specified Continued NPS Form10-900- (8-08) OMB Approvel No. 10240018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number- Page _ 2 Rockland Memorial Library Rockland, MA minimun revenue from the tax. The amount of the grant was intended to cover construction costs in order to produce a complete building, ready for use, with "indispensible furniture and fixture", including architect's fees.

community accepting the grant for a library was responsible for acquiring the site and an annual maintenance fund of a least 10% of the grant amount. The aASTS Carnegie corporation sent each library committee a suggestive memorandum called "Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings" [sic] which provided - arcemande eane e aun ernaty at hor muil onein the book stacks, main desk, and reading rooms, while the basement should house a lecture room, conveniences, and mechanical rooms. Architects were hired to adapt the general plans to fit the site and needs of the community and design the exterior details. Rockland's library was constructed on land purchased from the estate of Gideon Studley who was a paper box manufacturer in Rockland. In 1902 the library trustees received a grant of $12,500 from Carnegie which was matched by the town. Library trustees at the time were H. B.

Loud, Lorenzo D. Perkins, Sarah A. Donhamm, T. P. Farr, J. A. Torrey, Edwin Mulready, C. A. Townsend, A. W. Perry, and Henry B. Fuller. The architects chosen for the project were McLean an Wright of Boston. William H. McLean (1870-1942) worked in New England form about 1901 until 1938. Following his association with Albert Hayden Wright (1902-1911), McLean formed a partnership with Henry McLean which continued until 1917. After 1917, William McLean worked independently until 1938. Among the various buildings he designed are the High School in Provincetown, Bellows Free schoot in provhetown Academy in St. Albans, Vermont and the Public Library in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Little is known of Albert Wright except that he practiced architecture in New England from 1900 to 1911. The library that was constructed for Rockland is the finest architectural nonument in the town.

Built in 1903, the Classical Revival style building has been been altered very little since its original design including its large central dome, terra cotta quoins, pilasters, columns & surrounds, and interior plan and detailing which consist of a central rotunda containing eight marble columns of light-colored Sienna marble, flanking the rotunda are reading rooms with Classicalstyle mantelpieces of oak. The building continues to be used as the town's public library.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Rockland Memorial Library NAME: MULTIPLE NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Plymouth DATE RECEIVED: 2/21/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 3/23/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 3/07/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 4/07/89 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000221 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N PERIOD: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N XACCEPT RETURN REJECT 3/23/39 DATE Entered in tre National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION count _resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION historic current DESCRIPTION architectural classification materials descriptive text SIGNIFICANCE Period Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance _justification of exception BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA _acreage verbal boundary description UTMS boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps USGS maps photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date _presentation ROCKLAND MEMORIAL LIBRARY Rockland, Massachusetts PHOTOGRAPHER: Christine Scott Beard February, 1987 ACT for Massachusetts 45 School Street Boston, MA VIEW: Looking west at Rockland Memorial Library (382 Union Street) Rackland Memorial Library Rockland, Mass, Photographer:Christre Scolt Beard 2/87 ACT for MASS 45 Schoal St.

Boston, MA View: Looking West at Rockland MemoriaL Library (382 UnionSt) February 2, 1989 Carol Shul1 National Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: The Rockland High School, Rockland, MA The Rockland Trust Company, Rockland, MA Lower Union Street, Historic District, Rockland, MA The Phoenix Butlding, Rockland, MA The Rockland Memorial Library, Rockland, MA The Pond Hill School, Wellfleet, MA Al1 have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms.

Sincerely, Belary Betsy Friedberg Fridkerg National Register Director Massachusetts Historical Commission Enclosure: BF/di Massachusetts Historical Commission, Valerie A. Talmage, Executive Director, State Historic Preservation Officer 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470 Office of the Secretary of State, Michael J. Connolly, Secretary