Hunt Memorial Library

The Hunt Memorial Library, also known as the John M. Hunt Memorial Building, is a historic former library building at 6 Main Street in downtown Nashua, New Hampshire. Built in 1903, it is a significant early work of the renowned Gothic Revival architect Ralph Adams Cram, then in partnership with Goodhue and Ferguson. The Nashua Public Library moved to a new building in 1971. The building is owned by the city and is available for rent for functions.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1]

Hunt Memorial Library
Location6 Main St., Nashua, New Hampshire
Coordinates42°45′55″N 71°28′3″W
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1903 (1903)
Built byNashua Building Co.
ArchitectCram & Associates
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
Part ofNashville Historic District (ID84000574)
NRHP reference No.71000049[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 28, 1971
Designated CPDecember 13, 1984

Description and history

The Hunt Memorial Building is located at the northern end of downtown Nashua, at the southeast corner of Main and Lowell Streets. It is a multi-level structure built of brick laid in Flemish bond, with limestone trim. Its three-story square tower is an imposing presence at the upper end of Main Street, with a staircase turret projecting from one corner. The tower has buttressed corners and large Gothic-arched windows, and houses a four-face clock in its upper level. It is topped by a crenellated parapet. The main entrance is located at the base of the tower, in a Gothic-arched opening with heavy oaken double doors with book-leaf panels.[3]

The building was constructed in 1903, and is an early work of architect Ralph Adams Cram, then early in a distinguished career. Cram was a native of New Hampshire, and was during his career a major proponent of renewed interest in Gothic Revival architecture. The Hunt Building includes good examples of the architectural vocabulary Cram developed for this role.[3] It was used as a library until 1971.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "The Hunt Building". Nashualibrary.org. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  3. "NRHP nomination for Hunt Memorial Library". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
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